Philadelphia, PA. native, Tawatha Agee, also known as "Mighty T", first came to prominence as co-lead vocalist in James Mtume's funk collective, Mtume, on their 1978 debut Epic Records release, "Kiss This World Goodbye". Having performed background vocals for a diverse array of artists ranging from Luther Vandross, David Bowie, Roy Ayers, the late Lou Rawls, Celine Dion, Jewel, R. Kelly, Narada Michael Walden, the late Phyllis Hyman, Sting, etc., she's graced her operatic voice to a barrage of their respective hit songs. She even co-wrote and sung background vocals on one of Stephanie Mills' biggest hits, 1981's duet with the late great Teddy Pendergrass, the marvelous "Two Hearts".
On her 1987 solo debut Epic Records release, "Welcome To My Dream", she took those years of experience and expertise, and crafted a great album of uptempo funky numbers, sensual ballads, and mid tempo cuts to get that body working and feet in motion. Let's check out some of the highlights of this overlooked album at the time of it's original release.
"Thigh Ride" - {Written by James Mtume and Tawatha Agee} - {This debut single peaked at #7 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks chart}
This song personifies the "Bent and Phased Shifted Performed Notes of the Bass Synthesizer", as it bounce and pounces you on the chest with it's infectious melody and intensely driven performance. The mid rangy clap of the drum machine programmed snare drum, in conjuction with the thump of the kick drum blends well the circus like fills of an accompanying synthesizer, and the funky rhythm guitar licks. Tawatha's vocal peformance is one of sheer delight and fire as she belts out notes that'll have the hairs on the back of neck stand up. She, too, is a "Mistress of Background Vocal Overdubbed Parts" as they're in perfect harmony and synch.
"Love Shine" - {Written by James Mtume}
This mid tempo groover is drenched with an upper mid range sounding bass synthesizer, melodic chicken picked rhythm guitar performed notes, and, once again, circus like synthesizer fills. This soul/funk shuffler comes complete with latin tinged drum programmed percussions, and a sporadic thunderous hard hit snare, that complements Tawatha's clear and crisp vocal delivery like a hand in glove. The sustained synthesizer fills adds a mysterious and haunting feel that gives the track it's pizazz and flare that'll beckon you to turn the volume up. Yet once again, Tawatha's background performed vocals parts are executed with precision and clarity.
"Are You Serious" - {Written by Ed "Tree" Moore and James Batton}
The Funk is in FULL FORCE !! I'm talking about a kick ass programmed noise gated snare, and bumping kick drum, a stabbing bass synth, and yet once again, those funky rhythm guitar lickings & pickings ! The dance floor calleth you to shake thou ass when this banger is thrown on !! What's cool about this song is that it incorporates a memorable melody that'll stay with you well after the party's over ! In this song, you'll hear the earliest digital samplers as one word from Tawatha's chorus is manipulated in various pitches. Though light years ahead of that God forsaken Auto Tune crap we get now, this alteration of the human voice is more bearable. ....... Oh ! Did I mention Tawatha killed her lead and background vocal performance on this track also ?! .... For those not in the know, when I say she "killed" her vocals, I'm actually paying her a compliment, so please don't take it out of context ! ;-)
"More Than Before" - {Written by James Mtume, Tawatha Agee, and K. Grady}
The FUNK won't leave us alone here folks ! This head bopper falls in the exact line as "Are You Serious" in terms of it's "overall feel", but they're two completely different songs. A kicking bass synth, ...... the tried and true hard hit programmed snare, ..... the "in-your-face" kick drum, ..... the occasion cymbal crashes, .....the consistent hi-hat presense, ......the sequenced percussion parts, ......as well as the emotional felt synthesizer performed chords in the bridge, makes this track one of the shining highlights of this slamming album ! ..... and how could I forget Mighty T's lead and background vocal performance ..... EXTRAORDINAIRE & EXCELLENT is how to best describe it !!
"The Waiting's Over" - {Written by former AURRA member, keyboardist Philip Field and Tawatha Agee}
This mid tempo, feel good head swayer, is another selection you'll have on the "repeat mode" in your iPod for sure ! GUARANTEED ! The star of this particular track is the Mini-Moog Bass (I'm assuming it is) as it's melodic and sheer beautiful sounding notes will wrap you around the groove like you've never experienced before. The chord progressions of the accompanying synthesizers, the ringing chordal tones of the Oberheim OB-8 synthesizer (once again I'm assuming was utilized), rounded out by the left panned hi-hat, and the rhythmically dynamic guitar stylings, has HIT written all over it ! I'm shocked Epic Records at that time didn't choose this as a single as it certainly would've climbed the charts in record time. Ex CHANGE saxophonist, Vincent Henry, delivers a blazing solo that added that cherry on top of the sundae of a song, if you will. Once again, Tawatha delivers her most sexy and sensual lead vocal on this track, as well as her accompanying background vocal dubbed parts. Great song !
Behind every great album, there's a great team behind the artist(s) that's never seen, but whose work is felt and appreciated by those that buys and listen to these very same records. I'm referring to the "Unsung Heros" of this particular album, and they are as follows. Production Coordinator Extraodinaire, Mr. Angelo Ellerbee, for holding down the fort, and making sure the ship is well maintained and smoothly sailed. To the recording engineer and his assistant, Mr. Brian Bannon, and Mr. P.T. Bannon, respectively. THANK YOU !
I'd also like to acknowledge the hard working folks behind the scenes of seeing this fantastic reissue come to fruition. Reissue producer Mr. Donald Cleveland, the hard working staff at Sony's Custom Marketing Group, the Grammy Award winning mastering engineer, Mr. Mark Wilder, package designer Ms. Anna Forrester, and last, but certainly not least, the "Executive Masterminds" behind this reissue, Funky Town Groove U.S.A.'s Mr. Tony Calvert, Mr. Matt Murphy, and Luke at Funky Town Groove's UK office.
But the ULTIMATE THANK YOU goes out to Ms. Tawatha Agee, album producer, James Mtume, and the many musicians that contributed their GOD given talents to this amazing recording. You all deserve a well round of applause !
To pick up your copy of this incredible record, { ...... and I STRONGLY AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you do }, please visit Funky Town Groove U.S.A.'s website at :
www.funkytowngrooves.com/FULL-Reissue-Catalogue_NEW-RELEASES/56/-Tawatha-Welcome-To-My-Dream-(Expanded-Edition)/3026
..... and after you've made your purchase, please, hang around the site and browse FTG's impressive catalog of even more exciting Old School R&B/Funk reissues .... and don't forget to keep your credit card in tow ! ;-)
Please visit Funky Town Grooves United Kingdom website as well at : www.funkytowngrooves.co.uk
On her 1987 solo debut Epic Records release, "Welcome To My Dream", she took those years of experience and expertise, and crafted a great album of uptempo funky numbers, sensual ballads, and mid tempo cuts to get that body working and feet in motion. Let's check out some of the highlights of this overlooked album at the time of it's original release.
"Thigh Ride" - {Written by James Mtume and Tawatha Agee} - {This debut single peaked at #7 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks chart}
This song personifies the "Bent and Phased Shifted Performed Notes of the Bass Synthesizer", as it bounce and pounces you on the chest with it's infectious melody and intensely driven performance. The mid rangy clap of the drum machine programmed snare drum, in conjuction with the thump of the kick drum blends well the circus like fills of an accompanying synthesizer, and the funky rhythm guitar licks. Tawatha's vocal peformance is one of sheer delight and fire as she belts out notes that'll have the hairs on the back of neck stand up. She, too, is a "Mistress of Background Vocal Overdubbed Parts" as they're in perfect harmony and synch.
"Love Shine" - {Written by James Mtume}
This mid tempo groover is drenched with an upper mid range sounding bass synthesizer, melodic chicken picked rhythm guitar performed notes, and, once again, circus like synthesizer fills. This soul/funk shuffler comes complete with latin tinged drum programmed percussions, and a sporadic thunderous hard hit snare, that complements Tawatha's clear and crisp vocal delivery like a hand in glove. The sustained synthesizer fills adds a mysterious and haunting feel that gives the track it's pizazz and flare that'll beckon you to turn the volume up. Yet once again, Tawatha's background performed vocals parts are executed with precision and clarity.
"Are You Serious" - {Written by Ed "Tree" Moore and James Batton}
The Funk is in FULL FORCE !! I'm talking about a kick ass programmed noise gated snare, and bumping kick drum, a stabbing bass synth, and yet once again, those funky rhythm guitar lickings & pickings ! The dance floor calleth you to shake thou ass when this banger is thrown on !! What's cool about this song is that it incorporates a memorable melody that'll stay with you well after the party's over ! In this song, you'll hear the earliest digital samplers as one word from Tawatha's chorus is manipulated in various pitches. Though light years ahead of that God forsaken Auto Tune crap we get now, this alteration of the human voice is more bearable. ....... Oh ! Did I mention Tawatha killed her lead and background vocal performance on this track also ?! .... For those not in the know, when I say she "killed" her vocals, I'm actually paying her a compliment, so please don't take it out of context ! ;-)
"More Than Before" - {Written by James Mtume, Tawatha Agee, and K. Grady}
The FUNK won't leave us alone here folks ! This head bopper falls in the exact line as "Are You Serious" in terms of it's "overall feel", but they're two completely different songs. A kicking bass synth, ...... the tried and true hard hit programmed snare, ..... the "in-your-face" kick drum, ..... the occasion cymbal crashes, .....the consistent hi-hat presense, ......the sequenced percussion parts, ......as well as the emotional felt synthesizer performed chords in the bridge, makes this track one of the shining highlights of this slamming album ! ..... and how could I forget Mighty T's lead and background vocal performance ..... EXTRAORDINAIRE & EXCELLENT is how to best describe it !!
"The Waiting's Over" - {Written by former AURRA member, keyboardist Philip Field and Tawatha Agee}
This mid tempo, feel good head swayer, is another selection you'll have on the "repeat mode" in your iPod for sure ! GUARANTEED ! The star of this particular track is the Mini-Moog Bass (I'm assuming it is) as it's melodic and sheer beautiful sounding notes will wrap you around the groove like you've never experienced before. The chord progressions of the accompanying synthesizers, the ringing chordal tones of the Oberheim OB-8 synthesizer (once again I'm assuming was utilized), rounded out by the left panned hi-hat, and the rhythmically dynamic guitar stylings, has HIT written all over it ! I'm shocked Epic Records at that time didn't choose this as a single as it certainly would've climbed the charts in record time. Ex CHANGE saxophonist, Vincent Henry, delivers a blazing solo that added that cherry on top of the sundae of a song, if you will. Once again, Tawatha delivers her most sexy and sensual lead vocal on this track, as well as her accompanying background vocal dubbed parts. Great song !
Behind every great album, there's a great team behind the artist(s) that's never seen, but whose work is felt and appreciated by those that buys and listen to these very same records. I'm referring to the "Unsung Heros" of this particular album, and they are as follows. Production Coordinator Extraodinaire, Mr. Angelo Ellerbee, for holding down the fort, and making sure the ship is well maintained and smoothly sailed. To the recording engineer and his assistant, Mr. Brian Bannon, and Mr. P.T. Bannon, respectively. THANK YOU !
I'd also like to acknowledge the hard working folks behind the scenes of seeing this fantastic reissue come to fruition. Reissue producer Mr. Donald Cleveland, the hard working staff at Sony's Custom Marketing Group, the Grammy Award winning mastering engineer, Mr. Mark Wilder, package designer Ms. Anna Forrester, and last, but certainly not least, the "Executive Masterminds" behind this reissue, Funky Town Groove U.S.A.'s Mr. Tony Calvert, Mr. Matt Murphy, and Luke at Funky Town Groove's UK office.
But the ULTIMATE THANK YOU goes out to Ms. Tawatha Agee, album producer, James Mtume, and the many musicians that contributed their GOD given talents to this amazing recording. You all deserve a well round of applause !
To pick up your copy of this incredible record, { ...... and I STRONGLY AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you do }, please visit Funky Town Groove U.S.A.'s website at :
www.funkytowngrooves.com/FULL-Reissue-Catalogue_NEW-RELEASES/56/-Tawatha-Welcome-To-My-Dream-(Expanded-Edition)/3026
..... and after you've made your purchase, please, hang around the site and browse FTG's impressive catalog of even more exciting Old School R&B/Funk reissues .... and don't forget to keep your credit card in tow ! ;-)
Please visit Funky Town Grooves United Kingdom website as well at : www.funkytowngrooves.co.uk
