Luther
Luther was a short-lived R&B/soul vocal group formed by Luther Vandross in the mid-1970s as a vehicle for his early recording career.
Luther Vandross, born April 20, 1951, in Manhattan, New York, created the group after high school experiences with earlier ensembles like Shades of Jade (also called A Shade of Jade). The lineup featured Vandross on lead vocals alongside Anthony Hinton, Diane Sumler, Theresa V. Reed, and Christine Wiltshire. Emerging from his session work and collaborations, including with David Bowie, the group signed with Cotillion Records under executive Henry Allen.
The self-titled debut Luther arrived in May 1976, with Vandross writing and producing all tracks. Singles like "It's Good for the Soul," "Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)," and "The 2nd Time Around" failed to chart. A follow-up, This Close to You (1977), came as a trio but also flopped commercially, leading Cotillion to drop the group.
Vandross bought back the masters to prevent reissues, though Luther saw a 2024 Legacy Recordings release. The group's obscure output foreshadowed Vandross's solo success with Never Too Much (1981) and his status as an R&B icon. Personnel included notable session players like Carlos Alomar on guitar and Nat Adderley Jr. on keyboards.
Luther featuring Luther Vandross
Bass – Wilbur Bascombe
Congas – Pablo Rosario
Drums – Andrew Smith
Guitar – Jeff Mironov, Jerry Friedman, Lance Quinn
Keyboards – Nat Adderley, Jr., Pat Rebillot
Lead Vocals – Luther Vandross
Percussion – David Friedman, Pablo Rosario 5:29
A2 The 2nd Time Around
Bass – Wilbur Bascombe
Congas – Pablo Rosario
Drums – Andrew Smith
Guitar – Jeff Mironov, Jerry Friedman, Lance Quinn
Keyboards – Nat Adderley, Jr., Pat Rebillot
Lead Vocals – Luther Vandross
Percussion – David Friedman, Pablo Rosario
Soprano Saxophone [Solo] – George Young 6:25
A3 I'll Get Along Fine
Bass – Wilbur Bascombe
Congas – Pablo Rosario
Drums – Andrew Smith
Guitar – Jeff Mironov, Jerry Friedman, Lance Quinn
Keyboards – Nat Adderley, Jr., Pat Rebillot
Percussion – David Friedman, Pablo Rosario
Vocals – G. Diane Sumler, Luther Vandross 4:07
A4 Everybody Rejoice
Bass – Wilbur Bascombe
Congas – Pablo Rosario
Drums – Andrew Smith
Guitar – Jeff Mironov, Jerry Friedman, Lance Quinn
Keyboards – Nat Adderley, Jr., Pat Rebillot
Lead Vocals – Luther Vandross
Percussion – David Friedman, Pablo Rosario 3:21
B1 Emotion Eyes
Bass – George Murray
Drums – Andy Newmark, Daryl R. Brown
Guitar – Carlos Alomar
Keyboards – Nat Adderley, Jr.
Lead Vocals – Luther Vandross
Percussion – Pablo Rosario 5:58
B2 This Strange Feeling
Bass – George Murray
Drums – Andy Newmark, Daryl R. Brown
Guitar – Carlos Alomar
Keyboards – Nat Adderley, Jr.
Lead Vocals – Anthony Hinton, Luther Vandross
Percussion – Pablo Rosario 4:44
B3 It's Good For The Soul (Parts I And II)
Bass – George Murray
Drums – Andy Newmark, Daryl R. Brown
Guitar – Carlos Alomar
Keyboards – Nat Adderley, Jr.
Lead Vocals – Anthony Hinton, Luther Vandross
Percussion – Pablo Rosario 8:42
Label: Cotillion – SD 9907
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1976
Genre:R&B Soul
Style: Seventies Soul, Funk, Disco
The 1976 self-titled album Luther is the debut album by the group Luther, which featured a young Luther Vandross as lead vocalist, songwriter, and producer. It is a quintessential piece of mid-1970s soul and disco-flavored R&B that serves as a foretaste of Vandross's later solo genius.
Luther was released in June 1976 on Cotillion Records, an imprint of Atlantic Records. The album showcased Vandross's "unmistakable warm unique honeyed vocals" at a young age, alongside group members Anthony Hinton, Diane Sumler, Theresa V. Reed, and Christine Wiltshire.
Though the album did not initially sell well enough to chart and the group was eventually dropped by the label, it has gained recognition over time as a foundational work in Vandross's career.
Notable Tracks
"Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)": This was the album's most famous track and a hit in underground nightclubs. Vandross had previously reimagined this song with David Bowie into "Fascination" for Bowie's 1975 album Young Americans, where Vandross also contributed background vocals and arrangements.
"Everybody Rejoice (A Brand New Day)": The album features the only available recording of Vandross's rendition of this key song from the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical The Wiz.
"The 2nd Time Around": This track was later re-recorded by Vandross as "The Second Time Around" and included as the closing song on his successful 1988 solo album Any Love.
The biggest selling single from the album was "It's Good for the Soul (Pt. 1)", which was the most successful single by the group, peaking at number 28 on the R&B chart.
After decades of being largely unavailable (as Vandross bought back the rights), the album was officially reissued commercially for the first time in over forty years in April 2024 by Legacy Recordings.
Overall, the album stands up well almost 50 years after its release, offering a fascinating foretaste of the superstar Vandross would become and highlighting his talent as a comprehensive artist from a young age.
(Provided by Soulyears.com)