Luther
Band members Related acts
|
line up 1 (1976-77) - Anthony Hinton (RIP) -- lead and backing vocals - Theresa Reed -- backing vocals - Diane Sumler -- backing vocals - Luther Vandross (RIP 2005) -- lead and vocals - Christine Wiltshire -- backing vocals
supporting musicians: (1976) - Nat Adderley, Jr. -- keyboards - Carlos Alomar -- guitar - Wilbur Bascomb - bass - Darryl Brown -- drums, percussion - David Friedman -- percussion - Jerry Friedman -- guitar - Jeff Mironov --
guitar - Andy Newmark -- drums, percussion - Lance Quinn -- guitar - Pat Rebillot -- keyboards - Pablo Rosario -- [ercussion - Andrew Smith -- drums, percussion - George Young -- soprano saxophone
|
- The Aural Exciters (Christine Wiltshire) - Center Stage (Christine Wiltshire) - Change (Luther Vandross) - Class Action (Christine Wiltshire) - Dave and Maurissa (Christine Wiltshire) - DSX (Christine Wiltshire) - Listen My Brother (Luther Vandross) - Mascara (Luther Vandross) - Musique (Christine Wiltshire) - New York City Band (Luther Vandross) - The P.A. System (Christine Wiltshire) - Phreek (Christine Wiltshire) - Poussez (Christine Wiltshire) - Revanche (Christine Wiltshire) - Shades of Jade (Anthony Hinton and Diane Sumler) - Something Differen (Christine Wiltshire) - Voices That Care (Luther Vandross) - Luther Vandross (solo efforts)
|
|
Genre: soul Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Luther Company: Cotillion Year: 1976 Country/State: -- Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: small cutout notch on lower edge Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $25.00
|
Robin Clark,
Anthony Hinton, Diane Sumler and Vandross had previously worked together in
the group Listen To My Brother which had done some mid-'60s musical support
for the PBS childrens' show Sesame Street. They scored an early-'70s
contract with AVCO Embassy
In spite of minor success with the two singles, the album did little commercially and after the release of a second Luther album (1977's "This Close To You") Cotillion's dropped the group. Vandross subsequently purchases the masters, preventing any officially reissue. That changed after Vandross' 2005 death when his estate reached an agreement whereby Legacy Recording reissued the collections in April, 2024.
"Luther" track listing: 1.) Funky Music (Is a Part of Me) (Luther Vandross) - 5:29 rating: **** stars Opening up with a mix of Southern soul, Gospel and funk influences, 'Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)' has always reminded me of something out of the Norman Whitfield school of arrangements. Regardless, the focus is on Vandross' amazing voice. Think the man could only handle big ballads? Well check this one out. The song actually has an interesting history. Vandross had written ithe tune several years earlier and David Bowie covered a revamped version under the title 'Fascination' for his "Young Americans" album. (Vandross appeared on the album as a backing singer.) There's also a nice cover by Fat Larry's Band. Released as the album's second single, how is if this wasn't a massive hit? There's a promotional video though the quality isn't great: 4383575 4000 NULL YOUTUBE WTYW FY25 APRL EYEP NOBO DNAD 1920X1080 15 GM AA EL 23122830117PWW66Y45E
- 1976's 'Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)' b/w 'The 2nd Time Around' (Cotillion catalog number 45-44205) 2.) The 2nd Time Around (Luther Vandross) - 6:25 rating: **** stars Yeah, his big ballads can overwhelm the casual fan, but I'll readily admit 'The 2nd Time Around' was mighty fine. That voice is just so amazing and the backing vocals were simply too-die-for glorious. Vandross rerecorded the song for his 1988 solo album "Any Love." Out of curiosity I've listened to the two versions side-by-side and I'm hard-pressed to spot any major differences. 3.) I'll Get Along Fine (Luther Vandross) - 4:07 rating: *** stars 'I'll Get Along Fine' was a nice enough duet with Diane Sumler. I can already hear the boos, but this was one of those songs where they just sounded like the were trying a tad too hard to outdo one another. 4.) Everybody Rejoice (Luther Vandross) - 3:21 rating: **** stars Most folks are going to recognize 'Everybody Rejoice' as a track sung by Diana Ross, Ted Ross, Michael Jackson, etc. for the Broadway Play The Wiz and the resulting film. Interestingly, Vandross sang the opening line on the original play/film soundtrack. This version slows the song down considerably; shedding some of the cover's hyperactivity. I like Vandross' version better.
(side
2) The dated '80s production sound (tons of synthesizers, slap bass and syndrums), won't appeal to everyone, but I have to admit it reminds me of a certain period in my life. Vandross at at his funkiest. Surprising it was snagged for a film soundtrack. 2.) This Strange Feeling (Luther Vandross) - 4:44 rating: **\* stars Another big ballad, 'This Strange Feeling' was primarily of interest for the fact the late Anthony iInton shared lead vocals with Vandross. His falsetto reminds me a bit of Eddie Kendricks. 3.) It's Good For The Soul (Parts I And II) (Luther Vandross) - 8:42 rating: ** stars Clocking in at almost nine minutes, 'It's Good For The Soul (Parts I And II) was easily the album's most formulaic disco track. I've certainly heard worse, but hearing the title repeated time after time just didn't do much for me. Cotillion tapped it as the leadoff single in both 1" and 12" formats.
7" pressing: -1976's 'It's Good For The Soul (Part 1)" b/w 'It's Good For The Soul (Part 1)' (Cotillion catalog number 45-44200) 12" pressing - 1976's -1976's 'It's Good For The Soul (Part 1)" b/w 'It's Good For The Soul (Part 1)' (Cotillion catalog number DSKO 72)
© Scott R. Blackerby |
BACK TO BADCAT PAYMENT INFORMATION
,
but never went into the studio, instead paying their bills as studio backing
singers. Vandross' breakthrough came when he was hired to work on
David Bowie's 1975 "Young Americans" album.
Under the title 'Fascination', Bowie elected to record a revamped version of
Vandross' Funky
Music (Is a Part of Me)' for the album. Vandross went on to serve as
Bowie's opening act on the following oung Americans tour. The resulting
publicity brought major labels calling, with Atlantic's Cotillion eventually
signing the five piece Luther in 1976. By this time the Luther line-up
featured Vandross along with Hinton, Sumler and new
members Theresa
Reed and Christine Wiltshire. Yeah,
Luther was billed as a group, but this
was essentially the late Luther Vandross' debut album. Vandross
produced the album, handled most of the lead vocals and was credited with
penning all seven tracks. The voice is instantly recognizable and
hearing tracks like the ballads 'The
2nd Time Around' and 'This
Strange Feeling' leaves you wondering why
it would take another four years for his solo career to explode. At least
for me the album's most interesting performances came in the form of the
non-ballads. The opener '' was an impressive slice of Souther soul,
Gospel and funk. Part of The Wiz Broadway cast and film soundtracks,
Vandross' version of 'Everybody
Rejoice' was upbeat, but better for not being quite as hyper as the Diana
Ross and Michael Jackson version. Released as 7" and 12"
singles, the one disappointment was the mindless and seemingly endless slice
of disco banality - 'It's
Good For The Soul.' Certainly not Vandross' creative zenith, but
an interesting introduction to the talent man. Worth looking for a
copy.
