Tasty is the second solo album released by recording artist Patti LaBelle, her second solo album with Epic Records. Compared to the success of her debut album, released the previous year, the album performed only modestly well but featured the popular tunes "Eyes in the Back of My Head", which became a club hit, the Latin soul flavored "Teach Me Tonight (Me Gusta Tu Baile)", the David Lasley composition "I See Home" (covered a year later by Tina Turner) and the ballad "Little Girls". "Eyes in the Back of My Head" became an international hit reaching the top five of the Italian singles chart. The album also featured covers of songs by Boz Scaggs, The Drifters and Roy Hamilton in addition to a couple songs co-written by LaBelle herself, including "Teach Me Tonight" and "Quiet Time".
Critical reception
AllMusic editor Alex Henderson wrote: "No one is going to mistake Tasty, LaBelle's second solo effort, for Nightbirds, Phoenix, or Chameleon. All of the things that the Labelle trio was known for—cosmic lyrics, socio-political observations, and an aggressive rock edge—are missing from this 1978 LP. Compared to Phoenix or Chameleon, this record seems safer and less dangerous [...] Tasty'' is, without question, one of her finest solo efforts."
Track listing All tracks produced by David Rubinson.
Personnel Performers and musicians Patti LaBelle – lead vocals, musical direction, vocal arrangements, backing vocals (5) James Budd Ellison – keyboards, musical direction, vocal arrangements Richard Kermode – acoustic piano (5) Leo Nocentelli – guitars Ray Parker Jr. – guitars Wah Wah Watson – guitars Eddie N. Watkins Jr. – bass guitar (1–4, 6–9) Pablo Tellez – bass guitar (5) Ollie E. Brown – drums (1) James Gadson – drums (2–4, 6–9) Leon "Ndugu" Chancler – drums (5) Andy Narell – steel drums Raul Rekow – congas (1, 2) Sheila Escovedo – timbales (5) Dale Warren – orchestral arrangements and conductor (3, 8) Teresa Adams – orchestra direction (3, 8) Nathan Rubin – concertmaster (3, 8) Al Bent – brass arrangements (4, 5) David Rubinson – arrangements, vocal arrangements The Waters [Julia, Luther, Maxine and Oren Waters] – backing vocals (1–4, 7–9) Carlos Alomar – backing vocals (5) Willie Colón – backing vocals (5) The Johnny Land Singers – backing vocals (6)Technical David Rubinson – producer, engineer Fred Catero – engineer Chris Minto – assistant engineer Cheryl Ward – assistant engineer Tony Lane – art direction, design Weldon Andersen – back cover photography Benno Friedman – front cover photography George Annis – music copyist Vicki Gray – music copyist Tony Kaye – music copyist2014 reissue credits'''
Wayne A. Dickson – producer, additional remastering Michal L. Bednarek – associate producer Malcolm McKenzie – associate producer Christian John Wikane – associate producer Nick Robbins – remastering
Charts + Chart performance for Tasty Chart (1978) PeakpositionUS Top 75 R&B Albums (Cashbox)34US Top 100 Albums (Cashbox)171US World R&B LP (Record World)29US World Albums (Record World)116
References