What makes Robbery by Teena Marie notable?

Robbery is notable for its strong critical reception and for cementing Teena Marie's legacy as a significant figure in the funk and soul genres. The album features the hit single 'Midnight Magnet', which contributed to her commercial success during the early '80s and helped pave the way for future female musicians in R&B. Released on September 18, 1983, Robbery marked Teena Marie's fourth studio album, following her critically acclaimed work with Epic Records. At this stage in her career, she was solidifying her reputation as a pioneer of female R&B artists who wrote and produced their own music. The album followed her successful hit 'Lovergirl' from the previous year, showcasing her continued evolution as an artist.

Robbery works well if you're into steady mid-tempo dance vibes, powerful vocals with rich instrumentation and soulful grooves for evening relaxation.

How many songs are on Robbery?

Robbery has 9 tracks, running approximately 49 minutes.

Robbery

Teena Marie · 1983

49 min · 9 tracks · funk

A vibrant blend of funk and soul, layered with lush instrumentation and Teena Marie's powerful, emotive vocals.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Robbery — The title track showcases Teena Marie's signature blend of emotional depth and intricate arrangements, making it a standout piece that encapsulates the album's themes of love and loss.
→
Midnight Magnet — This track combines infectious grooves with captivating lyrics, illustrating Marie's ability to fuse funk with soulful melodies while highlighting her dynamic vocal range.
→
Cassanova Brown — Cassanova Brown features a rich narrative about romantic entanglements, demonstrating Marie's storytelling prowess alongside her distinctive sound that blends various musical influences.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

60 /100

Treeline

Higher than 66% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong songwriting and vibrant production, solidifying Teena Marie's place in funk and soul.

What we noticed

The album opens with the title track, which features a slow build-up before transitioning into a mid-tempo groove.
Each song incorporates rich instrumentation, often layering horns and strings to create a lush soundscape.
The vocal delivery is consistently powerful, with Teena Marie frequently employing dynamic shifts in her singing to convey emotion.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady mid-tempo dance vibes
powerful vocals with rich instrumentation
soulful grooves for evening relaxation
engaging tracks for social gatherings

Maybe skip if you

prefer fast-paced instant hits
seek minimalist soundscapes

Where this album fits

Career context: Released on September 18, 1983, Robbery marked Teena Marie's fourth studio album, following her critically acclaimed work with Epic Records. At this stage in her career, she was solidifying her reputation as a pioneer of female R&B artists who wrote and produced their own music. The album followed her successful hit 'Lovergirl' from the previous year, showcasing her continued evolution as an artist.
Stylistic neighbors: Chaka Khan· Prince· Sade