Soul Talkin': Vesta
VESTA - BACK IN BUSINESS! by David Nathan Los Angeles, February, 2007: As soul music folks who were checking their radios in the late ’80s and early ’90s will recall, the dynamic and powerhouse vocals of Vesta Williams could often be heard via such hits as her 1989 classic “Congratulations” and earlier singles like “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” and “Sweet, Sweet Love.” After seven years with A&M Records, the Ohio-born, L.A. resident went through something of a metamorphosis: she had a dramatic weight loss and I recall well running into her at a function at B.B. King’s Blues Club in Los Angeles and having absolutely no idea who I was talking to! Vesta was virtually unrecognizable but as she explained at the time, the weight loss was somewhat prompted by a period of time in the ‘90s spent with MCA Records during which nothing was released. The powers-that-be had deemed that Vesta didn’t have the right ‘image’ (as a full figured woman) to be marketed when slim was ‘in.’ After her physical transformation, Vesta kept busy on the road doing shows with artists like Gerald Albright, George Duke, Howard Hewett, Christian McBride and Lee Ritenour. It was through a tour with the group Fourplay (whose line-up included Ritenour) that Vesta signed with the renowned guitarist label, i.e. Records. A 1998 album “Relationships” followed and while Vesta continued to perform, aside from a special appearance on the “Café All Stars” project in 2005, she didn’t record – until late last year.
Downing in Los Angeles last summer that I mentioned Shanachie Records, the label responsible for putting out a series of R&B cover albums including one by Phil Perry, who happened to be at the event too (bowling quite well, as I recall!). Destiny, fate, serendipity - whatever you want to call it – and shortly thereafter, producer Chris ‘Big Dog’ Davis (who has worked on a number of the Shanachie projects) contacted Vesta about speaking with the label. “Chris asked me if I was interested in doing a record of cover songs and it was very simple,” Vesta recalls. “He put me in touch with the label head Danny Weiss and it was incredibly easy. I knew five songs I wanted to record right away…” Once everything was signed and sealed, Vesta began the project in earnest. “Those first five were (The Spinners’) “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love,” Marvin (Gaye)’s “Distant Lover,” Bill Withers’ “Use Me,” Sade’s “Ordinary Love” and Deniece Williams’ “Free.” My manager David Lombard picked Sly’s “If You Want Me To Stay” and we picked the rest of the songs between us. There was no pressure. I wanted to find songs that women haven’t necessarily recorded and bring a different perspective to them…” It’s no surprise given the consummate professional approach that Vesta has always taken to her work as a recording artist that. in her own words, “I came in prepared. I know I can get my ‘holler’ on but there were no ‘screamin’ and hollerin’’ arrangements. Honestly, none of the songs were super challenging vocally. I did my own background vocals on five of the tracks and one (“With You I’m Born Again”) features Issac Clemons, a former background vocalist with Will Downing with whom I’ve toured in the past. It was a happy and fun project to do and that’s rare! I wanted to get to the essence of the character of the songs. I’m my own worst critic and it was amazing: I can put this record on from beginning to end…whereas with every other record, I would go ‘uh’…like I knew I could do something different or better..” With an ever-changing music marketplace, Vesta was clear that the “Distant Lover” CD would have an appeal to an audience for whom “the songs evoke pleasant memories. I know there are some folks who grew up with those Philippe Wynne licks (on The Spinners’ hits). I’ve been loving “No Ordinary Love” since I first heard. With “Free,” Deniece laid down a superior vocal initially so this was my way of being homage to her. I heard Sly during the era when I was in a band (back in Ohio) and he was such a genius, one of the funkiest guys on the planet, he just always turned a party on with his music. I chose “With You I’m Born Again” because I spent some time with Syreeta at her home with her children and we did some work together. I loved Billy (Preston) from a distance. With their passing, it felt like the right song to do.” As noted, Vesta chose a number of songs – such as Smokey Robinson’s “Ooo Baby Baby” and Stevie Wonder’s “Knocks Me Off My Feet” – associated with male artists. A couple were surprising choices: “My manager David Lombard suggested Babyface’s “Whip Appeal” and I said, ‘ooh, yeah…that would be a good one.’ I did it from my perspective, being a very sensual person. And it’s a ‘nasty’ song!“ Asked if the song had a personal resonance, Vesta laughs knowingly: “Yes, there was someone I was spending that kind of time with during the time we were recording the song. Someone said, ‘you’re singing it like you’re having someone..’ and it was very fresh in my mind – like I was singing it an hour later after being with them!” Likewise, Marvin Gaye’s classic “Distant Lover” had some personal meaning for the singer, who proudly mentions that she is a ‘three-time grandmother!’ She recalls, “I was away from someone special when I was recording the song. I really felt Marvin’s presence in the studio when we were doing it – like a severe ‘chill,’ like he was ‘channeling’ the song through me. And the Bill Withers song, “Use Me”? He has to have one of the best catalogs in the world. The song is about a real life situation. Sure, I have been used and abused but you can be in situations where you can be ‘used’ in a good way,’” Vesta concludes with a giggle. Since completing the CD, Vesta says she’ s had a few comments: “People say that doing a Sade song was a brave move. A lot of people didn’t know I could stay in the same character for an entire song as I did on “Free” and “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love” just puts a smile on everyone’s face.” As an almost two-decade-long participant in the music business, Vesta does have a few things to say about why it’s taken so long for her to make a new record. “Because of the way music is today, the labels decide who to hire and the people doing the choosing (of who to sign) are thinking about music for the 12-19 age group. There are not a lot of outlets for seasoned veterans like myself, not a lot of slots available for artists of my age. But the truth is the ‘grown’n’sexy’ people still want to buy records. It is a viable demographic that’s starving for those artists they love. I do get young people who come up to me at a show and say, ‘I love your music because my aunt listened to your music’ and that warms and touches my heart. For a minute, musical ageism was going on but you gotta keep moving forward. When I got my first record deal, I was really really young too and back then, there were some people who had longevity who were having a tough time in the industry. But when you are blessed to have second, third and fourth chances, you know it’s the grace of God that’s keeping you going.” Vesta admits that there were times over the past ten years when “I came close to that feeling of extreme despair. I had had too many ‘no’s’ and that sent me into a bad depression. I woke up to the fact that I had to embrace my age, that was not 12, that I couldn’t keep acting like I was 35! I think I must have been pretending I was 35 for 122 years! I finally had to tell myself, ‘you can’t lie here and cry!’ I went to church and I really had an epiphany. The minister pointed right at me and said, ‘Vesta – it is not over for you…and don’t think it is, thinking that is a lie!’ I realized that I wasn’t given all us this talent to rust. If the passion doesn’t burn in your heart for what you’re doing, you shouldn’t be doing it. I said to myself, ‘This is who you are, you’ve been given this big blessing and you’re supposed to use.’ And that’s my testimony. Ever since then. everything been going my way and God’s way. I felt a change in myself and I realized I needed new management and a fresh new everything! Of course, it’s most helpful when you have a new record out….that changes everything dramatically because you start getting more work!” With plans to make a brand new record of original music (“I’ve got a lot to say…it’s going to be called ‘Seven’ which has a lot of significance for me”) and a second R&B classics record, Vesta looks forward with a positive stance: “I’ m still doing guest appearances, I’m still doing voice overs and soundtrack work and still writing. I’m collecting as many checks as possible with my name on them!” she laughs. With “Distant Lover” bringing a smile to the many music buyers who have been long awaiting a new Vesta album, she simply says, “I love all the people who have supported my music and all that I ask is that you please continue to give me my hugs and prayers too!” You can check out Vesta online at www.vestawilliams.com |
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