Originally a 9:02 album track on Tata Vega's sophomore album "Totally Tata" 1977, "Come In Heaven (Earth Is Calling)" was always really two tracks rolled into one. The first half a deep soul
ballad and the second half takes it into Disco territory. When David
Nathan's Soul Music Records reissued the album on CD in 2011 they had the
foresight to break it into two bonus tracks. So here's the first half.
We'll also add the full length album track as a couple of minutes have been
lost between the two edits.
Carmen Rosa 'Tata' Vega released four solo albums for Motown's Tamla
imprint between 1977-80 and then had a break and came back a gospel artist
but also performed backing vocals fro many artist.
In the late 60s she performed in a Broadway production of 'Hair' in L.A.
and then joined a group called Pollution of which Dobie Gray was a member.
Whilst performing they were spotted by Berry Gordy who signed them and
released an album on them as Earthquire on Natural Resources in 1972. The
album failed commercially and the group were dropped but Tata
retained.
Click on image below for link to where you can buy from.
Melodies International are releasing a 12" vinyl issue of "I’ve Got My Second Wind", a song recorded by two artists in 1980. First by the writer Al Johnson which appeared on his album "Back For More" and also released as a single. The other version is by Motown artist Tata Vega who recorded it as an album only track, which features G.C. Cameron, on her final Motown album "Givin' All My Love".
Johnson did in fact record it first on his debut solo album "Peaceful" in 1978 but the version here is the longer re-recorded version for "Back For More". The single edit was reissued by Expansion in 2017 as the flip to his classic with Jean Carn "Back For More".
Incidentally, the Tata Vega album includes a good version of Gwen Owens' "You Better Watch Out" (1974) taken at a slightly slower pace.
A monster sound in it's day (mid 70s) and surprised it's not higher up in the 500!
This is a very rare record as apparently there was a pressing fault and they were withdrawn for sale and destroyed but obviously a few have escaped! It is suggested that there were 2 presses - one skips towards the end. There's an interesting thread here: Soul Source Gwen Owens. There is also quite a detailed biography for her on Discogs.
In summary she recorded 7 singles in the 60s for a number of labels OnCore, Rem, Velgo (2), Lau-Reen, Josie and 2 in 70s Casablanca and Big Tree. An early unreleased 45, that was recorded on Harthon in 1967 just before she joined Josie, was licensed from Weldon McDougal / Harthon and released by Adey Pierce on Mel-Ady.
Discography
1964
Oncore ON-84
Mystery Man/Someone To Love
1964
REM 105
Mystery Of Love /
The Impacs - Myster of Love (Sing-A-Long)
1966
Velgo VO-001
I Lost A Good Thing/I'll Be Crying
1967
Velgo VO-002
Just Say You're Wanted (And Needed)/Still True To You
1967
Mal-Ady MA-100
Lies/Rain
1968
Lau-Reen 1002
Make Him Mine/One More Day
1969
Josie 45-1009
Keep On Living/It Ain't Hardly Over
1974
Casablanca NB 808
You Better Watch Out/Everybody Needs Love
1979
Big Tree K 11335
I Don't Want To Dance No More /
Hold Me Like You Never Had Me
She released 2 of only 3 releases on Velgo based in New Haven MI, owned by Larry Lick (Pavlik). Velgo was a subsidiary of Sound Inc. which released Gary Haines - Keep On Going S1 110 and Capreez - How To Make A Sad Man Glad S1-149.
In 1976 she joined the group Hot (a trio of Gwen, Owens, Cathy Carson and Juanita Curiel) who had a US Top 10 hit with 'Angel In Your Arms' which reached #6. Hot released 3 albums and around 7 singles on Big Tree between 1976-79, (a further single was released on Boradwalk in 1982) 3 of these (incl. Angel In My Arms entered the Hot 100.
509 Gwen Owens [1967] - Just Say You're Wanted (And Needed) [Velgo V0-002]
Gwen Owens [1967] - Still True To You [Velgo V0-002]
Gwen Owens [1966] - I Lost A Good Thing [Velgo V0-001]
Gwen Owens [1966] - I'll Be Crying [Velgo V0-001]
Gwen Owens [1964] - Mystery Man [Oncore ON-84]
Gwen Owens [1964] - Someone To Love [Oncore ON-84]
One for tyhe lowriders.
Gwen Owens [1964] - Mystery Of Love [REM 105]
Gwen Owens [1968] - Make Him Mine [Lau-Reen 1002]
Lau-Reenwas a sister label toRam-Brockrun by Rudy Robinson from Dexter Ave., Detroit. There were only 2 releases, the first being by Rudy Robinson & The Hungry Four - Close Your Mouth Pts. 1 & 2 (a horn-laden funky instrumental) and the 2nd and last by Gwen Owens.
Ram-Brock released 4 45s between 1967-68 and all but the first one from Magic Tones were from Cody Black who had several other release on Detroit labels such as D-Town, Wheelsville and Groove City. The Magic Tones also had many other relases on Detroit labels such as Wheelsville, Solid Hit, MAH's and Westbound.
Gwen Owens [1968] - One More Day [Lau-Reen 1002]
Gwen Owens [1967] - It AIn't Hardly Over [Josie 45-1009]
A great crossover tune on Josie.
Gwen Owens [1974] - You Beter Watch Out [Casablanca NB 808]
Tata Vega [1980] - You Beter Watch Out [Tamla T 54316F]
Tata Vega recorded You Better Watch Out on her 4th (and last) Motown (Tamla) album. If was also released as the flip to 'You Keep Me Hanging On'.
Hot [1978] - If That's The Way That You Want It [Big Tree BT 16118]
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