Full Speed Ahead is the debut solo album by Táta Vega. It was released on Motown's Tamla label in 1976.[1][2]
| Full Speed Ahead | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1976 | |||
| Genre | R&B | |||
| Label | Tamla | |||
| Producer | Winston Monseque | |||
| Táta Vega chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
The album was produced by Trinidadian native Winston Monseque, who was also her manager. In a November 1976 interview, Vega cited "Try Love from the Inside", "Try God" and "Music in My Heart" as her favorite tracks off of the album.[3]
Track listing
edit- "Full Speed Ahead" (David H. Jones, Jr., Wade Brown, Jr.) 5:15
- "Try Love from the Inside" (John C. Fox, Sigidi) 3:03
- "Never Had a Dream Come True" (Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy) 3:27
- "Just When Things Are Getting Good" (Alfred O. Johnson) 3:57
- "Been on My Own for Too Long (In the Wilderness)" (Richard Winarick) 3:51
- "Love Is All You Need" (Clarence Drayton) 3:30
- "Music in My Heart" (Michael B. & Brenda Sutton) 3:11
- "Keep It Coming" (Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson) 2:48
- "Just as Long as There Is You" (Iris Gordon, Bobby Belle, Tina Brockert) 4:42
- "Try God" (Jay Graydon, Táta Vega) 4:55
In 2011, the album was digitally remastered and features three bonus tracks. The last two bonus tracks are recordings she made with the group Earthquire.
- "Full Speed Ahead (Extended Disco Version)"
- "Sunshine Man" (Táta Vega)
- "Soul Eyes" (Táta Vega)
The track "Love Is All You Need" was later a chart single for High Inergy. The Ashford & Simpson composition, "Keep It Coming" was previously recorded by Valerie Simpson on her second solo album for Motown and then by Rufus featuring Chaka Khan. Vega also recorded a cover of the Stevie Wonder song "Never Had a Dream Come True". In the same November 1976 interview as above, Vega was also compared to Chaka Khan and Stevie Wonder.[2][3]
On February 18, 2014, the entire album (including the three bonus tracks) were released digitally.[4]
Personnel
edit- Al Johnson, Carmen Twillie, Jessie Smith, Julia Tillman Waters, Kathy Ann Collier, Maxine Willard Waters, Vennette Gould: Backing vocals
- Ben Benay, Greg Poree, Jay Graydon, Ray Parker Jr.: Guitars
- Michel Rubini, Sonny Burke: Keyboards
- Chuck Rainey, Scott Edwards: Bass
- James Gadson: Drums
- Eddie "Bongo" Brown: Percussion
- Gary Coleman: Vibraphone[5]
Production
edit- Arranged by Jay Graydon
- Produced by Winston Monseque
- Recording Engineers: Humberto Gatica, Milt Calice
- Assistant Engineers: Geoff Gilette, Steve Hodge
- Mixed by Humberto Gatica
- Mastered by Greg Morton
References
edit- ^ a b AllMusic review
- ^ a b Nathan, David (2011). Full Speed Ahead (Media notes). Táta Vega. soulmusic.com records.
- ^ a b Abbey, John (November 1976). "Tata Vega:Tata for Now". SoulMusic.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
The album itself is interesting in that she can justifiably be compared to several big name artists – such as Stevie Wonder (because her diction and phrasing are very similar at times) and Chaka Khan (because of her rough, ready and raucous approach to a song.
- ^ "Tata Vega Reissues Get Digital Release in the US". United States: Universal Music. 11 Feb 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-20.
- ^ Personnel and Production, Discogs.com