Luther Vandross | Forever, For Always, For Love
Album Review: Luther Vandross | Forever, For Always For Love
By Charles F. Sherard
Before I carry on with this review, I have a few words to share with someone who, other than the passing of Michael Jackson, meant a whole lot of influence to me in R&B, Mr. Luther Vandross:
(Brother, Thank You for possessing a sense of sensual, love making music & foot stomping, hip swinging almond joys of which I play back at home all the time with my family & my Homegirl. You made it all happen for me & girl, that's why we got kids now! I'm not lying. The proof is in the puddin' so Thank You Luther. Your memory rests easily with us.)
OK. ...Now, I know by now some of you notice a 'Bad Boy' behavior coming from out of my stench in doing reviews for T.U.M.S., but oh well. Its Brotha Charles. Dig it, or forget it.
But when it comes to "Forever, For Always, For Love" (CBS Inc.) by Luther Vandross, I'm pouring myself a glass & getting ready to give you something.
The one thing most R&B lovers do understand where some didn't is how Luther changed the aspect of a love song. He made it comfortable to hear. Like elevator music. Nuthin' about this 'sex', bump & grind' or get with you - one night stand talk. Just soothing, settled, romantic escapades of self-help music that backed up Brothas (all colors) like us in 1982 when we thought our game wasn't strong enough to reel in the lady we sought after for a lifetime talk. At that moment in time, Luther helped a WHOLE lot of us back then. Who got my back with a response to this?
He wrote/co-wrote 7 of the 8 songs to this masterpiece.
You can't mess with Luther Vandross people. His music lives on so much forever, every time I hear a tribute album being spun back, I quickly urge the player to compromise his position & suggest the playback of the ORIGINAL material of Luther. Don't fool around. Why are you wasting valuable time?
When the party ecstasy on side 1 of the album began with "Bad Boy/Having A Party", it cleared the air, opened the windows, re-adjusted the speakers settings, sent a massive 'shout out' to your fav people & in an instant, The Partay got busy. It got ignited. Uh Huh. With all the munchies on stand by. The water, The refreshments, The Extras (You know what I meant, got dang it). And if Marv could at least stay away from the appetizer table & come join us on the makeshift dance floor, everything woulda' been alright. But those chicken wings stayed longer in his right hand more so than a hottie in his left, on the way out the door....Whew! Watch it now...
"You're The Sweetest One" kept the terrestrial groove under the spotlight, while your right to introduce yourself to a honey came out in "Since I Lost My Baby". Nobody but Luther could have ever crooned such a lyrical presence suitable for a brotha to use in order to pacify his way into a honey's arms. It was that easy.
And when "Forever, For Always, For Love" broke through, true lovers like myself allowed that wonderful ambient set-up to help us OUT the door with the girl of our dreams (YES!). It was that easy. But not for Marv. He stood in the corner still chewing on that dang Chicken bone. C'mon man....Come back to us MARV.
I had to stroll over to the DJ & encourage him to turn the record over to play "Better Love", 'cause the way Luther had the Blue lights automatically dimmed from Side 1, his record should have won auto play for now on. "Better Love's" mid-tempo flow dignified the album, same as "Promise Me" , for that nighttime opportunity to express your interest for that honey you were staring at all night long.
All of these beautiful sounds could not have been touched without the strategic connections of his background singers Cissy Houston, Norma Jean Wright, Tawatha, Fonzi Thorton, Brenda White, Yvonne Lewis Paulette McWilliams, Michelle Cobbs & several others. While the musicians 'right to stand' came on the strength in Marcus Miller, Guitarist Doc Powell, Ralph MacDonald, Paulinho Da Costa & the cat that always stood by Luther's side through some of the best material ever written - Nat Adderley Jr. (Thanks Terrill for the idea to include participants).
Flexing my muscle for review, come back to this album players & play it back one mo' time for Luther. From side 1 to side 2. And it may help to light a couple of candles & break out a couple bottles of wine too.
Peace,
Charles F. Sherard
The Urban Music Scene
{Update 11/25/11: "Marv" is our writer Marv D. - many of his reviews on T.U.M.S. can be found on our 'Reviews' blog as well as on this blog.}
Posted by Administration at 8/19/2009 6:12 PM 
Categories: Rhythm and Blues, Old School Soul, Videos
Tags: 80s Music Music Videos
Categories: Rhythm and Blues, Old School Soul, Videos
Tags: 80s Music Music Videos
Charles, This is the best review you have ever done, omg, it brought back so many memories, beautiful work.
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Very amusing thought, well told, just do everything laid out on the shelves
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