So Amazing...An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross [Enhanced]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 20, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: J-Records
• ASIN: B000AOENL8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (133 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,576 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

"So Amazing" is a collection of the most memorable hits from Vandross' musical legacy. Artists and songs featured on the album include Mary J. Blige ("Never Too Much"), Aretha Franklin ("A House Is Not A Home"), Usher ("Superstar"), Beyonce & Stevie Wonder ("So Amazing"), Alicia Keys ("If This World Was Mine" - duet with Jermaine Paul), Donna Summer ("Power of Love"), Celine Dion ("Dance With My Father"), Patti LaBelle ("Here and Now"), Jamie Foxx ("Creepin"), Elton John ("Anyone Who Had A Heart" - duet with Luther's original vocals), Fantasia ("Til My Baby Comes Home"), John Legend ("Love Won't Let Me Wait"), Babyface ("If Only For One Night"), Angie Stone ("Since I Lost my baby") and Wyclef Jean ("Always and Forever").

Luther Vandross was undeniably one of the most significant balladeers 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." His last studio album, 2003's "Dance With My Father," received 4 Grammy Awards (including Song of the Year for the title song "Dance With My Father") 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. Vandross died on July 1, 2005 from complications from the stroke he suffered in 2003. He was 54.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Tribute to Luther!!, September 23, 2005

By 

Frankie B (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: So Amazing...An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross (Audio CD)

I see lots of reviews for this one!! I think one thing that needs to be put in perspective is that this is a tribute cd of songs covered by some of the artists that were dear & true to Luther. The songs they sing are their gift to the great talent that was Luther Vandross! I think all the songs are great, but the standouts to me are most definitely USHER's Superstar & DONNA SUMMER's Power of Love!! The latter is really the only uplifting joyful song on here....I'd like to believe that Luther would particularly have loved this version simply because it is a well crafted vocal & produced song and it makes ya wanna dance!! Beautiful... OH Mr Clive D, Where are the remixes of Power of Love for the public to buy!! We love it!!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars CD Makes Me Miss Luther Even More, September 29, 2005

By 

Donna Reynolds (Syracuse, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: So Amazing...An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross (Audio CD)

Don't get me wrong, I really like this CD and some of the tracks are truly outstanding. But despite a stellar lineup of the cream of the R&B crop, no one sings Luther better than the man himself.

That being said, some tracks are better than others, and the album is not consistent. Here are my impressions of each track:

Mary J. Blige's "Never Too Much" - I love what Blige has done on this song. She really has captured the spirit of the song and does a great job of it.

Usher's "Superstar" - I really wish that they had included Ruben Studdard's version of this song on this album. He did it so well, and Usher's version lacks the same spirit. It's good, but not as good as Ruben's.

Fantasia's "'Til My Baby Comes Home" - Fantasia sings her tail off on this one, and I think it may be one of the best on the album. She takes the song to church and it works really, really well. This one should be released as a single. I think it would be a hit.

Beyonce & Stevie Wonder's "So Amazing" - I wasn't crazy about this song the first time I heard it, but after several times through, I realize that I was totally wrong. Beyonce has a beautiful voice, and Stevie is, well, Stevie. I love the harp on it and the harmonies at the end.

Aretha Franklin's "A House Is Not A Home" - Aretha oversings this Luther classic, and doesn't quite pull it off.

Donna Summer's "Power of Love" - I like this. Maybe it's because I like Donna Summer... a lot, but this one is fun. It's totally different from Luther's, and maybe that's why it works for me. The more I listen to this, the better I like it.

Alicia Keys & Jermaine Paul's "If The World Were Mine" - This is truly stunning. These two really sound great together, and the emotion is palpable. This is one of my favorites.

Elton John and Luther Vandross's "Anyone Who Had A Heart" - Why, why, why?

Celine Dion's "Dance With My Father" - I love this song and Celine's version is okay but totally lacks the soul that made Luther's version "so amazing." The first time I ever heard this song was when Idol's Tamyra Gray sang it on Boston Public. Her version is much better than Celine's, and it's too bad they didn't use it. But I suppose they couldn't have the album over-run with Idols (which is probably why Ruben was excluded!).

Wyclef Jean takes risks on "Always and Forever" - This is the one they should have had Usher sing. I really didn't "get" this one at all. That being said, Wyclef does a good job on the song, it's just not right for this album.

Babyface's "If Only For One Night" - Now this is more like it. He sings the song as it is supposed to be sung and it works well. His voice is smooth as silk, and I love the interpretation.

Patti Labelle "Here & Now" - I really love this song and Patti does a good job with it. I think Usher might have done this one better though. But, Patti's good and she was a close friend and had to sing something, right?

John Legend's "Love Won't Let Me Wait" - Outstanding! John Legend really is becoming a legend, and may end up in the same league with Luther one day. This arrangement is spectacular, and his vocals bring tears to my eyes. I listen to this over and over, and have deemed it my favorite (at least today!)

Angie Stone's "Since I Lost My Baby" - This one is nice too, no easy trick when you have the bad fortune to follow John Legend.

Jamie Foxx's "Creepin'" - This is pretty good, actually. I didn't know he could sing this well, and I was impressed. Good song choice too. All in all, a nice way to end the album.

Edited on 9/30: Initially, I was somewhat less than enthused, but you know what? After having listened to this CD several times through, I "get it." It was done as a tribute with each artist interpreting the songs in his or her own style. It's okay that they don't sound like Luther. No one really can. But these songs are timeless and very special, and I would recommend this CD to any love of this wonderful and beloved singer. IF I could change from 3 to 4 stars, I would, but alas, once the stars are chosen, it's too late.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love It, September 26, 2005

By 

Wanda Brown - See all my reviews

This review is from: So Amazing...An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross (Audio CD)

I just love this album. Luther must have planned this on his own because he would be so proud of the effort. Once again, Clive knows how to get it done. I don't know what some of these deaf folks are hearing, but the vocals by Donna, Angie, Alicia, Patti and Stevie are so pleasing to the ear. Buy the CD and enjoy it. Those who don't get the concept, a tribute album, go stick your negative vibes some place else. Try mastering the English language before writing negative things with such poor grammar. It gives you no credibility. Why would anyone heed the advise of an illiterate?