TRACK LIST:
Diane and I saw Luther Vandross in concert twice. Both performances were sold-out with enthusiastic fans. I like Vandross’s smooth voice and his musical style. And, of course, I own plenty of Luther Vandross CDs.
One of my favorite Luther Vandross CDs is Songs, a collection of cover versions of popular hits. Some are classic songs like “What the World Needs Now.” Others are Motown hits like “Reflections” which the Supremes made popular and “Hello,” a Lionel Richie song that hit Number One on the Billboard chart.
Do you recognize any of these songs? Are you a Luther Vandross fan? GRADE: A
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Originally Recorded by | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Love the One You’re With“ | Stephen Stills | Stephen Stills | 5:03 |
| 2. | “Killing Me Softly“ | Norman Gimbel, Charles Fox | Lori Lieberman | 5:33 |
| 3. | “Endless Love” (Duet with Mariah Carey) | Lionel Richie | Diana Ross and Lionel Richie | 4:21 |
| 4. | “Evergreen“ | Barbra Streisand, Paul Williams | Barbra Streisand | 3:54 |
| 5. | “Reflections“ | Holland-Dozier-Holland | Diana Ross & the Supremes | 3:21 |
| 6. | “Hello“ | Lionel Richie | Lionel Richie | 4:44 |
| 7. | “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now“ | Jerry Cohen, Gene McFadden, John Whitehead | McFadden & Whitehead | 4:53 |
| 8. | “Always and Forever“ | Rod Temperton | Heatwave | 4:53 |
| 9. | “Going in Circles“ | Anita Poree, Jerry Peters | The Friends of Distinction | 5:12 |
| 10. | “Since You’ve Been Gone“ | Aretha Franklin, Teddy White | Aretha Franklin | 4:15 |
| 11. | “All the Woman I Need” | Dean Pitchford, Michael Gore | Linda Clifford as “All the Man I Need“ | 4:54 |
| 12. | “What the World Needs Now“ | Burt Bacharach, Hal David | Jackie DeShannon | 5:18 |
| 13. | “The Impossible Dream“ | Mitch Leigh, Joe Darion | Richard Kiley | 5:16 |
Can’t say I know his music well What I have heard strikes me as a bit on the dull side. And he covers the odious Evergreen here.
Steve, glad to have you back! The song choices strategy on SONGS seems to be to cast the widest tent.
Steve! Good to see you back! Hope the foot is healing.
Thanks Rick. It is healing fine. Just can’t drive for a few weeks.
Steve, get well soon!
I know all of these songs in their original versions—some I like (Reflections, Love the One You’re With) and some…not so much (Hello, and the previously-mentioned Evergreen). I’ve never been a big fan of Vandross and I have to say that nothing on this CD makes me think I’ll change my mind.
Deb, Luther Vandross was also a record producer. And Vandross also wrote and sang commercial jingles from 1977 until the early 1980s for companies including NBC, Mountain Dew, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King, and Juicy Fruit.
He also sang backup for David Bowie.
Steve, Vandross also sang backup vocals for Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan, Ben E. King, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Carly Simon, Barbra Streisand, David Bowie, Cat Stevens, Bette Midler, Gary Glitter, Ringo Starr, Sister Sledge, and Donna Summer, and for the bands Mandrill, Chic and Todd Rundgren’s Utopia.
His name is familiar but if I’ve heard him I wasn’t aware of it. I do know a number of these songs.
Michael, if you’re in the mood for some mellow singing, you might want to give Luther Vandross a try.
Yes, I know the songs (all but one), and no, not a Vandross fan, though he had a good voice. I dislike “Evergreen” too; also, never liked “Killing Me Softly.” Isn’t “Love the One You’re With” an odd choice for him? If I had to pick songs I do like, it would be the Supremes and Aretha songs, and maybe “Going in Circles” and “What the World Needs Now.”
Jeff, I wish Luther Vandross had done a Burt Bacharach/Hal David album. He doesn’t a nice job with “What the World Needs Now.”
Not particularly familiar with his music, though the name is known to me. From what others have said, I won’t rush out to buy this.
I won’t go out of my way to hear him but he’s okay!
Bob, you would have loved a Luther Vandross concert!
Doubtful!