Tata Vega's "Come In Heaven (Earth Is Calling)" And "Totally Tata"

Back in the early 80s  I first heard  Tata Vega's "Come In Heaven (Earth Is Calling)" on " Pops, We Love You" - a tribute album dedicated  to Berry Gordy Sr., the father of the founder of Motown Records by artistes such as Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye , Diana Ross among others. I was immediately floored by Tata Vega's intensity in this song. Definitely one of the remaining BEST Motown records ever released in their declining years during the late 70's. It remains one of my all time favorites since.

 Pay attention of the lyrics dealing with ecology long before it becomes fashionable to some rich bitches. and her anger with begging rich people to help the poors and their "hell no no....." attitude(at 3.00 and onwards of the video). I bought the Japanese release a few years ago and paid $$$$ for it. I am delighted that the Brits decided to release an expanded version now:-

  
Side by side with the reissue of TATA VEGA's 1976 "Full Speed Ahead" Motown debut, Soul Music.com Records is very proud to be releasing the multi-talented artist's sophomore album for the label TOTALLY TATA.

Released in 1977, TOTALLY TATA once again provided a great musical setting for the native New Yorker. Musicians for the sessions included Andre Lewis (of the Motown group Mandre), Paulinho Da Costa and John Barnes with arrangements by Al Johnson (of "Back For More" fame) who also worked on "Full Speed Ahead" and was featured on the key cut track "You'll Never Rock Alone" (co-written by Brenda Russell).

 The album includes a wonderful version of Stevie Wonder's "Blame It On The Sun," the standout "Love Comes From The Most Unexpected Places" and the spectacular "Come In Heaven (Earth Is Calling)," co-written by Marvin Gaye's ex-wife Anna Gordy and Gaye collaborator Elgie Stover with Tata and Terrence Harrison,

 

and a staple in Tata's recording and performance repertoire.Like its predecessor,


TOTALLY TATA was embraced by Motown music lovers worldwide who are elated that the album - previously only available on a now out-of-print limited edition Japanese CD - is making its return with three bonus tracks: the "A" and "B" sides of the planned-but-never-released single version of "Come In Heaven" and Tata's second version of "You'll Never Rock Alone" a duet with Jermaine Jackson, issued on the Motown album "Pops, We Love You."

Sleeve notes by Soul Music.com founder David Nathan include quotes from 2011 interviews with Tata and
Motown executive producer Iris Gordy for these notes.



Biography:

Táta Vega (born Carmen Rose Vega on October 7, 1951, in Queens, New York) is a vocalist whose career spans theater, film, and a variety of musical genres. Growing up in the Panama Canal Zone, she was surrounded by the sounds of Latin music while developing a vast appreciation for the sounds of rhythm and blues. Gospel, rock, folk, country and any other music that Tata could hear would also affect her in their own individual way. By the age of sixteen, it was apparent that Tata was destined for a career in the music industry. She moved to California and made her way into the musical Hair.

While in Hair, she met Dobie Gray (known for his international smash "Drift Away") who invited her to become a part of a counter-culture band called Pollution. After two albums with Pollution, Tata joined another band, Earthquire, who would sign a deal with Natural Resources, a division of Motown. As lead singer, songwriter and percussionist with the band, Tata's talents were immediately noticed by Motown who signed her as a soloist on the Tamla label. As a soloist with Motown, Tata released four critically acclaimed albums (Full Speed Ahead, Totally Tata, Try My Love, Givin' All My Love).

These four albums covered every musical territory possible: southern soul, disco, gospel, jazz, funk, country, Latin and doo-wop. Tata also scored two international hits ("I Just Keep Thinking About You Baby" and "Get It Up For Love") which topped charts in both America and Europe. These songs were so contagiously funky that some critics dubbed her "the godmother of funk". Following her tenure at Motown, Tata maintained a hectic schedule as a studio singer while simultaneously moving into gospel music.

She became the cornerstone of Andraé Crouch's back-up group and began touring with him internationally. Throughout the eighties she sang back-up for artists such as Russ Taff, Randy Stonehill, Leslie Phillips, Stevie Wonder, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Chaka Kahn, Patti LaBelle and countless others. Perhaps the pinnacle of the eighties for Tata was being the voice of the infamous Shug Avery in The Color Purple. This recording led to an Oscar nomination and performance, followed by other motion picture soundtracks including The Lion King, Amistad, Forrest Gump and others. Despite all of the success in mainstream entertainment, Tata 's heart has remained in the gospel music medium.

Tata signed with Quincy Jones' Qwest Records in 1998 and released her long-awaited gospel solo debut, Now I See. The album was birthed from her life experiences and testifies of the salvation, mercy and devotion of God. The album was also critically acclaimed and earned a Stellar Award nomination. As a single parent she has had to balance the demands of her ministry and motherhood, yet Tata maintains a simplicity and sweetness that has endeared millions of people around the world.

Her fan base spans the United States to Sweden to Japan. No matter the cultural surrounding, Tata carries an indescribable something that everyone can relate to. Tata says, "I just want to encourage the average joe...because that's who I am.

I want to tell people to have faith in God and to have dreams. God has a plan for our lives and that's what's carried me through life. I know that He gave me something to share...and I'll never stop dreaming." User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL..