Táta Vega -

Táta Vega (born Oct. 7, 1951) is an American soul singer from New York who did early Seventies stints in Pollution, Earthquire, and the Andrae Crouch Singers. Between 1976 and 1980, she cut four albums on Tamla.

Background

She was born Carmen Rosa Vega on October 7, 1951, in Jamaica, a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City; the daughter of Rosaura Maltés and US Air Force serviceman Luis Alfredo De La Vega. During her childhood, the family bounced between Panama, Puerto Rico, San Antonio, and Colorado Springs. At 17, she legally changed her forename to Táta, a nickname given by her father after the first word she uttered as a toddler.

A singer from age 12, Táta got her first major gig at 17 in the Los Angeles production of the rock musical Hair. After one season with the cast (1969–70), she joined Pollution, a soul/rock sextet fronted by Dobie Gray. They cut two albums in 1971/72 on Prophesy Records. She also sang on one track (“Somebody’s Watching You”) on Raised On Records, the 1972 solo album by (ex-Grass Roots) singer P.F. Sloan.

In 1972, Táta joined Earthquire, a soul quartet that cut an album on the Motown-subsidiary Natural Resources. When the group disbanded, Motown retained her as a solo artist. She sang on demos of fresh label material and impressed in-house songwriter Iris Gordy, the sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy and the wife of Johnny Bristol. Iris became Táta’s co-manager with G.C. Cameron’s producer, Winston Monseque.

Full Speed Ahead

Táta Vega released her debut album, Full Speed Ahead, in 1976 on Tamla.

The album opens with the fiery retro-soul title track and balances driving uptempo numbers with gospel-inflected midtempo pieces and romantic ballads. It also includes two Motown-associated covers: Stevie Wonder’s “Never Had a Dream Come True” and Ashford & Simpson’s “Keep It Coming.”

Keyboardist and arranger Al Johnson co-wrote the title track with David Jones Jr. and Wade Brown. Sigidi and John Christopher Fox supplied “Try Love From the Inside.” Stevie Wonder, Sylvia Moy, and Henry Cosby wrote “Never Had a Dream Come True.” Valerie Simpson and Nick Ashford wrote “Keep It Coming.” Alfred O. Johnson contributed “Just When Things Are Getting Good.” Richard Winarick, Clarence Drayton, and the husband–wife team Michael and Brenda Sutton also supplied songs. Vega co-wrote the closing number, “Try God,” with guitarist Jay Graydon. “Just as Long as There Is You” is credited to Iris Gordy, Bobby Belle, and Tina Brockert (Stevie Nicks’s future protégée, Teena Marie).

The set alternates between emphatic gospel-fired testimonies (“Try Love From the Inside,” “Try God”), torch ballads (“Just When Things Are Getting Good,” “Just as Long as There Is You”), and animated tributes to Motown tradition (“Never Had a Dream Come True,” “Keep It Coming”). The title track drives with surging horns and crisp rhythm in the Stax spirit.

A1. “Full Speed Ahead” (5:15)
A2. “Try Love From the Inside” (3:03)
A3. “Never Had a Dream Come True” (3:27) originated as a 1970 Stevie Wonder single, also covered by the Jackson 5.
A4. “Just When Things Are Getting Good” (3:57)
A5. “Been on My Own Too Long (In the Wilderness)” (3:51)

B1. “Love Is All You Need” (3:30)
B2. “Music in My Heart” (3:11)
B3. “Keep It Coming” (2:48) originated on Valerie Simpson‘s 1972 solo album, covered since by Rufus and Freda Payne.
B4. “Just as Long as There Is You” (4:42)
B5. “Try God” (4:55)

Sessions occurred at Kendun Recorders in Burbank, A&M Studios in Hollywood, and Davlen Studios in North Hollywood with producer Winston Monseque and engineer Humberto Gatica. Mixes took place at Village Recorders and Westlake Audio, and mastering was handled at Motown Recording Studios in Hollywood.

The sleeve features photography by Norman Seeff.

Tamla lifted “Full Speed Ahead” backed with “Just as Long as There Is You” (T 54271F) on July 29, 1976.

Totally Táta

Táta Vega released her second album, Totally Táta, in 1977 on Tamla.

The album heightens the intensity of her debut with extended gospel-soul excursions, vivid ballads, and uptempo R&B numbers. Its centerpiece is the nine-minute “Come in Heaven (Earth Is Calling),” framed by a mix of devotional and secular imagery.

Keyboardist Al Johnson arranged the album and contributed “Ever So Lovingly” and co-wrote “It’s Too Late” with Tony Huff. Táta co-wrote “Come in Heaven (Earth Is Calling)” with Art Gaye, Ed Stover, and Tee. Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright supplied “Blame It on the Sun.” Richard Winarick wrote “Deep Inside,” while Harold and Kenneth Lewis provided “Jesus Takes Me Higher.” Kim Carnes and Dave Ellingson wrote “Love Comes From the Most Unexpected Places,” first recorded on Carnes’ 1976 album Sailin’. Bryan Russell authored “You’ll Never Rock Alone.”

The record divides between urgent uptempo workouts (“Mr. Troublemaker,” “It’s Too Late,” “You’ll Never Rock Alone”), introspective ballads (“Blame It on the Sun,” “Deep Inside,” “Love Comes From the Most Unexpected Places”), and expansive spiritual numbers. “Come in Heaven (Earth Is Calling)” shifts from atmospheric opening to frenetic climax with layered vocals and surging bass patterns.

A1. “Mr. Troublemaker” (3:42)
A2. “Blame It on the Sun” (4:26)
A3. “Come in Heaven (Earth Is Calling)” (9:02)
A4. “Deep Inside” (4:58)

B1. “Jesus Takes Me Higher” (5:13)
B2. “Love Comes From the Most Unexpected Places” (3:28)
B3. “It’s Too Late” (3:34)
B4. “You’ll Never Rock Alone” (3:20)
B5. “Ever So Lovingly” (5:34)

Sessions occurred at Kendun Recorders and Davlen Sound Studios with producer Winston Monseque and engineer Humberto Gatica. Mixing took place at Westlake Audio, and mastering was handled at Kendun Recorders by John Golden.

The sleeve features photography by Earl Miller.

Tamla issued “You’ll Never Rock Alone” backed with “Just When Things Are Getting Good” (T 54282F) on April 14, 1977.

Try My Love

Táta Vega released her third album, Try My Love, in 1978 on Tamla.

The album places her animated vocal style in a mix of uptempo R&B, reflective ballads, and contemporary dance tracks. It also includes her take on Ned Doheny’s “Get It Up for Love” and Jr. Walker’s “Whopper Bopper Show Stopper.”

David Jones Jr., Wade Brown Jr., and Michael Margerum co-wrote the title track. Brian and Edward Holland supplied “I Need You Now.” Will Jennings wrote “If Love Must Go,” while Dave Grusin, Claudio Slon, and Dave Griffin provided “Magic Feeling.” Brenda and Brian Russell, with David Foster, wrote “Gonna Do My Best to Love You.” Gwen Cathey and Harold Johnson wrote “I Just Keep Thinking About You Baby,” issued as a single. Guitarist Marlo Henderson authored “In the Morning.”

A1. “Come On and Try My Love” (3:20)
A2. “I Need You Now” (3:34)
A3. “Get It Up for Love” (6:09)
A4. “If Love Must Go” (4:11)
A5. “Magic Feeling” (3:51)

B1. “Gonna Do My Best to Love You” (4:23)
B2. “I Just Keep Thinking About You Baby” (4:21)
B3. “Whopper Bopper Show Stopper” (3:15)
B4. “In the Morning” (4:15)

Sessions occurred in Los Angeles with producer Winston Monseque and engineer Humberto Gatica. Andre Fischer co-produced select tracks, with Al Johnson arranging throughout.

The sleeve features photography by Suzanne Nyerges.

Tamla issued “I Just Keep Thinking About You Baby” backed with “Music in My Heart” (T 54299F) in April 1979, followed by “I Need You Now” backed with “In the Morning” (T 54304F) in July. The 12-inch pairing of “I Just Keep Thinking About You Baby” and “Get It Up for Love” reached the Top 20 on Billboard’s Dance chart.

In 1979, Vega also appeared on Stevie Wonder’s soundtrack double-album Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants.

Givin’ All My Love

Táta Vega released her fourth album, Givin’ All My Love, in 1980 on Tamla.

The album blends expansive dance arrangements with reflective ballads and orchestrated R&B, framed by Vega’s high-energy vocal delivery. It includes her interpretation of the Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” and a new version of Gwen Owens’ 1974 single “You Better Watch Out.”

Harold Johnson wrote the title track, while Larry Brown and Terri McFaddin wrote “Reachin’ All Around My Love” and co-wrote “There’s Love in the World” with Frank Wilson. Don Daniels and Steven “Red” Milburn supplied “Abandoned.” Clayton Ivey and Terry Woodford authored “You Better Watch Out.” Eddie Coleman Jr. co-wrote “Love Your Neighbor” with Gwen Gordy Fuqua and N. Fowler. Al Johnson co-wrote “(I’ve Got My) Second Wind” with Tom Fauntleroy and arranged much of the material, including “I Get So Used to You Being Around,” written by David Jones, Michael Margerum, and Wade Brown.

A1. “Givin’ All My Love” (4:41)
A2. “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” (5:37)
A3. “Abandoned” (4:55)
A4. “Reachin’ All Around My Love” (4:25)

B1. “There’s Love in the World” (4:24)
B2. “You Better Watch Out” (3:20)
B3. “Love Your Neighbor” (5:00)
B4. “(I’ve Got My) Second Wind” (5:10)
B5. “I Get So Used to You Being Around” (3:40)

Sessions occurred at Love ’N Comfort Studios, Record Plant in Los Angeles, Kendun Recorders, and Motown’s Hitsville U.S.A. with producer Winston Monseque and engineers Clay McMurray, Michael Schuman, Rick Barcellona, Steve Smith, Steve Williams, and Tom Wilson. Eddie Coleman Jr. produced “Love Your Neighbor,” co-produced by Gwen Gordy Fuqua, who also served as project executive alongside Iris Gordy.

The cover features photography by Claude Mougin with art direction by Ginny Livingston and design by Johnny Lee.

Tamla lifted “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” backed with “You Better Watch Out” (T 54316F) as a single in November 1980.

Discography: