Although Luther was really more of an album artist in the eighties (and please note that each of his eighties are worth owning in their own right!), however, he did manage to rack up a very impressive amount of hits on Billboard's R&B chart during this time. Although THE BEST OF LOVE understandably doesn't have the cohesion of Luther's proper eighties discs, it is an excellent introduction/summary of the man at his creative peak.

The hits included are "Never Too Much" (#33 Pop, #1 R&B, #4 Dance), "Bad Boy/Having A Party" (#55 Pop, #3 R&B), "If This World Were Mine" (#4 R&B), "Since I Lost My Baby" (#17 R&B), "Superstar/Until You Come Back To Me" (#4 R&B), "Til My Baby Comes Home" (#29 Pop, #4 R&B), "Give Me The Reason" (#57 Pop, #3 R&B), "Stop To Love" (#15 Pop, #1 R&B, #7 Adult Contemporary), "There's Nothing Better Than Love" (#50 Pop, #1 R&B, #20 Adult Contemporary), "I Really Didn't Mean It" (#6 R&B), and "Any Love" (#44 Pop, #1 R&B, #12 Adult Contemporary).

There are a few great lower-charting singles included, "Promise Me" (#72 R&B), "If Only For One Night/Creepin'" (#59 R&B), and "So Amazing" (#94 R&B). Also of note is the inclusion of the two singles that Luther recorded with the group Change, the anthem "Searching" and the often-sampled "Glow of Love," which is what led to Luther landing his solo recording contract with Columbia. There are also two non-single covers, "A House Is Not A Home" and "Love Won't Let Me Wait," that nonetheless became classics in their own right.

It is worth noting that there are some singles that are missing from the set, and a few of them were actually significant hits. Charting singles that are absent include "Don't You Know That" (#10 R&B), "Sugar and Spice" (#72 R&B), "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye" (#27 Pop, #7 R&B, #4 Adult Contemporary), "I Let You Slide" (#9 R&B), "It's Over Now" (#4 R&B), "Wait For Love" (#11 R&B), "She Won't Talk To Me" (#30 Pop, #3 R&B, #17 Adult Contemporary), and "For You To Love" (#3 R&B). While all of the missing songs are also very good, the rest of the material is so terrific that their absence will not be noticeable while listening to this album. Although I would like to see this set remastered with a few of the above tracks re-inserted as bonus tracks.

There are also two then-newly recorded tracks as well. As most people know, it was first of these, the gorgeous "Here and Now" (#6 Pop, #1 R&B, #3 Adult Contemporary), that proved to be Luther's first major introduction to mainstream audiences. The other song, "Treat You Right" (#5 R&B), isn't as well known, but is almost as good. The two new hits helped send THE BEST OF LOVE to #26 on the Hot 200, and it reached the impressive Triple-Platinum status in sales.

Hearing Luther Vandross' "Never Too Much" on this "Best of Love" collection recalls how fresh it sounded among 1981's funk/rap/R&B slammers ("Super Freak," "Bad Mamma Jamma," etc.) It had the best of two worlds; sparkling production and arrangement recalling what disco did best (courtesy of arranger Nat Adderly, Jr.); buttery, popping percussion by Marcus Miller, and a tour-de-force, tongue-twisting vocal by Vandross. It blueprinted a sound you hoped would last as long as the classic, finessed soul (think Dionne Warwick and Aretha Franklin, who wrote testimonials on the liner notes) that inspired it.

It did. Luther and his collaborators crafted immaculately produced, gorgeously sung originals and covers throughout his first five albums, the best gathered here. He slowly, slyly extracts the pain and yearning from Leon Russell's "Superstar" that the Carpenters' version overlooked. His voice rises like smoke around the romantic, tricky wordplay of Bacharach-David's "A House Is Not A Home" and Smokey Robinson's "Since I Lost My Baby." His originals (sparkling mid-tempo tunes like "Stop To Love," and "Till My Baby Comes Home") display a rhythm and countermelody sense validating Vandross' songcraft experience. (Before achieving his solo success, Luther sang on everything from commercials to David Bowie's "Young Americans" album, which he co-wrote.)

Much of Vandross' Top 40 success ("Endless Love," "Power of Love") followed this release, as would other greatest hits collections following his release from Epic Records. But "The Best of Love" is indeed Luther Vandross' best from the years he refreshed, then ruled, the R&B ballad. Highly recommended.

Simply put, this collection is a must-have. Before Brian McKnight, before Maxwell and Chico and Kenny, and before all these so-called singers who are as subtle as a neon sign, there was Luther. There was That Voice, capable of making people swoon and fall in love simply by singing the phone book. This double-cd set showcases the best Luther Vandross has to offer, with subtle reworkings of some of his hits (listen to the original versions of some of the songs and you'll note that there have been some additional background work done). Unfortunately, there have been a couple of songs that are not included, like "Wait for Love" or "Forever, For Always, For Love," songs that would have strengthened an already classic compilation. Their omission does not detract from the set, though. Ultimately, this is truly the best of Luther, the best of love

First of all I would like to think Luther for touching my heart with his gift of song. There will never be another Luther Vandross the first time he song, he was never compared to Sam Cooke or said to be copying Marvin Gaye, he was Luther the one and only. Things that I like most about Luther: he was real, he was professional, talented and down to earth whether he was big or small nobody cared because his spirit was so great that you paid attention to his heart not his figure. To see Luther live was to see perfection. I had the pleasure of seeing him in the Power of Love tour @UNO lakefront arena in New Orleans,LA and to this day I remember the whole concert, Sinbad and Sounds of Blackness opened for him and the audience did not want Luther to leave New Orleans. Luther, I know you in a great place singing for Jesus now, you will not be forgotten baby cause there will never be another voice like yours-pure genius,real r&b.Rest in peace sweatheart. Thanks also to all of you guys current reviews.I started crying because I can tell the world loves him and misses him too and ya'll miss artist that love their music take pride in it like Luther Vandross did.Once again thank you guys.

Since Luther's unexpected passing in 2005, as with any sudden death of a beloved artist, there has been an endless rush of "Best Of's" and "Greatest Hits" of Luther CD's. This 2 disc "Best Of Luther Vandross" was once THE "Must Have" of any R&B fan and has been quietly supplanted by newer collections, such as Sony's excellent "Essential Luther Vandross", another 2 CD collection that perhaps captures THE ultimate Luther experience.

For example, this 2 CD was released prior to Luther's 1991 "Power of Love/Love Power" smash hit, so does not contain that song, but is perhaps still the perfect "Quiet Storm" CD collection of Luther at his most seductively, romantic best. Thinking of a cozy night in front of the fire with your special someone or music to put in the background of a candlelit dinner? Well, look no further than this "Best of Luther Vandross" collection. With 20 songs on 2 discs, it's more than enough to get in that "special mood" with your significant other. All the songs are perfectly chosen. I can't think of any major hits this precious collection leaves out.

The first 10 years of Luther's career are what made his reputation as an R&B Soul Balladeer and were his most consistent in terms of composing romantic songs that made the ladies (and some gay fans) swoon with delight, so this collection will do the trick. After "Power Of Love", Luther's sales started their steady decline until "Dance With My Father" picked things up again, but that's a long gap in between those two big hits. This two disc collection amazingly captures Luther's remarkable output during his first 10 years, and perhaps mark the highpoint of his distinguished career. We still miss you, Luther.