Search - Luther Vandross :: Love Luther

'Love, Luther' Is Nice But Not Truly Definitive!

chakasworld | Atlanta, GA United States | 10/18/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"'Love Luther' was very nice, but could've been better IMO! Don't get me wrong, I think the packaging (photos, liner notes, etc) was awesome, but with all of the many (and I mean MANY!) Luther compilation CDs available (most feature the same old tracks!), it would've been extra special to include previously unreleased (or rare) songs in addition more non-album tracks & hits! I'm referring to music from the 1st 2 albums by the group Luther (1976-1977), which have never been issued on CD (this would've been a perfect time). Personally, I own about 3-4 Luther compilation CDs, so the rare tracks in this box were the main attraction (after placing the rare tracks on a single CD, I had to resell the box!). One of these so called rare tracks ('The Lady Is A Tramp' with Frank Sinatra) is not rare at all (and sounds out of place here!), so it didn't make the cut on my personal CD. Also, who was the nut that decided to include Aretha's 'Jump To It' on this collection ?? I know Luther produced it, but COME ON!!! Sony/Legacy/J Records should've returned 'Got You Home' back to the vault.....it sounded bad on last year's 'Ultimate Luther Vandross' CD, and it REALLY sounds bad now! This Luther box set would be a 5 star affair if it included a few more hits along with songs like 'I'm Gonna Miss You In The Morning' (1978 Duet with Patti Austin), 'The Thrill I'm In' (fr.'Money Train' SDTK), 'Heart Of A Hero' (fr.'Hero' SDTK), 'She's So Good To Me' (fr.'Goonies' SDTK), 'Hold On' (Awesome Live Duet with Patti Labelle), and 'You Really Started Something' (An Import Only Bonus Track from 2001!) in addition to other non-album tracks. I'd also hoped to see a few rare 12" mixes of Luther's hits included, but maybe that's coming soon when they remaster all of his studio CDs. All in all, the 'Love Luther' box set, with it's nice packaging & questionable tracklisting, is not as great as it SHOULD'VE been. With a legend like Luther Vandross, I expected a definitive box set along the lines of Marvin Gaye's 'The Master' (4 CDs) or The Temptations' 'Emperors Of Soul' (5 CDs). If you don't have Luther Vandross' greatest hits, ultimate collection, essential collection, etc, I'd recommend that you invest in 'Love Luther' or simply wait a few more years for the next compilation. You know it's coming!

Take care, SD"

Give up the love for this box set!

Tom | Toronto | 01/05/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What is with all the nit-picking about this box set? The purpose of this box set is to give an overview of Luther Vandross's career, and it does an excellent job of that. This set DOES have some rarities, yet the hardcore fans complain there are not enough. That was not the purpose of this collection. It is not a B-sides/rarities compilation, but rather an anthology of his career. There are complaints that not all of Vandross's charted hits are here. Yes, not all of the songs that charted below number 60 on the Billboard charts are here, but it's not a major oversight and it's not like the collection leaves off his major classics.



The sound is excellent. The '80s hits sound crisp and fresh as ever. The liner notes are well-written and not exhaustive. Songs come in extended or original form, not cut up or edited like so many other compilations. How can you complain when you get the rare, extended version of "Never Too Much"? Certainly not me. You get excellent live versions of "Searching", "Always & Forever" and "A House is Not A Home". You even get a sample of his producing abilities, with the full-length version of Aretha Franklin's "Jump to It". I think that's a smart move on the compilers' part; Vandross was a huge fan of divas like Aretha and he was prolific in his production skills.



It's rare that I can listen to a box set all the way through. Yet "Love, Luther" is such a consistently good listen, that you can enjoy it straight through from disc one to disc four. In fact, the collection just gets better and better with each disc, and each disc stands on its own.



Even if some of Luther's music sounds very much from the era it was recorded, he was a talented artist who had great taste in song choices and production. This production really is a labor of love."

Smooth Love

Michael Kerner | Brooklyn, New York U.S.A. | 10/16/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Yet, when it comes to great R&B crooners, we really don't have many legends to really enjoy these days anymore that are fresh and new. It is sad, especially when those we really look up to pass on. When Luther Vandross died two years ago, his soul was and his sensual voice was a deep reminder of what a definitive singer could really be. For three decades in the spotlight, he has crafted and recorded some of the most elegantly crafted songs ever on the radio and for listeners and lovers everywhere. With today, we are often more into rap performers and Hip Hop, where the softeness of soul is often overlooked from the deep heart, which is sad. While there have been so many different hits albums that came out with Luther Vandross's talent, no box set has ever been issued, until now.



The 2007 Love, Luther, is a 4 disc box set that does a decent job at reintroduces Luther Vandross and his velvetly, sexy voice from his delightful eras in the music industry. The collection includes all of his standards from classic covers, to his mix of Hip Hop Soul that blends in lover's and their souls' everywhere. The collection includes live material, from his classic duets, and his best in soul. The collection includes 60 great tracks including demos and extended tracks. The collection includes great tracks including classics like The Power Of Love/Love Power, Anyone Who Had A Heart, Don't Want To Be A Fool, and Stop To Love, to his collaborations with Dionne Warwick (How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye) and Mariah Carey (Endless Love), all the way to his last recordings including the somber Dance With My Father and I'd Rather. There are also a few treats here including never-before heard recordings including Funky Music, a song Luther Vandross performed during his early days as a part of the R&B group Luther, and Georgy Porgy when he recorded with Charme.



While the box set Love, Luther shines brightly, there are a couple of disadvantages to the collection. The first disadvantage is that the collection doesn't list the songs in chronologial order, which does confuse new listeners, as well as keeps things a little bit misorganized for die hard fans unlike other box sets. Another disadvantage to the album is that while the collection includes a lot of great songs, there are a few great tracks that were overlooked like his rendidtions of Heatwave's Always & Forever, and Going In Circles, as well as Think About You.



Despite those few flaws, Love, Luther works great in price and value as a noble re-introduction to Luther Vandross, that works well for die hard fans and anyone who hasn't yet heard a Lutehr Vandross song on the radio. While there have been so many different collections of Luther Vandross's soul that've been made, this one works as a nice treat for anyone who is in the mood for any love that Luther's soul keeps bringing out.



Album Cover: A-



Songs: B+



Price: B



Remastering: A-



Overall: B+"