Classic R&B: The Best of Luther Vandross...The Best of Love

Luther Vandross remains a well-loved R&B singer and his The Best of Luther Vandross...The Best of Love album features his early hits like "Never Too Much."

Luther Vandross died in 2005 at age 54 but his music continues to spread the message of love. One of the earlier compilations of his greatest hits, The Best of Luther Vandross…The Best of Love, has the recognizable songs "Any Love," "Never Too Much," "Love Won't Let Me Wait" and "A House is Not a Home." This twenty song album was originally released in 1989 and later digitally re-mastered for distribution on compact disc (CD). 

Vandross wrote, arranged and produced many of the songs on this classic R&B album. Vandross' songs such as "Here and Now" and "So Amazing" are staples at weddings. His songs have also been sampled by other artists such as Janet Jackson's sample of the instrumental of "The Glow of Love" in her 2001 release, "All For You." Vandross has also sang duets with Gregory Hines, Cheryl Lynn, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and Beyoncé.

Music from the 1980s –The Best of Luther Vandross…The Best of Love

The CD version of The Best of Luther Vandross…The Best of Love has two discs spanning almost a decade with songs from 1980 to 1989. While some of Vandross' songs have been sampled by reggae, R&B and hip hop artists, his actual songs continue to play today and are enjoyed by his fans.

• The Hit of 1981 "Never Too Much": "I can't fool myself, I don't want nobody else to ever love me" is the opening line of this chart topping song which was written by Luther Vandross. Music fans will remember the beginning of the music video with a man scanting with the boombox. "Who needs to go to work to hustle for another dollar/ I'd rather be with you cause you make my heart scream and holler" are also lines in this song that express that the love from that special someone could never be too much for the singer to handle. "Never Too Much" was also sampled by reggae artist Beenie Man in his 1998 release of "Who Am I" in the bridge where Beenie repeats the opening line of the song.

• Vandross' "A House is Not a Home": "A House is Not a Home" was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and released in 1981. Vandross opens the songs with "A chair is still a chair/ even when no one's sitting there/ but a chair is not a house and house is not a home when no one's there." Vandross expresses how he misses that special someone and that he is still in love with her. "A House is Not a Home" was also featured in Twista 's 2004 hit "Slow Jamz" featuring Kanye West and Jamie Foxx off his Kamikaze album. Jamie Foxx repeats Vandross' line "Say you're gonna be, are you gonna be" in "Slow Jamz." "A House is Not a Home" was also featured on the last episode of the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. The characters jokingly shared that everyone in the neighborhood who appeared on Showtime at the Apollo sang this song and got booed off.

• R&B Hit of 1986 "I Really Didn't Mean It": Vandross sings of his jealousy and wanting to make his lady jealous in return. The chorus begins "I told my girl bye-bye/ but I really didn't mean it". He continues to sing that when he walked away, he cried and that his girl took him back because she knew he really didn't mean his actions. This song almost has a disco feel to it as it speaks of the ups and downs in relationships while making the listener nod his head in enjoyment and in agreement.

• Vandross' Top Wedding Song "Here and Now": This song is perfect for weddings because it expresses sentiments that a new couple getting married would feel. Written by Terry Steele and Dav-e! also known as David L. Elliot, the chorus states "Here and now/ I promise to love faithfully/ You're all I need/ Here and now/ I vow to be one with thee." It was originally released in 1989 and still remains a staple at weddings today.

Luther Vandross Released More Albums

Luther Vandross continued to release songs past 1989 including the Power of Love album in 1991 in which the songs "Power of Love" and "Don't Want to Be a Fool" are featured. In 2001, Vandross released a self-titled album featuring the hit "Take You Out" with Grace Beauvais as the leading lady in the music video. The Dance With My Father album was released in 2006 with the songs "Dance With My Father" and the Grammy award winning "The Closer I Get to You." Vandross' "eighth and final Grammy came for best R&B performance by a duo -- the remake of "The Closer I Get to You," sung with Beyonce Knowles."

Details of the other albums that Luther Vandross released can be found on his official website. Even though Luther Vandross has passed away, his music will never be forgotten. A talented writer, singer and producer, Vandross gave listeners an earful of lyrics about love. His album The Best of Luther Vandross...The Best of Love is a compilation of his top hits from 1980 to 1989 and an album that his fans will always enjoy.