THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

735-Teena Marie-Behind the Groove.

1980-Number 6 single.

Best Bit-At 1.09.Many artists, including Olivia Newton John, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Rush, and Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, have sang of the delights of ‘Xanadu,’ but only Teena Marie made it ‘Funky.’

Teena Marie was born Mary Brockert on March 5, 1956, in Santa Monica, California, United States, she died on December 26, 2010. In 2004, while sleeping in a hotel room, a large picture frame fell, and struck her on the head, the blow caused a serious concussion that caused momentary seizures for the rest of her life, a month before her death, she had suffered a ‘generalized tonic-clonic seizure,’which probably led to her death.

Teena Marie first found success when signing with the ‘Gordy’ record label, a subsidiary of Motown Records. Her first Album for the label,’Wild and Peaceful’ in 1979 was produced by Rick James (see also best songs 418,) and because her picture didn’t appear on the cover, many people believed she was an African/American. It wasn’t until appearing on ‘Soul Train’ in 1979, becoming the show’s first white female performer, that the myth was finally disproved.Marie would appear on Soul Train a total of nine times,more than any other white act.

‘Behind the Groove’ is taken from Teena Marie’s second studio Album ‘Lady T,’ from 1980, and with Rick James (1948-2004) not being available she turned to Richard Rudolph, who co-wrote this song with Marie, and also produced the Album. Rudolph was the husband of Minnie Ripperton (1947-1979,) and had co-written, and produced ‘Lovin’ You,'(see also best songs 503,) her 1975 Billboard Number 1 single.As a writer, producer, and music supervisor, Rudolph has contributed to worldwide sales in excess of 30 million Albums.

‘Got to move, get behind the groove, why don’t you let your spirit play. Another me and another you, if we make it through to Xanadu.’