The older I get, the more I appreciate this man's voice. "The voice" is just smooth. It amazes me how he looks when singing, he looks so effortless when singing. I think with Luther is a closing of a certain chapter in soul/R&B male vocal history. He was the last R&B male singer that you could really put in that elite category of great male singers{Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Otis Redding, Lou Rawls, Marvin Gaye}. He's a superior pure vocalist(who can also croon to boot). After Luther Vandross, you had a new era in male R&B singing, the new jack era...where dudes had their pants hanging off their butts and had to have studio enhancing devices to boost their voices. But Luther is a pure singer...PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

Furthermore, you always hear basketball sports announcers make staments about a basketball player being in the zone for a game, well Luther was "in the zone" for an entire decade. You really can't go wrong with any of his 80's albums. I really love his 1981 debut NEVER TOO MUCH and FOREVER, FOR ALWAYS, FOR LOVE, the title track of that album is essential romance music(perfect for that candlelight dinner or that slow dance). But you can't go wrong with any of his 80's recordings. My favorite track by him though is "So Amazing" from the GIVE ME THE REASON album (released in 1986). He's now on Clive Davis' J record label and made a good record last year simply called LUTHER VANDROSS.

Luther is simply amazing.He's one of the few singers who can do a remake and make it sound BETTER than the original! Here are only SOME of my favorite Luther songs...


***"Never Too Much"(1981)---This is where it all started.In the fall of '81,this catchy,midtempo jam took the music world by storm.

***"You Stopped Loving Me"(1981)---Luther gave this song to his "boss" Roberta Flack when he was her back-up singer.I'm glad he recorded his own version for his debut album,because this is a killer track!

***"Since I Lost My Baby"(1982)---Like I said earlier,Luther can remake a song and make it sound better than the original.Here,he takes an old Temptations classic and turns it into a powerful,dramatic soul ballad that shines.

***"Make Me A Believer"(1983)---Oh lawd!! This song is so dreamy,intoxicating and hypnotic.WHY WASN'T THIS A BIG HIT??? You MUST hear this song to know what I'm talking about.You can find it on his 1983 'Busy Body' album.

***"Superstar/Until You Come Back To Me That's What I'm Gonna Do"(1983)---Once again,Luther's remake tops the original! The Carpenter's "Superstar" is turned into a dramatic,heavily-orchestrated masterpiece by Luther.Be sure to have the tissues handy,this one's a weeper ("I wonder where are you again tonight...are you holding someone else tight?").

***"So Amazing"(1986)---Luther's songs make you WANNA be in love...lol...

***"There's Nothing Better Than Love"(1986)---Ditto

***"Any Love"(1988)---Lonely people can relate to this song.It's a moody,haunting number with deeply personal lyrics ("What a world for the lonely kind,sometimes I feel I'm gonna lose my mind,can anybody tell me just where to find Any Love,Any Love"?).

***"I Want The Night To Stay"(1991)---Like "Make Me A Believer",this is another "lost" classic that should have been a single.

***"Love Me Again"(1993)

***"I'd Rather"(2002)---Luther's latest song is one of his best!!

Loved his contributions to Bowie's "Young Americans" album!

Anxiety said:

You know,I've never heard that David Bowie album.Did Luther sing on that one? Did he write a few songs?

After the Bowie gig ended,Luther was kinda like an "unofficial" member of the bands Chic and Change.He contributed vocals to songs like Chic's "Dance,Dance,Dance"(1977) and Change's "The Glow Of Love"(1980).

Oh! Oh! Oh! I'm so excited!
I love Luther!
I don't miss a concert!!!
He sounds so amazing live!!!
As for as David Bowie, Luther was resposible for the hook..."Young American,young American...he was the young american...all right"
Any one of Luther's albums you pick up, you win!!!

Some of my favorites:
A House is Not a Home
Here and Now (Beautiful wedding song)
Any Love
I Don't Want to be a Fool
Your Secret Love
I Can Make it Better
I'd Rather

Thank You for starting this thread!
You made my day!

Anyone who hasn't seen Luther in concert...GOOO!!!

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DavidEye said:

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree about Make Me A Believer!! It is such a hidden gem and so powerful!! I'd add to your list The Other Side of The World and Wait For Love!!! These two are "classics", and if no one's heard them yet, go get the Night I Fell In Love album!! It's the same one with Creepin' and If Only For One Night!

SensualMelody said:

i like a lot of what Luther has done...*BUT* the man needs to stop warbling so much...it ruins it for me and makes me shy away from listening to his music...

Very Prolific Artist&Very Talented Cat.He didn't write on that Bowie Album I Believe.Luther had a few Acts out in the 70's but didn't crack anything until a song He wrote for the Broadway production of the "Wiz" made it on there.His Song ended up on the Wiz with Michael Jackson&Diana Ross as well.anyway working with Chic&others put some loot in His Pocket as well as doing Commericals.anyway I enjoyed His 80's stuff&the Working Relationship He had with nat Adderly Jr&Marcus Miller.but after 91 He just went to hard for a Pop Number 1 song.He has been chasing Pop Brass&it's watered down His work IMHO.back to Bowie for a second:He really wanted to get into the Recording Artist game after He found out He was gonna get 200 Dollars for back-up singing with Bowie while the Guitarist for the session was getting 2,000 dollars. Quincy Jones has said that Luther was one of the Very few People He wished He had signed to His Qwest Label.Great Thread here.He has worked with Diana Ross,Dionne Warwick&Infamous working with Aretha Franklin which all I can say is read Her Book on that.but nevertheless Luther has Shared His Gifts with others&is a stone cold trip.the Guy Can Dance&crack Jokes.you'd be surprised at How Hip He is&How Funny He is.but His Recording Career for me has been rather Hit&Alot of Miss since 89 to me.still great times with His stuff.

I think the first concert was Luther Vandross with my mom. He has a captivating voice, but what has annoyed me and turned me away from his music in the past years are the overabundance of remakes. Some of which I didn't care for, like "Always and Forever." I wish he didn't do so many or devoted albums to remakes.

SkletonKee said:

You quote Radiohead but you thinnk LUTHER is warbling?

Just had to come back!
I love Luther!
I've also noted that if you have a man
who likes Luther's work and Luther's music
and Luther's sentiments...You are blessed
with a MAN who will know how to make you
happy, happy, happy!!!*

*Unless, of course, you are into that thuggish,
rough you up, never say I'm sorry kind of guy.

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[This message was edited Wed Aug 14 20:19:10 PDT 2002 by SensualMelody]

The Night I Fell In Love album is still great. I love those Stevie Wonder covers. I always forget to listen to Luther but when I do, it brings back some great memories. I think he may have sold out the last few years, but he still has many classics.

PS My favorite scene in Glitter is when "Never Too Much" comes on. Gotta give Mariah credit for that one.

My favorite Luther album is 'Give Me The Reason'(1986).In the DMSR book,it mentions that Prince was a huge fan of that album too.That's the most consistent Luther album,with great songs like "Because It's Really Love" and "So Amazing".

I'm waiting for the Luther Vandross box set,which is long overdue.

DavidEye said:

Oooo, I almost forgot about Because It's Really Love! Damn, what a song!! And of course, So Amazing is probably my second fav song by him (second to Superstar/Until You Come Back To Me)!

Toni Braxton is coming back with cover of "Never Too Much" (With altered lyrics) in collaboration with Irv Gotti.

Queen Pen did same thing few years back with Eric "E" Williams of BLACKstreet. He replicated Luther's voice very well and cut out the need for those nasty sampling fees.

Here's a few other gems by Luther...


***"Creepin"(1985)---As a rule,NO ONE should really be messin' with a Stevie Wonder song.But Luther does a great job with this one!! It's totally hypnotic and inviting.

***"If Only For One Night"(1985)---The song "Creepin" segues into a lovely remake of Brenda Russell's 1979 song "If Only For One Night".It's superb,as expected.


***"Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)"(1993)---Luther kicks ass on his pop ballads too.

***"Don't You Know That"(1981)---This song has that unmistakable riff that's so infectious.A nice,mellow track from the 'Never Too Much' album.

***"Stop To Love"(1986)---Luther can groove too,as long as it's on his own terms.

DavidEye said:

He also Spanked up on Stevie on His Own Song"Part Time Lover" with His Scats IMHO.yeah in DMSR the Book with regards to Luther's 1986 Album it inspired "Adore".if that brings that kind of Song out of you I say lsiten to Luther more often!!!

Luther also did another remake of a Stevie Wonder song.His 1996 album 'Your Secret Love' contains a remake of "Knocks Me Off My Feet".

DavidEye said:

as well as Dornell Jones did that on His Debut Album from 96.

mistermaxxx said:

Donell Jones had never heard the song before he covered yet people always see Stevie as his biggest influence.

Wolf said:

yeah...i hate that fluctuating wannabe stevie wonder style that luther relies on way way way to much...


york on the other hand manipulates his voice for effect...and its not the same over and over warble...

It's the same whining off key warble. Yorke is a TERRIBLE yodler! He couldn't carry a tune if his life depended on it.

uhh...i think your missing my point...and since you dont like thome's voice i dont think you can even argue against what im saying..

I LOVE LUTHERS VOICE!!! but its his constant reliance on warbling that lessens his music...obviously someone told the man to chill on it cause he does it less nowadays...

thome on the other hand electronically manipulates his voice for effect...he doesnt even sing in the same style as Luther...you could compare a Brian Mcknight or a Johnny Gill because their vocal executions are similiar...

but to throw in Thome just gives you an oppurtunity to slam someone you dont like (or want to appreciate)...

ohh...and the reason Thome manipulates his voice...he is tired of hearing himself sound the same on the radio...and then he *really* got sick of his voice when he heard all the clone bands sounding just like him...

luther on the other hand has been warbling for years...and *thats* what made me get tired of it...got it?

Wrong. Im not talking about electronic effects I've heard the guy LIVE and he can't carry a tune. If you're so sensitive that you think I'm slamming him because I dont like him well, don't pretend to know my intentions because thats not what its about. the guy is not a singer because he rarely sings on key.

Wolf said:

lol...obviously you havent heard his duet with Bjork..Ive Seen It All...

but your right...some of our best singers dont have the vocal range to carry a tune...(mary j blidge comes to mind)..however, their attitude, energy and vocal execution makes up for it...

now, ive heard many o boots of thome singing and i think the guy is awesome..but you go on and think what you want...its your free will...

DavidEye said:

I don't think Luther (or as my friend calls him, LOOFAH!!) wrote anything on the Young Americans album, but his voice is all over it; didn't he tour with Bowie around this time as well? Can you imagine digging a Bowie concert with Luther singing guest vocals? Two of the best voices in their fields, rockin' it out plastic soul styley. Nice...

Anxiety said:

Luther co-wrote the chrous I believe and David asked if he could use it. Luther was like "Your David Bowie and I'm a session singer! Of course you can!".

Essence said:

Michael Jackson is also Big on Donell as well.especially His Song"You Know that I Love You".but the scary part is that He Says in Interviews that "Songs in the Key of Life" is His Favorite Album Ever?? Donell not knowing the Song is like ALicia Keys not knowing "777-9311" in New York.Very Lost for such a Big Prince fan? not to mention the T'Shirts She Rocks of Prince's are from that Era.I still think&Say that Clive Davis placed "How Come U Don't Call me Anymore" in front of Her&told her to Learn it&Record it.She really is Programmed&doesn't have that much of a Clue Beyond Standard stuff IMHO.

Luther will be in concert tonight...8/18/2002
in Atlanta with Angie Stone!!!
Ought to be a great show!!!

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