Latest Princess : CHECK LIST * * * * <i> Great Balls of Fire</i> * * * <i> Good Vibrations</i> * * <i> Maybe Baby</i> * <i> Running on Empty : </i>

* * 1/2TAJA SEVELLE. “Taja Sevelle.” Paisley Park. Slightly more musically gifted than Vanity--though not as talented as Sheila E.--this latest Prince protege sounds best when she sings her own material (“Love Is Contagious,” “If I Could Get Your Attention”) and weakest when she sings Prince’s (“Wouldn’t You Love to Love Me”) and producer Bennett’s (“Infatuation,” “How Could You Do Me So Bad?”). The incongruity of Sevelle’s sunny, teeny-bopper vocals set to the jazzy, sophisticated melodic lines of “Love Is Contagious” make that cut the stand-out feature on this debut album. It’s hard to tell much about what Sevelle has to offer--aside from photogenic attractiveness--since this album doesn’t make many demands on her. Is she holding back or does the LP represent the full extent of her abilities? Maybe Sevelle’s second album will hold the answer.