Luther Vandross (album)
{{Infobox album
| name = Luther Vandross
| type = studio
| artist = Luther Vandross
| cover = Luther Vandross album cover.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2001|6|19}}
| recorded = November 2000–March 2001
| venue =
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 66:52
| label = J
| producer = {{flatlist|
- Nat Adderley, Jr.
- AllStar
- Jon B.
- Babyface
- Eddie Berkeley
- Warryn Campbell
- Shep Crawford
- Eddie F.
- Keir Gist
- Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence
- Darren Lighty
- Marcus Miller
- Soulshock
- The Underdogs
- Junior Vasquez
}}
| prev_title = Smooth Love
| prev_year = 2000
| next_title = The Ultimate Luther Vandross
| next_year = 2001
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Luther Vandross
| type = studio
| single1 = Take You Out
| single1date = June 9, 2001
| single2 = Can Heaven Wait
| single2date = December 2001
| single3 = I'd Rather
| single3date = April 16, 2002
}}
}}
Luther Vandross is the thirteenth studio album by American singer Luther Vandross. It was released by J Records on June 19, 2001 in the United States. His debut with the label after a brief stint with Virgin Records on I Know (1998), it marked a departure for Vandross who reunited with frequent collaborators Nat Adderley, Jr. and Marcus Miller to work on some songs, but also recruited a wider range of contemporary producers such as Warryn Campbell, Shep Crawford, Eddie F., Darren Lighty, Soulshock, and The Underdogs to contribute material.
The album was released to positive reception from music critics, who called it Vandross' best effort in a decade. His rendition of the 1962 Chuck Jackson song "Any Day Now" received a nomination for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance at the 2003 Grammy Awards. Upon release, Luther Vandross debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200, selling 136,000 copies, his best first week sales yet. The album produced three singles, including "Take You Out" which reached the top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Adult R&B Songs chart.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = AllMusic
|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r538163|work=AllMusic|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]
|rev2 = Entertainment Weekly
|rev2score = A−{{cite journal|url=https://ew.com/article/2001/07/20/luther-vandross/|title=Luther Vandross Review|last=Cherry|first=Robert|journal=Entertainment Weekly|date=July 20, 2001|pages=68–9|accessdate=April 4, 2013}}
|rev3 = Rolling Stone
|rev3score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/luther-vandross-20010724 |title=+Luther Vandross|work=Rolling Stone|first= Jon|last=Caramanica |date=July 24, 2001|accessdate=April 14, 2021}}
|rev4 = The New Rolling Stone Album Guide
}}
AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis found that Luther Vandross was "a return to form," and ranked the album "as the singer's best since 1991's critically and commercially lauded Power of Love." He further called it "the singer's most engaging, exciting, and compelling album in years; [it] shows Vandross in step with changing times, all the while still managing to hold on to the essence of what made him so famous in the first place." People magazine called Luther Vandross "vintage Vandross" and wrote: "With his new disc, Vandross has finally come up with a collection of songs worthy of his silky, elastic tenor. Sounding as robust as ever despite having dropped 120 lbs. since his last album [...] Vandross works his seductive spells on sensitive slow jams [...]."{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20134880,00.html |title=Picks and Pans Review: Luther Vandross|work=People|date=July 16, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062737/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20134880,00.html|accessdate=April 14, 2021|archive-date=2016-03-04}}
Denise Boyd from BBC Music noted that "with this album Luther has stepped into the 21st century with style. He's combined his classic soul sound with the new digitised R&B beat, therefore cleverly pleasing his die-hard fans and also paving the way for a new generation of followers. Luther is undisputedly still the king of soul ballads but he is also recognised as a force to be reckoned with on the new R&B scene."{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/j254/ |title= Luther Vandross, Luther Vandross Review |work=BBC Music|date=2002|first=Denise|last=Boyd|accessdate=April 14, 2021}}
Entertainment Weekly{{'}}s Robert Cherry felt that "Vandross doesn’t need to rely on expletives to stimulate a response. Armed with G-rated ballads and a bevy of hot producers who step aside to let the man do his thang, Vandross and his caramel-smooth croon could spark yet another baby boom." In a negative review, PopMatters editor Mark Anthony Neal called the album a "dismal attempt on Vandross' part to remain relevant to today’s listening audiences."{{cite web|first=Mark Anthony |last=Neal|url=https://www.popmatters.com/vandrossluther-st-2496104882.html |title=Luther Vandross: Self-titled|website=PopMatters|date=July 16, 2001|access-date=November 25, 2024}}
Commercial performance
Luther Vandross debuted and peaked at number six on the US Billboard 200, selling 136,000 copies in its first week.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/devilish-d12-debut-at-no-1-79282/|title=Devilish D12 Debut At No. 1|website=Billboard.com|date=July 20, 2001|accessdate=April 14, 2021}} It marked Vandross' best chart showing since Billboard began using SoundScan to track sales in 1991. On Billboard{{'}}s component charts, the album reached number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, becoming his twelfth solo album to reach the top ten. In total, Luther Vandross sold 1.2 million copies domestically.{{cite web|url=https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=277171|title=Pushed-Up Metallica CD Tops List of Releases Slated for June 10|website=hitsdailydouble.com|date=June 3, 2003|accessdate=April 14, 2021}} It was eventually certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the shipment of over 1 million copies in the United States.
Track listing
{{track listing
| headline = Luther Vandross track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| total_length = 66:52
| title1 = Take You Out
| writer1 = {{hlist|Warryn Campbell|Harold Lilly|John Smith}}
| extra1 = Campbell
| length1 = 3:25
| title2 = Grown Thangs
| writer2 = {{hlist|Jonathan Buck|Kenneth Edmonds|Luther Vandross}}
| extra2 = Jon B.
| length2 = 4:32
| title3 = Bring Your Heart to Mine
| writer3 = {{hlist|Keir Gist|Eddie Berkeley|R. L. Huggar|Vandross}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Gist|Berkeley}}
| length3 = 4:21
| title4 = Can Heaven Wait
| writer4 = {{hlist|Carsten Shack|Kenneth Karlin|Joshua Thompson|Danny Mercado|Quincy Patrick|Joe Thomas}}
| extra4 = Soulshock & Karlin
| length4 = 5:35
| title5 = Say It Now
| writer5 = {{hlist|Allen Gordon|Katrina Willis|Joel Campbell|Nate Butler}}
| extra5 = Soulshock & Karlin
| length5 = 4:32
| title6 = Hearts Get Broken All the Time (But the Problem Is, This Time It's Mine)
| writer6 = {{hlist|Vandross|Reed Vertelney}}
| extra6 = Vandross
| length6 = 5:19
| title7 = I'd Rather
| writer7 = Shep Crawford
| extra7 = Crawford
| length7 = 4:51
| title8 = How Do I Tell Her
| writer8 = {{hlist|Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence|Brook Richardson}}
| extra8 = Lawrence
| length8 = 4:17
| title9 = Any Day Now
| writer9 = {{hlist|Burt Bacharach|Bob Hilliard}}
| extra9 = Nat Adderley Jr.
| length9 = 5:11
| title10 = If I Was the One
| writer10 = Diane Warren
| extra10 = The Underdogs
| length10 = 4:19
| title11 = Let's Make Tonight the Night
| writer11 = {{hlist|Eddie Ferrell|Darren Lighty|Clifton Lighty|Balewa Muhammed|Vandross}}
| extra11 = {{hlist|Eddie F.|Darren Lighty}}
| length11 = 4:17
| title12 = Like I'm Invisible
| extra12 = {{hlist|Edmonds|Vandross}}
| writer12 = {{hlist|Vandross|Fonzi Thornton|Rex Rideout}}
| length12 = 4:00
| title13 = Are You There (With Another Guy)
| writer13 = {{hlist|Bacharach|Hal David}}
| extra13 = Vandross
| length13 = 5:55
| title14 = Love Forgot
| writer14 = {{hlist|Vandross|Marcus Miller}}
| extra14 = {{hlist|Vandross|Miller}}
| length14 = 5:36
| title15 = You Really Started Something
| note15 = hidden track
| writer15 = {{hlist|Vandross|Denise Rich|Junior Vasquez}}
| extra15 = Vasquez
| length15 = 4:37
}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Weekly chart performance for Luther Vandross |
| Chart (2001)
!Peak |
|---|
| scope="row" {{Album chart|Billboard200|6|artist=Luther Vandross|rowheader=true|accessdate=July 27, 2018}} |
| scope="row" {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|2|artist=Luther Vandross|rowheader=true|accessdate=July 27, 2018}} |
{{col-2}}
= Year-end charts =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ 2001 year-end chart performance for Luther Vandross |
| scope="col"| Chart (2001)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Billboard 200{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2001/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2001|work=Billboard|accessdate=August 28, 2020}}
| style="text-align:center;"|108 |
| scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite web|title=R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 2001|publisher=Billboard|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2001/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|accessdate=July 27, 2018}}
| style="text-align:center;"|42 |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ 2002 year-end chart performance for Luther Vandross |
| scope="col"| Chart (2002)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2002/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2002|work=Billboard|accessdate=August 30, 2020}}
| style="text-align:center;"|72 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Luther Vandross}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|title=Luther Vandross|artist=Luther Vandross|award=Platinum|relyear=2001|refname="riaa"|salesamount=1,064,384|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2002/BB-2002-06-22.pdf#page=5|title=The First 18 Months...an Historic Opening Chapter|magazine=Billboard|date=June 22, 2002|page=5|via=worldradiohistory.com|accessdate=March 2, 2025}}}}
{{table end}}
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Luther Vandross release history |
| scope="col"| Region
! scope="col"| Date ! scope="col"| Format(s) ! scope="col"| Label ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | Asia
| rowspan="4" | {{Start date|2001|06|19}} | rowspan="5" | {{hlist|CD|cassette}} | rowspan="5" | J Records | rowspan="4" | {{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CRQEAAAAMBAJ|title=Coming Back, Vandross Taps Young Writers, Producers For J Debut|work=Billboard|first=Gail|last=Mitchell|date=June 16, 2001|access-date=April 14, 2021}} |
| scope="row" | Canada |
| scope="row" | Japan |
| scope="row" | United States |
| scope="row" | Austria
| rowspan="1" | {{Start date|2001|10|8}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Luther Vandross}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Luther Vandross albums