luther vandross songs with love in the title

After fronting a group called Luther, Vandross launched his solo career in 1981.Īdams, from Yakima, Wash., was performing in a hotel bar in Kansas City when the band Tears for Fears happened upon her. That kicked off a busy period as a backing singer for such stars as Bette Midler, Carly Simon and Chaka Khan.

Vandross, who grew up in New York City, hooked up with David Bowie in 1974, serving as vocal arranger and backing singer on Bowie’s “Young Americans” album and subsequent tours. In addition to a common calling as romantic singers, Vandross and Adams both got early career boosts from British rock stars. Now his opening act is Oleta Adams, who after just two albums has won wide acclaim for the depth of feeling in her delivery, and for her ability both as a singer and a pianist.

During the ‘80s, his touring partners included Patti LaBelle and Anita Baker. Vandross isn’t afraid of sharing a concert bill with women who are strong performers and strong personalities. The late Conway Twitty took a similar approach in his long career as a country balladeer, and he never had a hard time mustering an audience. It’s telling that when Vandross took a vocal-tandem turn with Frank Sinatra on “The Lady Is a Tramp,” the leadoff track on Ol’ Blue Eyes’ recent “Duets” album, they changed the word “tramp” to “champ.” Vandross does not like to sing ill of women. He received his own custom label, LV Records, as a let’s-make-up gift.) (In a business-sector parallel to the scenario of many of his songs, Vandross recently sued for divorce from his longtime record company, Epic, only to patch things up and return to the label. It’s not only their bodies he craves, but the chance to prove that he is a constant, respectful lover who knows that sex alone does not constitute “The Best of Love.”

Vandross can be heard pleading and beseeching throughout the album, begging his lovers’ consent to keep troubled romances going. It’s interesting to note how Vandross consistently puts the women in his songs in a position of power, and how the love he extols is consistently of the romantic, lasting variety, and not the one-night quickie shot of hormonal relief. Vandross’ following is built around women who want to hear his ultra-romantic take on love (and no doubt some canny fellows who know that music is the food of you-know-what). If he grabs his crotch, the reason no doubt will be a sudden and painful groin-muscle pull. If Vandross utters the word “hoe” from the stage, it will probably mean that he has decided to tell an anecdote about gardening.

Luther vandross songs with love in the title