Dance with My Father [ENHANCED]

Luther Vandross

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 10, 2003)
• Original Release Date: June 10, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: J-Records
• ASIN: B000099J41
• Also Available in: DVD Audio
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (139 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,637 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

1. If I Didn't Know Better

2. Think About You

3. If It Ain't One Thing... (featuring Foxy Brown)

4. Buy Me A Rose

5. The Closer I Get To You

6. Lovely Day (featuring Busta Rhymes)

7. Dance With My Father

8. She Saw You

9. Apologize

10. Hit It Again (featuring Queen Latifah)

11. Right In The Middle

12. Once Were Lovers

13. Lovely Day (remix)

14. They Said You Needed Me

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Given Luther Vandross's precarious state of health at the time of its release, Dance With My Father’s title track--a tale of yearning for a lost loved one--takes on added poignancy. It’s something of a centerpiece on an album that moves in several directions, reaching for varied constituencies, while ultimately staying focused on Vandross’s trademark buttery vocals. In addition to "Dance," there’s more adult-contemporary balladry ("Buy Me a Rose"), lightly sassy soul ("If I Didn’t Know Better"), and a number of collaborations with hip-hoppers that often work surprisingly well. While suspending disbelief is hard when considering Luther and Foxy Brown as a couple ("If It Ain’t One Thing"), remakes of soft-R&B classics with Beyonce Knowles and Busta Rhymes prove to be highlights. With the Destiny’s Child singer, Vandross actually improves on the familiar Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway take of "The Closer I Get to You," turning in a cut that recalls his slow-burning signature reworking of "A House is Not a Home." A languid turn at "Lovely Day," with a purring Busta, works almost as well. (The "Part II" remix is superfluous, however.) Otherwise, Dance is in the vein of post-‘80s Vandross discs, and guaranteed to please fans. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Luther makes a grown man cry., July 4, 2003

By	M J Heilbron Jr. "Dr. Mo" (Long Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Luther made a grown man cry.

I'm a 39 year old white/Hispanic surgeon who spends his time sewing up gangbanging gunshot wound victims.

I'm a new Dad, with our first child less than three months old.

When the title track started playing in my car, I immediately recognized it from that "Boston Public" episode.

I focused on the lyrics, the delicate sweetness in Luther's voice.

Oh dear God by the time the song faded, with him lamenting about "the only dream I dream", I was openly weeping.
Uncontrollably.
I'm pulling my glasses off, trying to wipe my eyes and drive at the same time.

Poorly chilled Jello had more substance than I did right then. I really can't say a single listen to a single song has had that sort of effect on me before.

What was wrong with me? I mean, I realize I was a bit emotional since my boy Ben showed up, but still...

So I tried it again. After I composed myself, I played it again on the ride home.

Once again, a quivering mass of Jello. I was useless. Worse than the first time. I thought about MY Dad...who's still here and I work with everyday.

I'm familiar with Luther's body of work too. Have many of his albums. Saw him at the Hollywood Bowl with Vanessa Williams. The power of that voice is truly something to behold. Every person with two X chromosomes in the audience melted at least half a dozen times during the show.

Anyways, YES there are other songs on the record...and they're fine and dandy. His duet with Beyonce is justly celebrated, and I love "Buy Me A Rose", but if this is fact his last album, there would be no better finale than the song 'Dance With My Father'.

98 of 104 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo Luther - We Love You!, June 10, 2003

By	Karl Miller "kemspeaks" (Phoenixville, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

NOTE: Luther is making progress in his recovery from his stroke - let's keep him in our prayers while we enjoy his new music!

"Dance With My Father" is unlike any of Luther's previous work - the album sounds like Luther wants to be a hitmaker, rather than a mere legend. Usually, at this point in an artist's career, you can often sense a "going through the motions" production, and can predict the number of uptempos, ballads, remakes and the like, based on the artist's history. "Dance With My Father" changes all that.

The title track, a loving tribute to a parent who passed away when Vandross was 7 is the most personal recording Luther has ever made. There is no denying the heartfelt tone of the vocals, and the sheer joy contained in the lyrics sentiments. The song has justly become one of the biggest hits of Luther's career. But that is just a starting point for this excellent disc.

In a "love song" mode, no one performs as well as Luther these days (though Freddie Jackson was always a great competitor). And the love songs on "Dance" are timeless. Particularly enjoyable are "Buy Me A Rose" which vocalizes the many things one can do to make a lover feel special, "Apologize", and a brilliant reworking of "The Closer I Get To You", featuring Beyonce Knowles. In an interesting flip, Luther sings the Roberta Flack lines of this classic, while Beyonce tackles the Donny Hathaway sections. Their voices sound great together, and the piece is another stellar Luther duet, right up there with his work with Cheryl Lynn.

The faster tempoed songs are a great listen also - particularly "Hit It Again", which pairs LV with Queen Latifah. Latifah's rap/sing vocals sound great in this setting - would someone please get this girl recording again? A remake of "Lovely Day" featuring Busta Rhymes works very well also, but Foxy Brown's contribution to a new version of Richard "Dimples" Field's "If It Ain't One Thing" leaves you slightly disappointed - this is a great song, and could have been a classic remake in the right hands (where is Betty Wright when you need her?)

Overall, this album is one of, if not the best of Luther's career - I wish him the strength and health needed to recover from his stroke so we can one day see these songs (especially "Dance With My Father") performed live. Bless you, Luther!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Legend Dies, July 2, 2005

By	P. Days (England) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In his own words "Think About You" Luther here in England.

It will be over 25 years since I first listened to your music and it was never less than a joy.

Heard the news this morning that you had passed away. Thought back to Newcastle Arena 3 years ago. Great night, great performance.

A terribly sad day but poignant on the day of Live 8.

RIP. A lot of people will miss you greatly. I'm one.

You can now "Dance With Your Father" again.