After the stylistic ambition of 1986’s Emerald City, Teena Marie returned to her funk roots on 1988’s Naked to the World. For all her vocal expertise and cross-genre exploration, there was no replacement for hearing Teena shake her vocals out over a tight dance track, as she does on “Trick Bag,” “Crocodile Tears,” and “The Ball.” The idea that Naked to the World was a sort of homecoming for her is reinforced by the presence of Rick James, who'd helped launch Teena’s career but hadn't worked with her since 1981. Their intense musical chemistry is resurrected on “Call Me (I Got Yo Number)” and “The Once and Future Dream.” (The latter functions as a smoldering sequel to their classic 1981 duet “Fire and Desire.”) The hit single “Ooo La La La” proved that in a rapidly changing panorama of pop divas, Teena Marie could hold her own against younger stars like Madonna and Janet Jackson. She had gutsiness and authenticity—two qualities that came from deep within and couldn't simply be attached to up-and-coming ingénues.