NEW YORK (J Records) - Celebrating the extraordinary artistry and impact of the legendary superstar, J, Epic, and Legacy Records will join in the release of The Ultimate
Luther Vandross on August 22nd. A first-of- its-kind, career spanning collection, the eighteen-track album is drawn from the multi-talented singer/songwriter and producer's recordings for both J Records and Epic Records. The CD will include two previously unissued cuts, "
Shine" (produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis), the first single from the album and "Got You Home." "
Shine" is already being blasted on the airwaves as radio stations across the country have jumped the gun and added it prior to its official impact date of June 19th. The overwhelming response from radio programmers includes comments from "it's the hottest adult song of the year" to "it's another great record from Luther!"
The Ultimate Luther Vandross features all of Luther's chart topping singles including the Grammy-winning No. 1 pop/R&B smash, "Dance With My Father," the title track for Luther's 2003 platinum-plus J Records album; 1989's Grammy-winning Epic hit, "Here And Now" and "Endless Love," Luther's 1994 million-selling duet with Mariah Carey. The CD also includes J hits "Take You Out" and "I'd Rather" and Epic '80s and '90s singles, "Never Too Much," "Give Me The Reason," "Any Love" and "Power Of Love/Love Power."
The powerhouse album also reprises such Vandross classics as "A House Is Not A Home," "Wait For Love" and "Superstar/Until You Come Back To Me" alongside key album cuts such as Luther's 2003 duet with Beyonce, the cover of the Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway classic "The Closer I Get To You," "Buy Me A Rose" and "Think About You," all taken from Luther's last studio album.
Luther Vandross was undeniably one of the most significant vocalists of our time. Since the 1981 platinum-selling release of Never Too Much, Luther's recording career spanned over two decades and resulted in a lifetime of chart topping hits. Through the 1980's, he recorded a string of platinum albums, including Forever, For Always, For Love, Busy Body and The Night I Fell In Love. He scored his first Grammy Award in 1989 with "Here And Now." 2003's Dance With My Father received 4 Grammy Awards and has generated worldwide sales exceeding 3 million copies. Collectively, Luther's body of work has sold in excess of 30 millions records worldwide, winning eight Grammy Awards, numerous Soul Train, BET, NAACP Image Awards and American Music Awards.
The release of The Ultimate Collection just over a year after his death is a solid reminder of the creative genius, soulful magic and sheer artistry of Luther Vandross, an unforgettable presence and one of the most influential vocalists of our time.
