Primary Wave Music, in collaboration with Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, proudly announces the re-release of Luther, the debut album from the legendary Luther Vandross. Initially launched by Cotillion Records, this seminal work is now accessible for the first time in over four decades. This historic release is available in multiple formats, including vinyl, CD, and across all digital streaming platforms, ensuring that fans, old and new, can experience the timeless magic of Luther Vandross.
In addition to the remastered music, fans can discover the exclusive new merchandise bundles now available for purchase at the official store – shop.luthervandross.com.
LUTHER – TRACK LISTING
1. Funky Music (Is A Part Of Me)
2. The 2nd Time Around
3. I’ll Get Along Fine
4. Everybody Rejoice (From the Tony Award Winning Musical, “THE WIZ”)
5. Emotion Eyes
6. This Strange Feeling
7. It’s Good For The Soul (Parts I And II)
Bonus Tracks – CD/Digital Only
8. The 2nd Time Around (Instrumental)
Celebrating Luther Vandross’s profound legacy in R&B and soul, his seminal albums are making a remarkable comeback, four decades later, showcasing his enduring artistry and influence. This re-release aligns with the highly anticipated documentary, “Luther: Never Too Much,” which debuted to critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival. This film highlights his legendary status and indelible impact on the music industry.
In June 1976, Luther Vandross made an indelible mark on the R&B scene with the release of his debut album, Luther. This album not only showcased his exceptional vocal prowess, songwriting, and production abilities but also featured the hit “Funky Music (Is A Part Of Me).” This track was later transformed by Vandross and David Bowie into “Fascination” for Bowie’s legendary album Young Americans, highlighting Vandross’s significant contributions through his background vocals and arrangements. The album also featured “Everybody Rejoice (A Brand New Day)” from the acclaimed musical “The Wiz,” which remains the sole recorded version of Vandross performing the song.
For more information about Luther Vandross and this release, visit www.luthervandross.com
ABOUT LUTHER VANDROSS
Luther Vandross was more than just a great singer. An elegant and warmhearted New Yorker who became one of popular music’s most beloved performers, from his solo breakthrough in the early ‘80s to his untimely death in 2005, Vandross was a vocalist whose understanding of singing as an art form was so profound, he changed notions of what it could be. That’s just what he did in balancing the innovation of 1980’s R&B in the irresistibly joyful title track of Vandross’ 1981 solo debut, Never Too Much, to his astonishing 1981 cover of A House Is Not a Home, transforming the Burt Bacharach/Hal David classic into an acutely personal demonstration of his control, dexterity, and expressiveness. In the process, he transcends the ‘60s divas who inspired him—Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin—to create a model for those who followed. Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, and Celine Dion have all acknowledged the impact that their sometime duet partner had on them. Luther’s success in the 1980s launched him after many years of working behind the scenes as a session vocalist and arranger for acts like David Bowie and Bette Midler and as the singer of Searching and The Glow of Love, two classy hits for the Italian/American disco group Change. In the decades that followed, Vandross continued to find ways to push the art forward instead of relying on the tried and true, releasing 11 consecutive platinum albums in the process and garnering 31 Grammy nominations and 8 Grammy awards. Grammy winners like 1991’s Power of Love/Love Power and 2003’s Dance With My Father remain as technically accomplished as they are emotionally moving, serving as testaments to his enduring legacy. For more info visit https://LutherVandross.com.