The reissue of two early, long out of print LUTHER VANDROSS albums has been a 2024 soul highlight. If you’re Luther fan (and who isn’t!!!), you’ll know that during the great man’s time as a backing singer for David Bowie, the Thin White Duke tapped him up for one of his songs – ‘Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)’. Bowie used it as the basis for his song ‘Fascination’, and the Bowie connection sparked record company interest in Luther!
He was quickly signed to Cotillion Records but, still a little unsure of himself, Mr V decided to work in a group setting. So he recruited singers he’d earlier worked with in a group called Shades of Jade. He dubbed the new band “Luther”. The line-up was Vandross, Anthony Hinton, Diane Sumler, Theresa V. Reed, and Christine Wiltshire and they recorded two albums for the label – Luther’ (1976) and ’This Close to You’ (1977). Sadly neither enjoyed too much commercial success so Luther was dropped by Cotillion. However, our man bought the rights to the LPs to prevent any kind of a cash in via their later re-release. They stayed in the vault for a long time though some fans did treasure their orignals and the odd bootleg issue!
Earlier this year, Primary Wave Music and Legacy Recordings, the catalogue division of Sony Music Entertainment, (in full agreement with the Vandross estate) reissued that first eponymous Cotillion LP and now, the second set, ’This Close to You’ is almost good to go. It will be available from June 7th.
The set delivers all kinds of treasures – notably ‘Jealousy Is In Me’, ‘This Is For Real’ (a superb ballad), ‘Don’t Wanna Be A Fool’ (not to be confused with his later’ Don’t Want To Be A Fool’ and the sumptuous ‘Follow My Love’ – the equal to anything he recorded in his pomp!
