The Ultimate Luther Vandross [2006 Collector's Edition]

• Artist: Luther Vandross
• Rating:
• Release Date: August 22, 2006
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

The replacement for an identically titled disc released just five years prior, the 2006 version of The Ultimate Luther Vandross swaps out some of the earlier cuts contained on the 2001 version in favor of later material, such as "Dance with My Father" and he and Beyoncé's version of "The Closer I Get to You." What's baffling is that it leaves out some major hits in favor of a pair of previously unreleased tracks (including the Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis-produced, Chic-sampling "Shine"), both of which are front-loaded in the sequence. So, bizarrely enough, the disc has a funny way of catering toward completists as well as slightly less serious fans who stopped buying Vandross albums after 1998's I Know. Though this is the best single-disc compilation available in the U.S. (as of 2006, at least), you really need something more extensive, such as Epic/Legacy's The Essential Luther Vandross, a two-disc set released in 2003. [The "collector's edition" adds a second disc containing seven remixes: yes, more collector bait.] ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Shine [#]	Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers, Terry Lewis	Luther Vandross	(4:50)
Got You Home [#]	Jason Rome, Bryan-Michael Cox, Harold Lilly	Luther Vandross	(3:38)
Never Too Much	Luther Vandross	Luther Vandross	(3:51)
Take You Out	Warryn Campbell, Harold Lilly	Luther Vandross	(3:26)
Superstar/Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)	Leon Russell, Bonnie Bramlett, Clarence Paul, Stevie Wonder, Morris Broadnax	Luther Vandross	(4:32)
Here and Now	Terry Steele, Damon Elliott	Luther Vandross	(5:22)
Dance with My Father	Luther Vandross, Richard Marx	Luther Vandross	(4:25)
A House Is Not a Home	Burt Bacharach, Hal David	Luther Vandross	(7:06)
Give Me the Reason [From Ruthless People]	Luther Vandross, Nat Adderley, Jr.	Luther Vandross	(4:45)
I'd Rather	Shep Crawford	Luther Vandross	(4:19)
Any Love	Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller	Luther Vandross	(5:00)
Power of Love/Love Power	Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller, Teddy Vann	Luther Vandross	(4:19)
Think About You	Luther Vandross, James Porte	Luther Vandross	(3:28)
Wait for Love	Luther Vandross, Nat Adderley, Jr.	Luther Vandross	(4:16)
Your Secret Love	Luther Vandross, Reed Vertelney	Luther Vandross	(4:01)
The Closer I Get to You	Reggie Lucas, James Mtume	Luther Vandross, Beyoncé	(4:25)
Buy Me a Rose	Jim Funk, Erik Hickenlooper	Luther Vandross	(3:48)
Endless Love	Lionel Ritchie, Jr.	Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey	(4:18)

CD 2

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Shine [The Freemasons Mix][*]	Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers, Terry Lewis	Luther Vandross	(4:51)
Power of Love/Love Power [The Dance Radio Mix][*]	Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller, Teddy Vann	Luther Vandross	(6:30)
Can Heaven Wait [David Harness Soulful Club Mix][*]	Joshua Thompson	Luther Vandross	(7:19)
Take You out Tonight [Allstar Remix][*]	Mike Elizondo, Andre Young, Warryn Campbell, Nathaniel Hale, Harold Lilly, Cordozar Broadus	Luther Vandross	(3:45)
I'd Rather [Mike Rizzo Global Mix][*]	Shep Crawford	Luther Vandross	(3:36)
'Til My Baby Comes Home [Dance Version][*]	Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller	Luther Vandross	(7:38)
Stop to Love [12" Mix][*]	Luther Vandross, Nat Adderley	Luther Vandross	(5:32)

Credits

Billy Preston (Organ), Billy Preston (Soloist), Luther Vandross (Arranger), Luther Vandross (Vocals (Background)), Luther Vandross (Producer), Jeremy Lubbock (Conductor), Jeremy Lubbock (Orchestral Arrangements), Frankie Knuckles (Vocal Arrangement), Frankie Knuckles (Remix Producer), Danny Madden (Vocal Arrangement), Steven Berkowitz (Compilation), Skip Anderson (Arranger), Ray Bardani (Engineer), Ray Bardani (Remixing), Ray Bardani (Mixing), Michael Brauer (Mixing), Terry Burns (Keyboards), Ian Cross (Engineer), Clive Davis (Executive Producer), Mick Guzauski (Mixing), Doc Powell (Guitar), Doc Powell (Soloist), Jimmy Jam (Keyboards), Jimmy Jam (Producer), Terry Lewis (Producer), Manny Marroquin (Mixing), Marcus Miller (Arranger), Marcus Miller (Producer), Marcus Miller (Remixing), Marcus Miller (Rhythm Arrangements), Peter Mokran (Mixing), Joseph M. Palmaccio (Mastering), Leon Pendarvis (Horn Arrangements), Leon Pendarvis (String Arrangements), John Poppo (Engineer), David Rideau (Engineer), Paul Riser (Horn Arrangements), Paul Riser (String Arrangements), Soulshock (Arranger), Soulshock (Producer), Soulshock (Musician), Satoshi Tomiie (Keyboards), Reed Vertelney (Arranger), David Ritz (Liner Notes), Eric Calvi (Engineer), Eric Calvi (Remixing), Leo Sacks (Compilation), Walter Afanasieff (Arranger), Walter Afanasieff (Producer), Howard Fritzson (Art Direction), Nat Adderley, Jr. (Arranger), Nat Adderley, Jr. (Producer), Nat Adderley, Jr. (Horn Arrangements), Nat Adderley, Jr. (String Arrangements), Nat Adderley, Jr. (Rhythm Arrangements), Nat Adderley, Jr. (Synthesizer Arrangements), David Kutch (Mastering), Jason Rome (Producer), Jason Rome (Engineer), Jason Rome (Drum Programming), Shep Crawford (Arranger), Shep Crawford (Producer), Warryn Campbell (Producer), Warryn Campbell (Engineer), Bryan-Michael Cox (Producer), Bryan-Michael Cox (Engineer), Bryan-Michael Cox (Musician), Matt Marrin (Engineer), Matt Marrin (Mixing), Charles Spencer (Keyboards), James Porte (Arranger), John Nettlesby (Assistant Engineer), David Harness (Producer), David Harness (Remixing), Jim Parham (Project Director), Scott Seviour (Project Director)