Vesta Williams
Vesta
Backing Vocals – Bryan Loren, Vesta Williams
Instruments [All] – Bryan Loren
Producer – Billy Valentine, Bryan Loren
Written-By – Bryan Loren 4:11
A2 Sweet Thang
Backing Vocals – Billy Valentine, Bryan Loren, Vesta Williams
Instruments [All] – Bryan Loren
Producer – Billy Valentine, Bryan Loren
Written-By – Bryan Loren 5:08
A3 Don't Blow A Good Thing
Backing Vocals – Vesta Williams
Instruments [All] – Bryan Loren
Producer – Billy Valentine, Bryan Loren
Written-By – Bryan Loren 4:35
A4 Get Out Of My Life
Backing Vocals – Billy Valentine, Bryan Loren, Tami Meggett
Instruments [All] – Bryan Loren
Producer – Billy Valentine, Bryan Loren
Written-By – Bryan Loren, Tami Meggett 5:16
A5 I Can Make Your Dreams Come True
Backing Vocals – Bryan Loren, Vesta Williams
Instruments [All] – Bryan Loren
Producer – Billy Valentine, Bryan Loren
Written-By – Bryan Loren 3:41
B1 My Heart Is Yours
Backing Vocals – Alex Brown, Billy Valentine, Bryan Loren, John Valentine
Instruments [All] – Bryan Loren
Written-By, Producer – Billy Valentine, Bryan Loren 5:27
B2 You Make Me Want To (Love Again)
Arranged By [Strings] – Bryan Loren, Jeremy Lubbock
Backing Vocals – Billy Valentine
Instruments [All] – Bryan Loren
Producer – Billy Valentine, Bryan Loren
Written-By – Billy Valentine, Leon Ware 4:58
B3 It's You
Arranged By [Strings] – Jeremy Lubbock
Backing Vocals – Alex Brown, Billy Valentine, Marva Barnes
Bass – Nathan East
Drums – John Robinson
Keyboards – Randy Waldman
Producer – Billy Valentine, Bryan Loren, Jeremy Lubbock
Written-By – Leon Ware 3:50
B4 Don't Let Me Down
Arranged By – David Crawford, Vesta Williams
Backing Vocals – Vesta Williams
Bass [Synthesized] – Bryan Loren
Electronic Drums [Linn Drums] – Craig Cooper
Guitar – Charles Fearing
Keyboards – James McKinney
Percussion – Eric McCain
Producer – David Crawford
Synthesizer – Ian Underwood
Written-By – Louis Russell (2), Vesta Williams 4:12
B5 Once Bitten Twice Shy
Arranged By – David Crawford, Vesta Williams
Backing Vocals – Vesta Williams
Bass [Synthesized] – Laythan Armor
Electronic Drums [Linn Drums] – Craig Cooper
Electronic Drums [Synthesized Drums] – Jeff Lorber
Guitar – Charles Fearing
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Producer – David Crawford
Soloist, Synthesizer – Patrice Rushen
Synthesizer – Ian Underwood
Written-By – Dean Gant, Vesta Williams 4:03
Label: A&M Records – SP-5118
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1986
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Eighties Soul, Funk
Vesta Williams' self-titled 1986 debut album, Vesta, is highly regarded for its powerful vocals and quality production, featuring a mix of uptempo R&B tracks and soulful ballads. Though some tracks are considered filler by a few critics, the standout songs and Williams' vocal prowess make it a cherished album among R&B fans.
Vesta marked the singer's debut on A&M Records and introduced her powerful, Chaka Khan-esque vocal style to a wider audience. The album was released around the same time as labelmate Janet Jackson's Control, and many fans feel that Williams was overlooked in terms of promotion and marketing dollars in comparison, despite the album's clear quality.
The album features production work from the likes of Bryan Loren and David Crawford, with mixing by Steve Hodge, giving it a sound often compared to the Jam & Lewis style popular at the time.
It achieved moderate commercial success, peaking at No. 43 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart. It spawned two notable R&B hits: "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" (peaked at No. 9 on R&B singles) and "Don't Blow a Good Thing" (peaked at No. 17 on R&B singles and No. 5 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart).
The album perfectly captures the late '80s R&B sound while showcasing Vesta's unique, commanding voice, and established her solo career after years as a sought-after background vocalist for artists like Chaka Khan and Sting.