Luther Vandross - Luther (1976/2024)

Just like Sade is the band fronted by singer Sade Adu, Luther was the band fronted by Luther Vandross. Unlike Sade, however, the recorded output of Luther has never made much of an impact. To be sure, Vandross's run as a solo artist starting in 1981 was massively successful, starting with the now-classic "Never Too Much." In the mid-'70s, however, he was a struggling singer possessed of incredible skill who had yet to find a breakout moment, despite making notable appearances on albums by Roberta Flack, Sister Sledge, Mandrill, and many others. The most renowned of his work as a backing vocalist was with David Bowie who, in seeking out soulful collaborators for Young Americans, found an iconic song ("Fascination" is a lightly rewritten version of Vandross's "Funky Music [Is A Part of Me]") and a fantastic voice. That song is reprised on this debut album from Vandross's short-lived group Luther, which was originally released in 1976 with a wildly incongruous cover that definitely made more than a few people think they were buying a heavy metal record. Luther featured some of Vandross's longtime collaborators (some of whom also appeared on Young Americans), and the performances are remarkable.

Hewing closely to the richly arranged template of pre-disco Philly Soul, the songs are lush and indulgent, showcasing Vandross's incredible voice and the strong harmonies of the other singers. Of course, those harmonies are considerably backgrounded (this is not a group record like those by contemporaries like the Delfonics or the Dells), and Vandross is pushed far forward in the mix, even on an ostensible duet like "I'll Get Along Fine." It's one of the album's many highlights, alongside "Funky Music," "The 2nd Time Around" (later re-recorded by Vandross in 1988), the driving "Emotion Eyes," and the iconic "Everybody Rejoice" (a.k.a. "A Brand New Day"), a song that Vandross wrote for The Wiz's run on Broadway. Unfortunately, Luther was not a commercial hit and Vandross purchased the rights to it and its follow-up, preventing them from being reissued during his lifetime. That move has made it seem as if Luther was some sort of embarrassing, subpar work—an absolutely unwarranted reputation. While far from groundbreaking, Luther's two albums—especially the self-titled debut—were solid showcases for Vandross's powerful singing, and more than worthy of inclusion in his discography. © Jason Ferguson/Qobuz