![]() Luther effortlessly brings on the funk on stellar up-tempo tracks, such as "Grown Thangs," the neo-disco of "Say It Now" (which recalls his classic "Never Too Much"), and the fabulous "How Do I Tell Her," the latter two utilizing a long standing trademark of Vandross' stellar female background vocals that nearly steal the show. Luther Vandross employs a bevy of the day's hottest producers and songwriters, in an effort to bring Luther back into the mainstream, and for the most part it works, although it infuriated more than a few old-school purists. Luther Vandross ranks as the singer's best since 1991's critically and commercially lauded Power of Love, and it produced the single "Take You Out," which proved to be the velvet-voiced crooner's first Top 40 pop hit since "Endless Love," his drippy hit duet with Mariah Carey from 1994's covers collection Songs. "Luther Vandross made a return to form, of sorts, with his 2001 self-titled album, and his first bow for former Arista chief Clive Davis' new label, J Records. ![]() ![]() This is solid and satisfying stuff." (Amy Linden) Even if his chart-topping days are behind him, Vandross's ability to croon is firmly in effect. From aching ballads to uptempo finger poppers, Luther lets the magic of his supple voice weave a spell. Though nowhere near his early classics, this eponymous release is definitely his best since 1991's Power of Love. Luckily for fans of Luther, and for anyone who hungers for grown-up polished R&B/pop, the king of the love song is back. Over the course of his last few albums, singer extraordinaire Luther Vandross has been saddled with material not nearly as magnificent as his silken, impeccably romantic voice. "Having the vocal skills to be able to sing the phonebook doesn't necessarily mean that one should. Parts of "Take You Out" were interpolated by Jay-Z on "Excuse Me Miss" off his 2002 album The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse. The song "Any Day Now" received a nomination for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance at the 2003 Grammy Awards. R&B doesn't get any glossier." Paul Verna from Billboard felt that I Know was "a testament to what a real love song should be, rather than the bump'n'grind workouts that tend to masquerade as '90s romantic music." In a lukewarm review for Entertainment Weekly Tony Scherman wrote that "despite his having sold 20-plus million records, the latter-day king of R&B romance lacks the distinctiveness, the instantly recognizable sound of the genre’s true heroes Treacle then, treacle now.Luther Vandross is the self-titled twelfth studio album by American R&B recording artist Luther Vandross and his debut album on J Records, released in 2001. Whether he's dealing in the easy, gospel-inflected pop of album opener "Keeping My Faith in You" or the jazzy hooks of the title track, Vandross is in command. It was later certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in late 1998, becoming his only studio album to do so.Ĭritical reception Professional ratings Review scoresĪllMusic editor Tim Sheridan found that on Vandross' "Virgin debut, he eases into his groove once again. The album also peaked within the top ten of the R&B Albums chart, reaching number nine. The album debuted and peaked at number twenty-six on the US Billboard 200 album chart, becoming his first album since Give Me the Reason (1986) to miss the top ten of the albums chart. The album's title track earned Vandross two nominations at the 41st Grammy Awards including for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the aforementioned album and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for the album's single. ![]() The album features guest appearances from artists such as Cassandra Wilson, Guru, Stevie Wonder, Brandy, Marcella Precise and Bob James. It serves as his first album since fulfilling his contract with Epic after the release of his album Your Secret Love (1996). I Know is the eleventh studio album by American R&B singer and songwriter Luther Vandross, released in August 1998 (see 1998 in music), and his only one for Virgin Records. ![]()
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