Ivory is the ninth album by Teena Marie

Teena Marie

Mary Christine Brockert, better known by her stage name Teena Marie, was an American singer, songwriter and producer...

, released in 1990. It was Marie's last album for Epic Records

Epic Records

Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...

 and was a commercial failure, only reaching #27 on the US Black Albums chart and #132 on the Billboard Albums chart

Billboard 200

The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...

 (her lowest-placing album on both charts up to that date). Marie's use of Hip-Hop elements on some tracks was considered jarring by many fans and critics.

Two singles from the album, "If I Were a Bell" and "Here's Looking at You", performed respectably on the Black Singles chart, peaking at #8 and #11 respectively. The track "Since Day One" was produced and co-written by Jazzie B

Jazzie B

Trevor Beresford Romeo OBE , better known by his stage name Jazzie B, is a British DJ, music producer, and entrepreneur. He is a founding member of Soul II Soul.-Life and career:...

 of British group Soul II Soul

Soul II Soul

Soul II Soul are a British group that was created in London in 1988. They are best known for their 1989 UK chart-topper and U.S. Top 5 hit, "Back to Life ".-Career:...

 and reached #69 in the United Kingdom, Marie's highest charting single in that country since "I Need Your Lovin'" ten years previously.

Track listing

All songs written by Teena Marie, except where noted.

1. "Here's Looking at You" – 6:13
2. "The Sugar Shack Prelude" (Marie, Penny "P.J." Johnson) – 1:05
3. "The Sugar Shack" (Marie, James Stewart) – 5:47
4. "If I Were a Bell" – 6:40
5. "Just Us Two" – 6:07
6. "Mr. Icecream" – 6:05
7. "Ivory (A Tone Poem)" – 1:21
8. "Snap Your Fingers" (James Allen, Marie) – 5:07
9. "Cupid Is a Real Straight Shooter" – 5:45
10. "How Can You Resist It" (Marie, Johnson) – 5:28
11. "Since Day One" (Jazzie B
    Jazzie B
    Trevor Beresford Romeo OBE , better known by his stage name Jazzie B, is a British DJ, music producer, and entrepreneur. He is a founding member of Soul II Soul.-Life and career:...
    
    , Marie, Michael J McEvoy
    Michael J McEvoy
    Michael J McEvoy is a screen composer, orchestrator and multi-instrumentalist. He began studying music as a child but his music education developed quickly after his family relocated to London, England in 1973...
    
    ) – 6:43
12. "Miracles Need Wings to Fly" – 5:11
13. "The Red Zone" – 8:01