Lady T is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Teena Marie, released by Motown's Gordy label on February 14, 1980.
Background The album was produced by Richard Rudolph, and the track "Too Many Colors" features the then 7 year-old Maya Rudolph, daughter of Rudolph and his late wife Minnie Riperton. The album was dedicated to Minnie Riperton. Lady T was the nickname of Teena Marie at Motown Records. The packaging of Teena Marie's debut album Wild and Peaceful had not included a picture of the singer, and the image on the sleeve of this album surprised many people who had assumed she was African-American.
Lady T peaked at #18 on the Black Albums chart and #45 on the Pop Albums chart. Lead single "Can It Be Love" was a minor hit on the US Black Singles chart followed by "Behind the Groove" which peaked at #21 on the US Black Singles chart and became Teena Marie's only top 20 hit in the United Kingdom, reaching #6. "Lonely Desire" was released as the final single from the album.
Track listing Side A "Behind the Groove" (Marie, Richard Rudolph) – 6:06 "Now That I Have You" (Art Philips, Richard Rudolph, Claudia Talbott) – 5:32 "Lonely Desire" (Marie, Richard Rudolph, Dwayne Wedlaw) – 4:39 "Aladdin's Lamp" (Marie) – 4:55
Side B 5. "You're All the Boogie I Need" (Mickey Hearn, Marie) – 5:44 6. "Can It Be Love" (Marie, Dwayne Wedlaw) – 4:24 7. "Young Girl in Love" (Jill Jones, Marie) – 3:55 8. "Why Did I Have to Fall in Love with You" (Marie, George Sopuch) – 4:45 9. "Too Many Colors (Tee's Interlude)" (Marie) – 3:10
1991 Reissue 10. "Why Can't I Get Next to You" (Marie) – 3:58 11. "Co-Pilot to Pilot" (Marie) – 4:23
2011 Expanded Edition 10. Behind The Groove (Original LP Version) – 6:13 11. Behind The Groove (Rick James Mix) – 6:16 12. Behind The Groove (The Missing "M+M" 12-Inch Mix) – 9:13
Personnel
Teena Marie – acoustic guitar, lead and backing vocals Nathan Watts, Eddie Watkins, Oscar Alston on "Behind The Groove" – bass Paulinho Da Costa – percussion Michael Boddicker – synthesizer Jeremy Lubbock – Fender Rhodes Randy Waldman – Fender Rhodes, piano, synthesizer Greg Hargrove, Tim May, Bob "Boogie" Bowles, Art Phillips – guitar Charles A. Glenn, Jr., Eddie N. Watkins, Jr. – bass Christopher Anthony Boehme, Paul Hines, Tony "T-Bird" Lewis – drums Gary Grant – flugelhorn, trumpet Kim Hutchcroft – flute, saxophone Jerry Hey – flugelhorn, trumpet Charles Loper – trombone Steve Forman – percussion Everett Bryson, Jr. – congas, percussion James S. Stewart, Jr. – piano Thomas "T" Bumpass – trumpet, backing vocals William Carroll White, Jr. – saxophone, backing vocals Larry Williams – flute, saxophone Ray C. Woodard – saxophone, backing vocals Bob Zimmitti – cowbell, percussion Maya Rudolph, Dwayne Medlaw – voices Diahnne Abbott, Brenda Lee Eager, Linda Little, Jill Jones, Bill Thedford – backing vocals
Charts Chart (1980) Peakposition Billboard Pop Albums45 Billboard Top Soul Albums18
Singles Year Single Chart positions USR&B USDance UK (OCC)1980 "Can It Be Love" 57 — — "Behind the Groove" 21 4 6
References
External links Teena Marie-Lady T at Discogs