I very recently got a pristine original CD copy of this album.

Wow, this is an album you can really sink your teeth into! I remember seeing her name on the org before but I didn't really remember any of these songs (going pop in 1988).

No matter, it's a great album!


Apparently she passed in 2011 of hypertensive heart disease.

Apparently, this was the bigger hit:

I was just spinning this CD in my car over the weekend. I still have the original CD I purchased back in '88 when I was a teenager. Amazing album. Amazing lady who unfortunately, was never given a lot of opportunities in the industry. Cinny, if you haven't done so already, watch the Vesta Unsung episode. Such a bitter sweet story. The only Unsung that made me laugh and cry at the same time. What an incredible talent she was. I loved her music and her personality dearly and still mourn her to this day.

kitbradley said:

I was just spinning this CD in my car over the weekend. I still have the original CD I purchased back in '88 when I was a teenager. Amazing album. Amazing lady who unfortunately, was never given a lot of opportunities in the industry. Cinny, if you haven't done so already, watch the Vesta Unsung episode. Such a bitter sweet story. The only Unsung that made me laugh and cry at the same time. What an incredible talent she was. I loved her music and her personality dearly and still mourn her to this day.

Man, if there was ever an artist that deserved an Unsung episode, it's her. I will suss it out! Thanks

I remember you posting on other Vesta threads. I knew I had missed something special.

SoulAlive said:

Cinny said:

I very recently got a pristine original CD copy of this album.

Wow, this is an album you can really sink your teeth into! I remember seeing her name on the org before but I didn't really remember any of these songs (going pop in 1988).

No matter, it's a great album!


Apparently she passed in 2011 of hypertensive heart disease.

You should check ot her first album too Vesta from 1986.

The jams songs on there are:

"Once Bitten, Twice Shy"

"Don't Blow a Good Thing"

"You Make Me Want To (Love Again)"

kitbradley said:

I was just spinning this CD in my car over the weekend. I still have the original CD I purchased back in '88 when I was a teenager. Amazing album. Amazing lady who unfortunately, was never given a lot of opportunities in the industry. Cinny, if you haven't done so already, watch the Vesta Unsung episode. Such a bitter sweet story. The only Unsung that made me laugh and cry at the same time. What an incredible talent she was. I loved her music and her personality dearly and still mourn her to this day.

Yeah Vesta was teh best- I loved her humor. That Unsug was great. And the interviews she used too do with Donnie Simpson on Video Soul wereawesome too.

phunkdaddy said:

SoulAlive said:

I have her 1986 debut album on vinyl.It's a really good album with an abundance of uptempo dance tracks.

Yeah Vesta was getting it in that Something About You video.

It seems like,with the first album,they were trying to turn her into a dance/R&B diva.On her other albums,they decided to focus more on ballads/quiet storm stuff.Maybe that's why I like the first album so much...it's filled with jams!

Vesta could sang and Scat and all that...Those McDonalds scat commercials with the Legendary AL Jarreau paid the bills..Back-in-the-day I remember people saying "we already have Chaka Khan, we don't need a clone"...Another example...I remember everyone was Praising Whitney for singing her face off on "Visiion of Love"...No one even cared that the radio DJ said "and that was new Artist Mariah Somebody"....Then Mariah began making appearences, sang Live and made a video...For a minute you couldnt tell folks that wasnt Whitney singing Vision of Love on the radio..

Cinny said:

I very recently got a pristine original CD copy of this album.

Wow, this is an album you can really sink your teeth into! I remember seeing her name on the org before but I didn't really remember any of these songs (going pop in 1988).

No matter, it's a great album!


Apparently she passed in 2011 of hypertensive heart disease.

This is my favorite song by her!!! Love it!

SoulAlive said:

I have her 1986 debut album on vinyl.It's a really good album with an abundance of uptempo dance tracks. [Edited 8/24/15 16:23pm]

Although "4 U" is an exceptional album, I think her 1986 self-titled debut is slightly superior. I own 2 copies on CD...the 11 track American pressing and the 12 track U.K. presssing, which contains "Suddenly It's Magic" and the 12" version of "Once Bitten, Twice Shy".

Unfortunately, this album really flew under the radar because she signed with A&M Records and the album was on the market the same time as Janet's Jackson's "Control" and we all know who A&M put their promotional machine behind. "4 U" sufferred the same fate. It was on the market the same time as "Rhythem Nation". "Congratulations" almost wasn't released as a single and I recall in an interview where Vesta stated she paid for the music video out of her own pocket. A&M told her it wasn't going to be a hit and when it blew up, they had egg of their face.

When the third album, "Special", came along, I believe Janet had left the label (?) but Vesta said the label told her they were no longer in the Vesta business anymore. They didn't give a rat's behind about even promoting her at R&B radio. Her fourth and final album for the label, "Everything & More", received ZERO support from A&M. Vesta really didn't have a chance at A&M. I think she would have seen a lot more success across the board at another label. Vesta was a lot like Chaka. Not only did she have a aimilar sound, she could sing in just about any genre.

musicman said:

kitbradley said:

I was just spinning this CD in my car over the weekend. I still have the original CD I purchased back in '88 when I was a teenager. Amazing album. Amazing lady who unfortunately, was never given a lot of opportunities in the industry. Cinny, if you haven't done so already, watch the Vesta Unsung episode. Such a bitter sweet story. The only Unsung that made me laugh and cry at the same time. What an incredible talent she was. I loved her music and her personality dearly and still mourn her to this day.

Yeah Vesta was teh best- I loved her humor. That Unsug was great. And the interviews she used too do with Donnie Simpson on Video Soul wereawesome too.

-

I remember those old interviews with Donnie Simpson too! She was something else. Such a good time with her. Whether live on stage, interviews. She was full of life! She was the definition of vivacious. Had a little crush on her.

-

I was sold from the Sweet Sweet Love song/video. I heard the Chaka influence but didn't care then nor care now. She could blow.

Here's some classic interviews....

-

-

Video and Sound sucks monkey balls but....

-

-

Another one with Donnie...

-

She's funny as hell gorgeous too!!!!

SoulAlive said:

I have her 1986 debut album on vinyl.It's a really good album with an abundance of uptempo dance tracks.

musicman said:

You should check ot her first album too Vesta from 1986.

The jams songs on there are:

"Once Bitten, Twice Shy"

"Don't Blow a Good Thing"

"You Make Me Want To (Love Again)"

Yeah, I think I will. If her SECOND album is this good, she must have a pretty good debut.

Musicslave said:

SoulAlive said:

phunkdaddy said:

SoulAlive said: Yeah Vesta was getting it in that Something About You video.

It seems like,with the first album,they were trying to turn her into a dance/R&B diva.On her other albums,they decided to focus more on ballads/quiet storm stuff.Maybe that's why I like the first album so much...it's filled with jams!

I was hoping BBR or FTG would have reissued her first album by now. It would have to be a double disc because there were a lot of mixes for "Once Bitten", "Something About You" and "Don't Blow A Good Thing". I believe A&M is owned by Universal, which explains why her albums have not been remastered and expanded.

Chancellor said:

Vesta could sang and Scat and all that...Those McDonalds scat commercials with the Legendary AL Jarreau paid the bills..Back-in-the-day I remember people saying "we already have Chaka Khan, we don't need a clone"...Another example...I remember everyone was Praising Whitney for singing her face off on "Visiion of Love"...No one even cared that the radio DJ said "and that was new Artist Mariah Somebody"....Then Mariah began making appearences, sang Live and made a video...For a minute you couldnt tell folks that wasnt Whitney singing Vision of Love on the radio..

My sister used to say the same thing, that Vesta sounded like Chaka. But I always found her voice smoother - Chaka could get screechy.. Vesta had a velvety quality to her voice. A richness I guess that I always liked.

I don't know, I think the quality of Mariah/Whitney's voices are different. Whitney is more gospel to me, whereas Mariah sounded like she was channeling people like Minnie Riperton.

Vesta on the other hand - according to the videos above - sang back up for Chaka and she was from the Chaka Khan school. Most of the R&B sirens in the 80s who tended to built seemed like they were after that Chaka Khan sound, her influence was unavoidable, and Vesta does sound eerily like Chaka in some moments.

kitbradley said:

SoulAlive said:

It seems like,with the first album,they were trying to turn her into a dance/R&B diva.On her other albums,they decided to focus more on ballads/quiet storm stuff.Maybe that's why I like the first album so much...it's filled with jams!

I was hoping BBR or FTG would have reissued her first album by now. It would have to be a double disc because there were a lot of mixes for "Once Bitten", "Something About You" and "Don't Blow A Good Thing". I believe A&M is owned by Universal, which explains why her albums have not been remastered and expanded.

If it ever gets remastered someday,I'll definitely buy it.

Hamad said:

I don't know, I think the quality of Mariah/Whitney's voices are different. Whitney is more gospel to me, whereas Mariah sounded like she was channeling people like Minnie Riperton.

Vesta on the other hand - according to the videos above - sang back up for Chaka and she was from the Chaka Khan school. Most of the R&B sirens in the 80s who tended to built seemed like they were after that Chaka Khan sound, her influence was unavoidable, and Vesta does sound eerily like Chaka in some moments.

I don't think Miki Howard, Regina Belle, Shirley Murdock, Shirely Jones, Angela Winbush, Anita Baker sounded like Chaka Khan at all. Neither did Phyllis Hyman, Gladys Knight or Patti Labelle who were all still going strong. Melissa Morgan sort of, maybe... Karyn White no... these are the gals of 80's R & B that I remember.

Tontoman22 said:

Hamad said:

I don't know, I think the quality of Mariah/Whitney's voices are different. Whitney is more gospel to me, whereas Mariah sounded like she was channeling people like Minnie Riperton.

Vesta on the other hand - according to the videos above - sang back up for Chaka and she was from the Chaka Khan school. Most of the R&B sirens in the 80s who tended to built seemed like they were after that Chaka Khan sound, her influence was unavoidable, and Vesta does sound eerily like Chaka in some moments.

I don't think Miki Howard, Regina Belle, Shirley Murdock, Shirely Jones, Angela Winbush, Anita Baker sounded like Chaka Khan at all. Neither did Phyllis Hyman, Gladys Knight or Patti Labelle who were all still going strong. Melissa Morgan sort of, maybe... Karyn White no... these are the gals of 80's R & B that I remember.

Vesta and Me'lisa both were plagued with comparisons to Chaka. Both toured as background singers with her. Although they didn't (couldn't) sound like Chaka - Miki, Angela, Regina and Anita all credited C.K. as a major influence. Anita admitted that she wanted so badly to sound like Chaka and even thought about recording a remake of Khan's "Smokin' Room" but, according to an interview I read, she changed her mind because she felt once Chaka had touched something, there was nothing more to add to it.

[Edited 8/26/15 9:12am]

Angela Winbush doesn't sound like Chaka but the influence is definitely there. Phyllis, Gladys & Patti are Chaka's peers though, especially the former two, they came way before Chaka's time.

I saw Chaka Khan post a Youtube of Meli'sa Morgan "Fool's Paradise" saying she did such a good job Chaka had been fooled into thinking she recorded it herself

kitbradley said:

Tontoman22 said:

I don't think Miki Howard, Regina Belle, Shirley Murdock, Shirely Jones, Angela Winbush, Anita Baker sounded like Chaka Khan at all. Neither did Phyllis Hyman, Gladys Knight or Patti Labelle who were all still going strong. Melissa Morgan sort of, maybe... Karyn White no... these are the gals of 80's R & B that I remember.

Vesta and Me'lisa both were plagued with comparisons to Chaka. Both toured as background singers with her. Although they didn't (couldn't) sound like Chaka - Miki, Angela, Regina and Anita all credited C.K. as a major influence. Anita admitted that she wanted so badly to sound like Chaka and even thought about recording a remake of Khan's "Smokin' Room" but, according to an interview I read, she changed her mind because she felt once Chaka had touched something, there was nothing more to add to it.

[Edited 8/26/15 9:12am]

Regina as far as I know points to Phyllis as her biggest influence.

Tontoman22 said:

kitbradley said:

Vesta and Me'lisa both were plagued with comparisons to Chaka. Both toured as background singers with her. Although they didn't (couldn't) sound like Chaka - Miki, Angela, Regina and Anita all credited C.K. as a major influence. Anita admitted that she wanted so badly to sound like Chaka and even thought about recording a remake of Khan's "Smokin' Room" but, according to an interview I read, she changed her mind because she felt once Chaka had touched something, there was nothing more to add to it.

[Edited 8/26/15 9:12am]

Regina as far as I know points to Phyllis as her biggest influence.

Regina also LOVES Nancy Wilson!

As for A&M, so much attention was being given to Jackson (Janet) once "Control" took off that artists like CeCe Penniston and Williams didn't stand a CHANCE! Even Herb Alpert, the label's co-owner, scored a first Gold album in aeons with the help of Jackson ("Keep Your Eye On Me, 1987.) Very, selfish, very sad how these two (Penniston & Williams') careers suffered the fates which they did. However, the former DID perform pretty well on the Dance chart, while the latter REALLY struggled 2b met with success that continuously eluded her.

whitechocolatebrotha said:

As for A&M, so much attention was being given to Jackson (Janet) once "Control" took off that artists like CeCe Penniston and Williams didn't stand a CHANCE! Even Herb Alpert, the label's co-owner, scored a first Gold album in aeons with the help of Jackson ("Keep Your Eye On Me, 1987.) Very, selfish, very sad how these two (Penniston & Williams') careers suffered the fates which they did. However, the former DID perform pretty well on the Dance chart, while the latter REALLY struggled 2b met with success that continuously eluded her.

I DVR the ABC series Celebrity Wife Swap and last nights episode featured CeCe Penniston being swapped with somebody...I'll view the episode later..