Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Mary J Blige, Celine Dion and Angie Stone are among a host of stars who are taking part in a Luther Vandross tribute album. Although a jazz tribute album honouring Vandross was released last year, the new project, which was dreamed up by music mogul Clive Davis, will be more of a direct translation of the soul veteran's work.

Producer Jimmy "Jam" Harris says, "Mariah and Janet both called and said they were interested in doing something for it. This is really the best of the best singers coming together. It's going to be an incredible project. It's basically artists doing Luther Vandross songs, but they're doing them their way. Some of the arrangements are very similar to Luther's arrangements."

Vandross suffered a debilitating stroke almost two years ago.


Source: Contact Music

Ok, Celine Dion?

Sounds promising.

This has the potential of being a good project. Great talent and producers involved. I'm looking forward to it.

RipHer2Shreds said:

Celine Dion crooning Luther Vandross?

VoicesCarry said:

Celine singing "Never too much"

Sounds like a great idea.I'd like to hear Mariah sing "Make Me A Believer".It's one of my favorite Luther songs,and I think she could really do something special with it.

btw,how is Luther doing these days? Does anyone have an update?

VoicesCarry said:

Okay, I shouldn't have grouped everyone together. Not that I don't think Celine is talented, because she is. She just doesn't use her talents wisely.

I really hope they don't fill this CD up with a bunch of "current" artists.In other words,I don't really wanna see Usher up in here,trying to sing "Here and Now"....or Alicia Keys trying to croon her way through "Superstar"...or Justin Timberlake and Pharrell duetting on "There's Nothing Better Than Love".




I'd rather see some older artists,people who have worked with Luther in the past (Aretha,Dionne,Lisa Fischer,etc).I want this to be a heartfelt tribute,not some cheesy pop and hip-hop fiasco.Luther deserves better than that.

What the hell makes Janet Jackson think she can pull off a VANDROSS song?

WhamBamGlamSlam said:

I'm sure the fact that she and Luther did a song together might have something to do with it.

DavidEye said:

I don't want to see or hear anyone doing Superstar anymore. It's no fun for me to hear people mimicking Luther's version of it. Don't get me wrong, I like his take on it a lot, but some of these folks don't know where theyr'e coming from and treat it like it's a love ballad! His isn't the version I go back to - that honor goes to The Carpenters. It's one of my all-time favorite singles (I've got about 150,000 favorite singles, it seems ).

Yeah, and that never should have happened either. She isn't fit to sing background for him in his current condition. His post-stroke voice is better than hers.

WhamBamGlamSlam said:

yeah,she might be over-reaching by trying to do a Vandross song.

The fact that we're even having this discussion bums me out.
I'm gonna listen to "Searchin'" on the way home tonight.

DavidEye said:

But Janet and Vandross have sung together before

Maybe she's doing it just as a friendship gesture

WhamBamGlamSlam said:

Uh, their voices actually mesh really nicely. That duet is great - and the remix vocals are even better.

twink69 said:

Anyway this should be cool. I will def buy the album if so

i don't understand some people just because janet doesn't hit the high notes, it doesn't mean she can't sing. i rather hear her sexy, smmoth vocals than Celine's screeching anyday

i think people will be doing THEIR OWN VERSIONS of Luther's songs, i'd like to see her do "so amazing", i love that song!!!!

WhamBamGlamSlam said:

"The Best Things in Life Are Free". Maybe that's why. One of Luther's best.

I love that song. The k kalsic remix was better then the "Mo money|" original though. The vidoe was great too.

I like to think Johnny Gill is singing the song, as rumours at the time hinted they were an item.

thesexofit said:

CJ's UK mixes are the best. And the original Classic 7'' (not the 1995 K Klass 7'' that you were referring to) is also great.
[Edited 3/3/05 15:15pm]

Cj mackintosh or something like that? Yeah i heard that one too. When they play the video, they often play that one. 3 versions entered the UK top 10 in different years (I think).....

thesexofit said:

2 (1992 and 1995).

yeah u right. I got hit singles UK and only 2 entries. I guess the k klassic David Molales mix did not chart?

can u beleive that "1814" did not have one top 10 hit in the UK?

RipHer2Shreds said:

I love the Carpenters,but honestly,I think Luther's version of "Superstar" is superior

Luther's one of the few artists who can re-make a song,and actually make it sound better than the original.

mancabdriver said:

Not to get too far from the topic, but it's simply because Janet doesn't have a good voice. She has the velvety-smooth thing down more than anyone else in the business right now, but she is far from an accomplished vocalist. I've seen the woman in concert 3 times, and it's not that she's flat or sharp when she tries to hit the notes, it's that she can't get anywhere near them. Janet is the epitome of a vocal one-trick pony. Granted, her one trick works damn well, but she'll never be Mariah or Whitney vocally. Just as well, Mariah and Whit will never write (or have their ex-husbands ) write an album like Janet has.