Live Radio City Music Hall 2003

• Artist: Luther Vandross
• Rating:
• Release Date: October 14, 2003
• Type: Live
• Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

Recorded two months before his hospitalization for a serious stroke, Live 2003 at Radio City Music Hall is a welcome addition to the Luther Vandross' discography with absolutely no foreshadowing of the devastating event. Those who have only been exposed to his smooth croon on record are in for a treat. The cool pillow talk of his studio recordings is performed perfectly here, but live Vandross adds improvisational twists, stunning vocal theatrics, and some of the most entertaining banter with an audience ever heard. Absolutely effervescent (he declares at least half the songs "my favorite") the singer wins over the audience right away and it just keeps building from there. The band is tight, with Nat Adderley Jr. as leader and on keyboards, but vocals are the thing. You can always count on Vandross to have the best background singers, and here his interaction with them surpasses anything on his studio albums (their playful exchange on "Creepin'" is unbelievable). A slower "Here and Now" is monolithic and the 13 minutes of "Superstar" fly by like it was nothing. Going back to his days in the group Change for "Glow of Love" is a nice nod to the hardcore fans and a perfect, shimmering, disco closer. The keyboards could sure use an update from their '80s presets and Vandross' visual references don't come off so well on a mere CD, but these are small complaints. If there ever was an argument that you can own every one of his studio albums and still only know half the story, this proves it. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Never Too Much (Lyrics)	Luther Vandross	Luther Vandross	(4:02)
Here and Now (Lyrics)	Terry Steele, David L. Elliott, David Elliot	Luther Vandross	(7:40)
Take You Out (Lyrics)	Warryn Campbell, Harold Lilly	Luther Vandross	(4:50)
Love Won't Let Me Wait (Lyrics)	Bobby Eli, Vinnie Barrett	Luther Vandross	(7:31)
Superstar (Lyrics)	Leon Russell, Bonnie Bramlett, Richard Marx	Luther Vandross	(12:49)
Stop to Love (Lyrics)	Luther Vandross, Nat Adderley, Jr.	Luther Vandross	(5:16)
If Only for One Night (Lyrics)	Brenda Russell	Luther Vandross	(5:58)
Creepin'	Stevie Wonder	Luther Vandross	(5:46)
I'd Rather (Lyrics)	Shep Crawford	Luther Vandross	(5:28)
A House Is Not a Home	Burt Bacharach, Hal David	Luther Vandross	(10:25)
Glow of Love (Lyrics)	Wayne Garfield, Mauro Malavasi, David Romani	Luther Vandross	(5:44)

Credits

Stan Wallace (Engineer), Valerie Pinkston (Vocals (Background)), Byron Miller (Bass), Cindy Mizelle (Vocals (Background)), Nat Adderley, Jr. (Musical Director), Nat Adderley, Jr. (Producer), Roger Innocent (Hair Stylist), Arturo Tappin (Guest Appearance), Jim Ervin (Choreographer), Jason Dale (Assistant Engineer), Luther Vandross (Producer), Matt Snedecor (Assistant Engineer), Daniel Milazzo (Assistant Engineer), Arturo Tappin (Sax (Soprano)), Skip Anderson (Keyboards), Vic Anesini (Mastering), Brenda White-King (Vocals (Background)), Max Feldman (Assistant Engineer), Nat Adderley, Jr. (Keyboards), Luther Vandross (Executive Producer), Patricia Lacy (Vocals (Background)), Phil Hamilton (Guitar), Alli (Art Direction), Hardi Kamsani (Assistant Engineer), Jeff Jones (Make-Up), Kevin Westenberg (Photography), Alexis Yraola (Design), Roger Squitero (Percussion), Fonzi Thornton (Producer), Jeff Jones (Hair Stylist), Ray Bardani (Engineer), Jill Dell'Abate (Production Coordination), Ivan Hampden (Drums), Max Szadek (Personal Assistant), John Harris (Engineer), Paul J. Falcone (Engineer), Frank Filipetti (Mixing)

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