The album, a collection of cover versions, produced the singles "Endless Love", "Always and Forever", and "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now". According to an interview both Vandross and Mariah Carey gave in Japan following the release of their duet "Endless Love", there was mention that Carey had given advice as to what songs Vandross would cover on this album.
Seeing that Luther has always had such great success in cover songs, the fact that he would eventually record an all-covers album should not be that surprising.
The public responded enthusiastically to the disc, sending it to the #5 position on the Hot 200 and to Double-Platinum status in sales. While SONGS isn't in the same league with Luther's eighties albums, it is his best album of the nineties. The song selection is well done for the most part, although I do wish that a few more chances had been taken with the arrangements.
Naturally, there's nothing here that matches his past landmark covers like "A House Is Not A Home" or "Superstar," but he does deliver a few a choice renditions that surpass the original versions.
That is certainly the case with his well-respected gospel-infused take on Steven Stills' "Love the One You're With" (#95 Pop, #28 R&B), which easily should have been a much bigger hit.
That is certainly the case with his well-respected gospel-infused take on Steven Stills' "Love the One You're With" (#95 Pop, #28 R&B), which easily should have been a much bigger hit.
However, this is certainly not the only instance where Luther outdoes the original performer. His renditions of "Reflections" and "Always and Forever" (#58 Pop, #16 R&B, #25 Adult Contemporary) are more soulful and sexier than the original classic recordings, and he adds much need personality to the groovin' "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now."
Even more amazingly, Luther manages to brings a genuine poignancy to the generally bland ballads "Hello," "All the Woman I Need," and "The Impossible Dream." There's a pained beauty in Luther's interpretations that was completely glossed over in all the previous renditions.
The best cover of all, however, is definitely his spin-tingling cover of "Killing Me Softly," which is even more haunting and heartbreaking than Roberta Flack's original, which is a terrific recording in it's own right.
Luther also turns in good renditions of "Evergreen" and "Since You've Been Gone," however, he cannot top the legendary versions by Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin, respectively.
Luther also turns in good renditions of "Evergreen" and "Since You've Been Gone," however, he cannot top the legendary versions by Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin, respectively.
The remaining three sections are only average. "Going In Circles" and "What the World Needs Now Is Love" suffer slightly from intrusive arrangements, while the big hit "Endless Love" (#2 Pop, #7 R&B, #11 Adult Contemporary) never really hits it's intended mark due to the lack of vocal chemistry between Luther and duet partner Mariah Carey.
However, even these tracks are perfectly listenable, and do not sound jarring out of place in the context of the rest of the album.
In summary, SONGS is really one of the best pop cover albums in recent memory, and it never falls into the various traps that most records of this kind routinely do. Leave it to Luther to pull off the near-impossible.
Songs earned Vandross four nominations at the 1995 Grammy Awards for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for "Love the One You're With", Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Endless Love", Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Always and Forever", and Best R&B Album.
Track listing
1. Love the One You're With (Originally recorded by: Stephen Stills) - 5:03
2. Killing Me Softly (Originally recorded by: Lori Lieberman) - 5:33
3. Endless Love (duet with Mariah Carey) (Originally recorded by: Lionel Richie & Diana Ross) - 4:21
4. Evergreen (Originally recorded by: Barbra Streisand) - 3:54
5. Reflections (Originally recorded by: Diana Ross & the Supremes) - 3:21
6. Hello (Originally recorded by: Lionel Richie) - 4:44
7. Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now (Originally recorded by: McFadden & Whitehead) - 4:53
8. Always and Forever (Originally recorded by: Heatwave) - 4:53
9. Going in Circles (Originally recorded by: The Friends of Distinction) - 5:12
10. Since You've Been Gone (Originally recorded by: Aretha Franklin) - 4:15
11. All the Woman I Need (Originally recorded by: Linda Clifford as "All the Man I Need") - 4:54
12. What the World Needs Now (Originally recorded by: Jackie DeShannon) - 5:18
13. The Impossible Dream (The Quest) (Originally recorded by: Richard Kiley) - 5:16
Personnel
- Luther Vandross – lead and backing vocals, BGV arrangements (1, 7, 10)
- Walter Afanasieff – arrangements (1, 3, 4, 5, 10-13), keyboards (1, 3, 4, 6-13), synthesizers (1-4, 6, 7, 8, 10-13), Hammond B3 organ (1, 5, 8, 9, 10), bass guitar (1), drums (1), percussion (1), rhythm programming (1, 3, 4, 6-13), acoustic piano (2), Synclavier (2, 3, 4, 6, 11, 12, 13), acoustic guitar (2, 3, 4, 6, 11, 12, 13), Moog bass (3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10-13), drum programming (3, 4, 6-13), additional programming (5), synth horns (10)
- Gary Cirimelli – digital programming, Macintosh programming, synthesizer programming
- Ren Klyce – digital programming, synthesizer programming
- Dan Shea – keyboards (2, 5, 6-10), synthesizers (2, 5, 8, 9), Moog bass (2, 5, 9), drum programming (2, 9), rhythm programming (2, 5, 9), arrangements (2, 6-9), programming (6, 8, 10)
- Dann Huff – guitar, nylon guitar solo (3)
- Michael Landau – additional guitar (2, 5, 7, 11)
- Michael Thompson – additional guitar (8)
- Stephen "Doc" Kupka – baritone saxophone (9)
- Emilio Castillo – tenor saxophone (9)
- David Mann – tenor saxophone (9)
- Lee Thornburg – trombone (9), trumpet (9), flugelhorn (9)
- Greg Adams – trumpet (9), flugelhorn (9), horn arrangements (9)
- Jeremy Lubbock – orchestra arrangements and conductor (3, 4, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13)
- Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor (3, 4, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13)
- The London Symphony Orchestra – orchestra (3, 4, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13)
- Narada Michael Walden – original arrangements (11)
- Tawatha Agee – backing vocals (1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13)
- Johnny Britt – backing vocals (1, 7, 8, 9, 11)
- Alexandra Brown – backing vocals (1, 7, 9, 11)
- Lynn Davis – backing vocals (1, 7, 9, 11)
- Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (1, 7, 8, 9, 11)
- Phillip Ingram – backing vocals (1, 7, 8, 9, 11)
- Paulette McWilliams – backing vocals (1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13)
- Phil Perry – backing vocals (1, 7, 8, 9, 11)
- Brenda White-King – backing vocals (1, 5)
- Lisa Fischer – backing vocals (2, 5)
- Mariah Carey – lead vocals (3)
- Robin Clark – backing vocals (7, 9, 13)
- Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals (7, 9, 10)
- Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals (7, 9)
- Claytoven Richardson – backing vocals (8)
- Cissy Houston – backing vocals (10, 13), BGV arrangements (10)
- Darlene Love – backing vocals (10)
- Phillip Ballou – backing vocals (13)
- Kevin Owens – backing vocals (13)
Production
- Walter Afanasieff – producer
- Luther Vandross – co-producer
- Dana Jon Chappelle – engineer, recording, mixing (1, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12)
- Mick Guzauski – mixing (2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 11, 13)
- Paul Brown – vocal recording (Luther Vandross)
- Jay Healy – vocal recording (Mariah Carey)
- Hadyn Bendall – strings recording
- Kyle Bess – assistant engineer
- Gus Garces – assistant engineer
- David Gleeson – assistant engineer
- Bill Leonard – assistant engineer
- Chris Ludwinski – assistant engineer
- Kent Matcke – assistant engineer
- Gil Morales – assistant engineer
- Mike Reiter – assistant engineer
- David Reitzas – assistant engineer
- Mike Scott – assistant engineer
- Andy Smith – assistant engineer
- Bob Ludwig – mastering
- Marsha Burns – production coordinator
- Barbara Stout – production coordinator
- Studios
- Mixed at The Hit Factory, Right Track Recording and Sony Music Studios (New York, NY); The Plant Studios (Sausalito, CA).
- Mastered at Gateway Mastering (Portland, ME).
Notes
Released: September 20, 1994 (U.S.)
Recorded: 1993–94
The Hit Factory
Right Track Recording
Sony Music Studios
(New York, New York)
The Record Plant
(Hollywood, California)
The Plant Recording Studios
(Sausalito, California)
Abbey Road Studios
(London, United Kingdom)
Genre: Soul
Length: 1:01:40
Label - Epic Records
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