LUTHER VANDROSS

[QUINNY]

Just out of interest, How many bands/Disco records was Luther Vandross in before making his name as a solo artist. It's amazing how many times his name crops up.
To be truthful, I had never really wondered before about his early carreer, until I pulled out a 7" record by LUTHER on Cotillion? the other day (which was dire and went straight back in the reject pile) and a Bionic Boogie 12" which sounds just like him on vocals.
Anyone know the answers?

[NickNack]

Well, these are off the top of my head:

CHIC
CHANGE
ROUNDTREE
CHERYL LYNN
SISTER SLEDGE
HI-GLOSS

I also have an lp by him (Elite?? Group name not coming to mind right now) where they sing "Georgy Porgy". Also, don't forget his tribute to the Beach Boys, "Good Vibrations" album.

[markydefad]

It seems like there's an LP by Soiree or something like that with Luther singing lead vocals. I found this somewhere and it's in a box somewhere--at home. Can't check now.

[california mike]

luther was involved with david bowie's young americans album from 1974

[Outsider]

I believe that he was the singer on the Bionic Boogie song "Hot Butterfly".

[NickNack]

I found that lp with Georgy Porgy. It's not Elite, it's "Let It In" by Charme, 1979 on RCA. Recorded in Rio and New York, produced by Jorge Alberto Pino. Other recognized names here:

GWEN GUTHRIE
TASHA THOMAS (Writing credit)
DAMARIS
ULLANDA McCULLOUGH

[markydefad]

On 2002-09-24 12:20, markydefad wrote:
It seems like there's an LP by Soiree or something like that with Luther singing lead vocals. I found this somewhere and it's in a box somewhere--at home. Can't check now.

OK, YES, there is a self-titled LP by Soiree that features Luther V. singing lead vocal on one cut "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" and doing vocal arrangements with Billy Jackson for "You Keep Me Hangin on" & "Do You Love Me" and singing background vocals on other tracks with the likes of Jocelyn L. Brown, Sharon Redd, Ula Hedwig (Harlette), Alfonzo (Fonzi) Thornton, Yvonne Lewis, Darryl Tookes, and several others I never heard of.

Lead vocals on 3 cuts: "Close To You", "Everlasting Love" and Do You Love Me" were by Ron E. Richardson, who later portrayed "Jim" in Broadway's "Big River"; I think he won a Tony for that--and something tells me that he died in the early 1990's. Anyone know????

Produced & Directed by: Billy Jackson
Executive Producers: Harvey Finkelstein, Steve Grossman, Peter Alves, Ron Rivkin for Unison Productions, Ltd.

All songs are covers:

Side A:

1) YOU KEEP ME HANGING ON (Holland-Dozier-Holland)
2) CLOSE TO YOU - (Bacharach-David)
3) EVERLASTING LOVE - (Cason-Gayden)

Side B:

1) DO YOU LOVE ME - (Gordy)
2) COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER - (Farrell-Boyce-Hart)
3) THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE- (Wonder)

The LP was on Roadshow/RCA released in 1979.

Anyone remember?????

[QUINNY]

Thanks to everyone for the info. I'm sure there must be others, aren't you?

[maarten]

Luther Vandross started as a studio singer so he can be found on many disco projects from the late 70's and early 80's. Especially so because he became really good friends with Gwen Guthrie who was an established voice available for studio work. She apparently 'mentored' Luther into all sorts of work, including radio and TV commercial soundtracks!

In addition to the list submitted here, Luther can also be heard on BB&Q Band as well as Peter Jacques Band. I think he may be uncredited a number of times as well as he was 'just a session singer' before his big break came with "Lovers holiday" by Change.

My biggest shock was the recent revelation (on this board, so it has to be true!!) that Luther is gay (not that there is anything wrong with that, to quote Jerry Seinfeld)
and not telling...
_________________
"ON THE BEAT"

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: maarten on 2002-09-27 01:44 ]</font>

[totoman]

I didn't know he had come out. Is that true? I always thought it was obvious. If you ever saw him in concert, you would know straight away.

toto

[maarten]

I always thought it was obvious. If you ever saw him in concert, you would know STRAIGHT away.

Pun intended I presume?!! :grin:

[markydefad]

Hmmmm... IRONY is alive and well at discomusic.com!!!! :lol:

Apparently, MANY STRAIGHT LADIES don't perceive Luther as the fellow "queen" we gays see up there on that stage. As far as I know--he has NEVER "come out" in public, it's just common knowledge in the biz. Wonder what Luther does with those panties the "ladies" throw up on stage??? Wear them??? :razz:

[Mixmachine]

While looking for something else came across this forgotten 1979 Casablanca distributed Lp by New York City Band from the movie "Sunnyside" with Luther Vandross' vocals easy to find in all cuts.

The best example here of his style can be found in the song "got to have your body", a nice low tempo mellow song with that classic Luther's delivery.

But my favorite cut is "Sunnyside" with background and solos by Luther, this cut is very "Greg Diamond production" sounding, must be because Godfrey Diamond who produced many with Greg was involved here as the recording and mixing engineer, probably a bit more too.

This Soundtrack Lp sounds much better today, I never even listened to this one properly BITD.:icon_rolleyes:

[tony98]

I have two New York City 7" including a promo copy of "Got To Have Your Body" it has an odd track on the "B" side a cover version of a 50's hit "Bo Diddley".

[disco-disc]

Quinny, Luther released at least TWO 12" disco discs on Atlantic in 1976/77....under the artist name LUTHER..:icon_lol:

[tony98]

The Atlantic released albums were actually on Cotillion namely "It's Good For The Soul" & "Luther" . I used to play "Don't Wanna Be A Fool" off the latter album.

[remicks]

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[remicks]

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Vocals: Gordon Grody, Diva Gray, Lani Groves, Kenny Lehman, Luther Vandross and David Lasley

*****

[KoolChris]

there is a self-titled LP by Soiree that features Luther V. singing lead vocal on one cut "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" and doing vocal arrangements with Billy Jackson for "You Keep Me Hangin on" & "Do You Love Me" and singing background vocals on other tracks with the likes of Jocelyn L. Brown, Sharon Redd, Ula Hedwig (Harlette), Alfonzo (Fonzi) Thornton, Yvonne Lewis, Darryl Tookes, and several others I never heard of.

Anyone remember?????

Most definitely! This Lp is excellent! Here's what I posted for this record in the vault:
"As Qdearl wrote in his post for the US pressing of the Soirée (Soiree) LP, don't be fooled by the probability of a cover album being whack! This is dy-no-mite! Just read the credits to find out who was involved in this project, and you'll recognize many names that also appear on the best other disco LPs of the era. I was sold on Luther Vandross, Godfrey Diamond, Peter Alves, Gene Orloff, and Selwart Clarke, just to mention a few.

My favorite track is "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life", a way-faster paced and more exciting track than the original, and to be able to say that about a cover of a Stevie Wonder track says it all! But basically, all tracks are about the same grade A quality, with no fillers whatsoever. A totally underrated sleeper..."

[K-Bee]

Why haven't Bionic boogie been mentioned yet? Luther worked on quite a few tracks there, and BB is even one of the more well known of Luther's disco affiliations (more than Charmé, at least)

And about the 2 Cotillion 70s albums ("Luther" and "This Close To You"). Weren't they drawn back by the label at an early point or something? Suppose a CD reissue is unlikely then. :icon_confused:

[KoolChris]

While looking for something else came across this forgotten 1979 Casablanca distributed Lp by New York City Band from the movie "Sunnyside" with Luther Vandross' vocals easy to find in all cuts.

The best example here of his style can be found in the song "got to have your body", a nice low tempo mellow song with that classic Luther's delivery.

But my favorite cut is "Sunnyside" with background and solos by Luther, this cut is very "Greg Diamond production" sounding, must be because Godfrey Diamond who produced many with Greg was involved here as the recording and mixing engineer, probably a bit more too.

This Soundtrack Lp sounds much better today, I never even listened to this one properly BITD.:icon_rolleyes:

I'd forgotten about that one. It's hard to make out his voice, as it's hardly every showcased as a distinct lead as in Bionic Boogie's "Hot Butterfly", except in "New York City Band" and "Got to Have Your Body". "Sometimes" is a great track (my fave), and his voice is recognizable in the chorus.

http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/9123_0_2_0_C/

[SandraDee]

Luther did backing vocals & co-wrote a track on Robin Beck's '79 LP 'Sweet Talk'.

[tony98]

I've just thought of another Luther featured lp that i played a long time ago. The group was "Mascara" on U.K. Ensign and the tracks i played of it were "See You In L.A." & "It's Cool". i wish i could find another copy of it . I have managed to find 2 other versions of "It's Cool" - The Tymes and also Walter Jackson.

[Noman]

I've just thought of another Luther featured lp that i played a long time ago. The group was "Mascara" on U.K. Ensign and the tracks i played of it were "See You In L.A." & "It's Cool". i wish i could find another copy of it . I have managed to find 2 other versions of "It's Cool" - The Tymes and also Walter Jackson.

Great album http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/7162_0_2_0_C/

[remicks]

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Although only as backup ! :icon_rolleyes:

Fonzi Thorton has lead once .... Jocelyn Brown a couple of others .....
Bernard Edwards takes prominent lead and you can hear his voice well on YOU'VE REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME and HARD LOVING MAN


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*** ..... despite its whimsical cover and being called GLAD TO BE HERE ... it doesn't really sound like it .... not much fun coming thru on this ...