I have been waiting for this box set since, well, forever. It's finally coming in two weeks and although I don't think I'll be getting it on October 12th, it's definitely a Christmas must-buy. It's on my wishlist and I know Luther is smilin' down from soul heaven now.

From a Sony press statement:

A suave crossover balladeer and meticulous pop craftsman whose impeccable phrasing, delicate articulation and romantic delivery were underscored by his extra-ordinary hitmaking talents as a songwriter, producer and arranger, Luther Vandross (1951-2005) was by every account THE most beloved R&B male vocalist of his generation. With a cumulative 20 gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications in the U.S. alone (singles, albums, videos) and worldwide sales of more than 30 million albums, Luther’s impact on popular tastes has been second to none.


The multi-platinum, 8-time Grammy Award-winning career of this singer’s singer and musician’s musician is commemorated on LOVE, LUTHER: the first box set in his name. The 56-track, deluxe display-book package of four CDs, boasting the lion’s share of his 27 years of R&B/pop crossover chart titles plus album tracks, live versions from long-form videos, rarities (including background session vocals and contributions with Aretha Franklin, Gregg Diamond, and Change), duets with Frank Sinatra, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Dionne Warwick, Cheryl Lynn, and Gregory Hines, and six previously unreleased tracks.



How do ya'll Luther fans feel about this?
[Edited 9/30/07 18:34pm]

Najee said:

Yeah I noticed the same thing because just now I looked at the tracklisting! It seems like this is more directed toward hardcore Luther collectors and fans. I don't think it is even as powerful as the 1989 compilation, The Best Of Love, but it looks good.

It's nicely packaged but I have no real use for it.I'm gonna buy it for my sister.It makes a cool Christmas gift.

Najee said:

Most of the songs you listed weren't really "hits" (according to industry standard...some of them weren't official singles either). You must also remember, there are a TON of Luther greatest hits packages. Including the one issued last year "The Ultimate Luther Vandross".

I am very excited about this. It has songs that I only have on vinyl (Hot Butterfly) and some that have never been issued on cd (the songs by the group Luther). I was hoping that they would have included his version of "What Can A Miracle Do" that Dionne Warwick did. That is one of my top favorite Luther songs. Now, they could have left off "Knocks Me Off My Feet", "Buy Me A Rose" (which wasn't a hit either, but is only included because it is part of his J Records catalog), and "For You To Love".

I know that this boxed set is focusing on Luther's background/history and unreleased songs - not comprehensive catalog. Some of the songs are outtakes and alternate versions. Here is the tracklist from Amazon Music's site:

Disc: 1
1. Ready For Love (Previously unreleased demo)
2. If You Can t Dance (Previously unreleased demo)
3. Meet Luther Vandross (Promotional single introducing LV to radio programmers)
4. The Glow Of Love (Performed by Change)
5. Never Too Much (Extended version)
6. Don t You Know That?
7. A House Is Not A Home
8. Bad Boy/Having A Party
9. Since I Lost My Baby
10. She Loves Me Back
11. Who s Gonna Make It Easier For Me (Duet with Delores Hall)
12. If This World Were Mine (Duet with Cheryl Lynn)
13. How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye (Duet with Dionne Warwick)
14. Superstar/Until You Come Back To Me (That s What I m Gonna Do) (Album mix)

Disc: 2
1. If Only For One Night
2. Creepin
3. Wait For Love
4. Til My Baby Comes Home
5. It s Over Now
6. The Night I Fell In Love The Montserrat Sessions (Intimate rehearsal recordings/previously unreleased)
7. There s Only You
8. Anyone Who Had A Heart
9. So Amazing
10. Give Me The Reason
11. Stop To Love
12. There s Nothing Better Than Love (Duet with Gregory Hines)
13. So Amazing
14. For You To Love
15. Here And Now

Disc: 3
1. Love The One You re With
2. Funky Music (Is A Part Of Me) (Performed by the group Luther)
3. Georgy Porgy (Performed by Charme)
4. Power Of Love/Love Power
5. Don t Want To Be A Fool
6. I Want The Night To Stay
7. Endless Love (Duet with Mariah Carey)
8. Any Love
9. Knocks Me Off My Feet
10. Your Secret Love
11. Never Let Me Go
12. Can Heaven Wait
13. The Closer I Get To You (Duet with Beyoncé)

Disc: 4
1. Isn t There Someone
2. Dance With My Father
3. Take You Out
4. I d Rather
5. Buy Me A Rose
6. Shine
7. Got You Home
8. Jump To It (Performed by Aretha Franklin)
9. Hot Butterfly (Performed by Gregg Diamond Bionic Boogie)
10. Searching (Live at Wembley Arena, London)
11. Always And Forever (Live at The Royal Albert Hall, London)
12. Medley: Windows Of The World/What The World Needs Now(Live at Hammerstein Ballroom, New York)
13. The Lady Is A Tramp (Duet with Frank Sinatra)
14. A House Is Not A Home (Live at Radio City Music Hall,New York/alternate mix/previously unreleased)
[Edited 10/1/07 9:47am]
[Edited 10/1/07 9:47am]
[Edited 10/1/07 9:55am]

daPrettyman said:

The majority of the songs I named were hit singles. Here is how they fared on the Billboard R&B Singles charts:

* "I'll Let You Slide," peaked at No. 9 in 1984
* "The Rush" (No. 6, 1992)
* "Treat You Right" (No. 5, 1990)
* "Sometimes It's Only Love" (No. 9, 1992)
* "She Won't Talk to Me" (No. 3, 1989)
* "I Really Didn't Mean It" (No. 6, 1987)
* "Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)" (No. 10, 1993)

That's seven top 10 singles there. There is no excuse for that many hit singles not to be included -- particularly "Treat You Right," which was available only on the now-deleted 1989 greatest hits package "The Best of Love."

That's not including Vandross' cover of The Friends of Distinction's "Going in Circles" (No. 28, 1995) and "I Can Make It Better (No. 15, 1997)."

The only songs I named that weren't hits for Vandross were "Promise Me (No. 72, 1983)" and "Make Me a Believer (No. 48, 1984)," but like his cover of Major Harris' "Love Won't Let Me Wait" and "Forever, For Always, For Love" they are considered popular examples of his vocal performances. I certainly would take those songs over some of the filler that's on "Love, Luther."

daPrettyman said:

I bolded the last song because that would be yet another mistake. "For You to Love" peaked at No. 3 on the Bilboard R&B Singles charts in 1989. I have no problem if such a package has outtakes and some unreleased material, BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF THE HIT SONGS.
[Edited 10/1/07 15:33pm]

Najee said:

I stand corrected. I do agree with u that a lot of hits were left off. I'm pretty sure that someone at Sony did some research to find out what were people's favorites from Luther and came up with the list of songs used on the set.

I would love to have a more comprehensive set (which we still may get) along with more remasters (especially for "The Night I Fell In Love"), but I'm pretty happy with the trax included on this set. If I get another copy of "Here and Now" and "Power of Love", I'll SCREAM.

I'm not too thrilled about any Luther box set that doesn't have "Make Me A Believer" on it Najee's tracklist is better than the one that's being released.

SoulAlive said:

I don't see how a supposedly comprehensive discography can be released on an artist like Luther Vandross and leaves off SEVEN top 10 singles. That's not to mention evergreens like "Forever, For Always, For Love," "Promise Me" and "Make Me a Believer."

There is plenty of filler on that set (particularly on the fourth disc) that could have been removed. Better yet, take what I presented as a four CDs with the full-length studio songs and put the extraneous stuff onto a fifth disc:

DISC FIVE:

1.) Meet Luther Vandross (Promotional single introducing LV to radio programmers)
2.) Ready For Love (Previously unreleased demo)
3.) If You Can t Dance (Previously unreleased demo)
4.) Who s Gonna Make It Easier For Me (Duet with Delores Hall)
5.) The Night I Fell In Love The Montserrat Sessions (Intimate rehearsal recordings/previously unreleased)
6.) Funky Music (Is A Part Of Me) (Performed by the group Luther)
7.) Georgy Porgy (Performed by Charme)
8.) Hot Butterfly (Performed by Gregg Diamond Bionic Boogie)
9.) Searching (Live at Wembley Arena, London)
10.) Always And Forever (Live at The Royal Albert Hall, London)
11.) Medley: Windows Of The World/What The World Needs Now(Live at Hammerstein Ballroom, New York)
12.) The Lady Is A Tramp (Duet with Frank Sinatra)
13). A House Is Not A Home (Live at Radio City Music Hall,New York/alternate mix/previously unreleased)
14.) What Can A Miracle Do
[Edited 10/3/07 17:02pm]

daPrettyman said:

I still don't see the logic in some of the choices. For instance, why put "Never Let Me Go" on the set when two songs from that particular album -- "Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)" and "Heaven Knows" -- were bigger hits but yet did not make the cut? It's not like "Never Let Me Go" is what I would call an essential Luther Vandross song. It's certainly not on the level of a song like "Love Won't Let Me Wait" or "Promise Me," which are played regularly on Quiet Storm formats.
[Edited 10/2/07 8:02am]

Najee said:

I c exactly where u are coming from. When I first glanced at this boxed set, I thought they were concentrating on his "love" songs, but then I see they didn't. After carefully going through the official track list, it sounded to me like Fonzi may have played a big role in deciding the songs. I say that because he and Luther did most of those early sessions together (especially on the trax featured here).

I am happy with the set, but hope they start to re-issue each of the cds remastered with bonus tracks. I especially want to see "The Night I Fell In Love" and "Busy Body" reissued. "Make Me A Believer" is truly deserving of a proper remastering.

daPrettyman said:

I believe this is a good box set, but it could have been a PERFECT, DEFINITIVE box set -- and that's where there is some disappointment. I would consider buying it simply for the packaging and then burn my own CDs and put Luther Vandross photos on them.

Najee said:

CREATIVE, man! I agree with what you said about the new box set. I am pretty disappointed with some of the selections that were made and some of them that weren't made. At least Sony got in their right minds and finally got this fulfilled. But it does have some of my favorite Luther joints and it has some nice packaging. Man, I can't wait 2 get my hands on that booklet!

Najee said:

Why the skinny Luther? Use the BIG, jheri-curl-not-quite-right Luther!

silverchild said:

I was putting up some pictures when you typed that message. Yeah, I'm going to use two "big Luther photos" and two "small Luther photos." To quote Eddie Murphy, I'm going to get one of those photos where he looked like a "big, greasy, Kentucky Fried Chicken-eating motherfucker."

I would like to use one of his first album covers and it looks like the cover for "Forever, For Always, For Love" is a possibility. The only problem is I haven't found one yet that I liked that doesn't make him look like The Michelin Man. Here is a "big Luther" photo that was taken in 2002:



Here is another one that was taken not that long before his stroke, for the "Dance with My Father" album:



This one was on the cover of his live album recorded at Radio City Music Hall:


[Edited 10/3/07 16:22pm]

Najee said:

Nice choices!

silverchild said:

Thank you! I feel all four represent Luther Vandross in a favorable manner. The final photo even has that "Goodbye and thank you -- love, Luther" feel to it.