Looking back, Teena Maria seems like the living link between the introspective singer/songwriters of the ‘70s and the hip-hop queens of the ‘90s. Her output for the Epic label was particularly ahead of its time, veering from sassy funk (“Fix It”) to tormented torch balladry (“Casanova Brown”) and gossamer soul (“Stop the World,” “Just Us Two”) with distinctive intelligence and taste. Lovergirl: The Teena Marie Story gathers the highlights of this fruitful period in Marie’s career in one succinct package. Obvious hits like the pop crossover smash “Lovergirl” are paired with hard-to-find dance remixes to give a well-rounded picture of what Lady T was up to in her heyday. Dipping back into these tunes is a revelation — “Shadow Boxing,” for instance, anticipates any number of acoustic-groove excursions heard on the airwaves in the ‘00s. Much like Prince, Marie managed to keep within the mainstream during the ‘80s while challenging expectations of what an R&B/pop artist could accomplish. Lovergirl more than makes the case for why this artist’s legacy remains so vital and enduring.