Luther Vandross Album: «Luther Vandross»

- Customers rating: (4.4 of 5)
- Title:Luther Vandross
- Release date:2001-06-19
- Type:Audio CD
- Label:J-Records
- UPC:808132000727
- 1 Take You Outimg 3:47
- 2Grown Thangs
- 3Bring Your Heart To Mine
- 4 Can Heaven Waitimg 4:37
- 5Say It Now
- 6Hearts Get Broken All The Time (But The Problem Is, This Time It's Mine)
- 7 I'd Ratherimg 3:30
- 8How Do I Tell Her
- 9Any Day Now
- 10 If I Was The Oneimg 4:20
- 11Let's Make Tonight The Night
- 12Like I'm Invisibleimg
- 13Are You There (With Another Guy)
- 14Love Forgot
Ample or thin, (smile) this is CLASSIC Luther! This CD is pure liquid, classic soul destined to join the ranks of classics like "Superstar," "A House Is Not A Home," "Give Me The Reason," "Stop to Love," etc.
Uptempo songs like, "Grown Thangs," and "Let's Make Tonight," remind me of the his old school songs of the 80's. No one can sing a song and make you feel what's going on (before the video). Like in the song, "Can Heaven Wait," without the docu-drama style of R. Kelly and Granddaddy Ron Isley, the simple and sheer wistful/melancholy tone of the music and Luther's vocals make you feel like you are standing outside the door listening as he pleads with his woman on her deathbed.
Unlike some of the more explicit singers of today, Luther Vandross makes you feel good about love, and being loved. I bought the CD for the new hit single "Take You Out," and fell in love with the ballads, "Are You There (with another guy), "Love Forgot," "I'd Rather," "Hearts Get Broken All The Time," and "Any Day Now." Songs that make you feel like you have on your favorite pair of old jeans and a well worn sweat shirt. Like in true Luther style, he runs through the gamut of feelings that we all experience in relationships---the highs, the lows, and the in betweens. For example, like in the song "If I Was The One" in classic Luther style, he sings "...If I was the one who was lovin' you, the only tears you'd cry were tears of joy..." Sing it Luther!
This is a wonderful CD for any TRUE Luther fan. I HIGHLY recommend it. Listening to this CD made me feel like I was at one of his concerts....20 years ago.
Overall the album is really good... It's still old Luther with a touch and dab of new school flavor infused here and there. Stand out tracks to me are # 1,2,5,7,8,9,11,12,14. That's more than half the album...
The first track Take U Out gives us a new Luther. It's not hip-hop, but it has a tight chorus, and a simple but eloquent back beat. It is almost reminscent of usher U Remind Me, but Luther pulls it off. I love when he sings "I Can Make Your House A Home..."
Number 2 is also upbeat. It has a heavier beat then the first one, and has a head nod rhythm to it. It has the standard shady-voicied background singers that I have come to associate with Luther. This is mos def a new Luther for the 2001.
Number 5 Luther for the club! This is a dance beat, but it's not new. It is Luther of old. long the lines of Bad Boy Having A Party, or 'Till My Baby Comes Home. This is a jam song for the old folks atthe party, but I like that kind of stuff... Shady BG as said before
Number 7 Ok now we get to Luther slowed down. Luther teases us b/c just when u think he is gonna run miles with his famous runs and riffs he opts not too. It has a orchestral type background setting with compliments his voice very well... He reminds me of Brian McKnight here... Not with the vocals, but with the beat. I can see Brian strumming his guitar to this song...
Number 8. Ok now this is Luther for the club for real! This song is the bomb diggity. It tries to stay to the old but it is infused with new school. The beat is reminiscant of a Darkchild produced track. This is a dance song for the new generation.
Number 9. OHHHHH Ok I love this song. Slow Luther for the generations. He's almost singing acapella in the beginning. His voice is captured by the beat drop and this song brings me back to Don't Want To Be The Fool... This is my fave slow song...
Number 11. Luther better do it! This is another upbeat track. I love this beat, and this song. It has new school beat, but with a oldie harpsicord playing the track. It reminds me of a old Luther song that slips my mind. He is fast singing almost like a Destiny's Child Bills Bills Bills, but not as fast. He is still singing, not simply talking fast. This is my fave upbeat track on the album!
Number 12. I left the cover in my room and yahoo says it only has 11 songs, so why am I playinng #12 now? Whitney would have been perfect to back him on this song. He flows on this song beautifully...
Number 14. This brings the CD to a close nicely. It's not slow, and it's not fast. It's mellow to say the least. Very nice... The cherry on top of an already sweet dessert. I could also see Whitney take a verse in this song as well...
Overall rating: I was looking for a Luther power ballad along the lines of So Amazing, and A House Is Not A Home, but he did not give it to us. I was looking for a classic Luther run or a single ohhh ohhhh ohhhh ohhhh, but again nothing... Nevertheless this CD is good. He outdid himself here. He touched new school, but didn't try to over do it. He knows his style is oldies, and he stuck with it. I give him props for that. He focuses more on the upbeat tracks. As u can tell the most I puled out were upbeat. That was a surprise to say the least. After this CD I CAN NOT WAIT for the Whitney duet.
I give him a 4 1/2 (out of 5) simply b/c he did not give me an ohhhhh ohhhh ohhh ohhhhh...
But if u like Luther you will not be dissapointed with this album. It is beautiful... Classic Luther we all know and love and a touch of "Club Luther."
After you listen to this CD you will agree with me that if you hear the name Luther, your first thoughts are of the one and only Luther Vandross. You will then proceed to listen again and again, for Luther is so smooth wheather he's singing "Can I Take You Out Tonight, or "Hearts Get Broken All the time (But The Problem Is, This time It's Mine)" Although most of the Radio Stations play "Can I Take You Out Tonight", Hearts Get Broken will be the one that sells this CD! Without naming each track, take my word...you can bet you have a CD that's worth whatever price you pay for it. Luther never cuts his CD's short. There are 14 tracks on this CD, and if you haven't bought it, you're missing out
Also, we have to, once more, give Diane Warren credit for writing "If I was the One." I can't imagine anyone other than Luther Vandross singing this song.
Once again Luther, You have stirred-up your gift. Needless to say it was worth waiting for!
Most people my age (23 years old) know Luther Vandross because their parents liked him. I am no exception. How ever, this self titled album was made to bridge the generaion gap. His songs have more adult themes and deeper lyrics than the bubble gum music my generation is used to. Songs like "Grown Thangs", directly address the older married couple. With lines like "Tonight we forget our worries, both kids to bed." reminding married couples that just because you have kids don't foget to be romantic. But the driving beat, makes even young single people groove. Other note worthy tracks are "Can Heaven Wait", "Hearts Get Broken All the Time", "I'd Rather" and "Like I'm Invisible" have Luther's signature deep and heart felt look at relationships. There are tracks perfect for nursing a broken heart. "Hearts Get Broken All the Time" "I'd Rather" "Any Day Now" and "Love Forgot". The only thing this CD lacks is good seduction music. Luther is famous for getting women from the living room the bedroom in three tracks or less. But the songs that address, romantic love (rather than lack there of) are too fast to play during a seduction. This CD is a must for old and new fans and for the broken hearted. But gentleman, if you are aiming for a seduction stick to classic Luther. (This goes for gentlemen of all ages) But at least it's finnally cool to listen to your parents CD's.
......though he never really left, I felt his older cd's had lost the MAGIC. Sure Luther sounded good, but his sound was a little dated. The new cd, "Luther Vandross", gives us the magical voice with a contemporary sound. All this is achieved without Mr. Vandross sounding out of place. The Babyface, Jon B composition "Grown Thangs" show Luther getting funky. There are other uptempo grooves, such as, "Say It Now" but there are plenty of slow jams for the die hard fans. "Hearts Get Broken All the Time", "Can Heaven Wait", and "Love Forgot" are just a few for the "Quiet Storm" format. You know a Luther Cd wouldn't be complete without a cover song; He offers two, "Any Day Now" orginally by Chuck Jackson and "Are You There (With Another Guy)" by Dionne Warwick. This new cd should satisfy the die hard fan while winning a completely new following!!!


