Luther - Luther (1976/2024)
MP3 CBR 320 kbps - 104 MB
45:31 | Soul, Disco | Label: Legacy Recordings
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.