Luther Vandross-an all-star tribute

‘So Amazing' is an all-star tribute to the legend that is Luther Vandross who died earlier this year after a massive stroke crippled him back in 2003.The cream of the crop has been recruited to render homage to the ‘soul crooner' including Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, the list is endless.
Why? Well back in the early 80's when disco music and the various ‘Studio 54's were shutting down, the flagship Motown including Stevie Wonder had gone to port, soul music was in a rut. R&B would rear its head again in the 90's thanks to the hip-hop/rap/drum'n'bass scene, bringing an array of new artists and ideas which with MTV exposure has led to the incredibly rich soul/r&b scene of today, but back in the early 80's soul was being delivered by very few. Many artists had turned to pop like Lionel Ritchie from The Commodores or Kool and the Gang (who were heavy ‘funksters' in the 70's), even Aretha, and so there seemed no market or guide for some sweet soul music.
Enter big Luther. With his 1981/82 release of ‘Never Too Much' single/album, a real whirlwind arrived. The man could sing like an angel and working with top class musicians like Marcus Miller, made some outstanding records. But the thing about the man was that his vocal performances were tremendous. He had the capacity to make you feel ‘special'; he sang as if to a public of one, yes to you, me personally, always about ‘Love'. In his world a chick was a ‘lady' and a girl was ‘baby'. All in love was fair and good and even a heartbreak could lead to better things on the horizon.
Of course the man himself would, like Bob De Niro's ‘Jake La Motta', put on 50-60 pounds and then lose them again in a never ending battle to fight the flab. Physical transformations of ‘Oscar' proportions however never ever affected his voice, as if it was the only part of him not to suffer his own personal hang ups.
What has to be remembered was that Luther was a great interpreter of other people's songs as this cd demonstrates by the choices that have been covered. When you get Aretha doing ‘A House Is Not A Home' you have the best (probably) female singer of the modern recording world but she cannot equal Luther's own performance of this Bacharach and David classic. More praise for the man I cannot give.
Good performances from Jamie Fox (quite the maverick) on ‘Creepin', Babyface on Luther's majestic ‘If Only For One Night', Mary J:Blige on ‘Never Too Much' but I am too close to the originals to be fair.
Still this tribute as opposed to many others has its heart in the right place I feel. If you can't check out the original Luther versions then this is a fine second best.
Long live ‘The Man'.