Power of Love (Luther Vandross album)

Power of Love is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Luther Vandross, released in North America by Epic on April 26, 1991, following the critical and commercial success of his sixth album Any Love (1988). Power of Love received critical acclaim from most critics, earning Vandross a number of awards and accolades including two American Music Awards and two Grammy Awards. It reached number seven on the US Billboard 200 album chart, while topping the Top R&B Albums chart for five nonconsecutive weeks. On the latter chart, it was Vandross's last number one for twelve years until Dance with My Father was released. The album was later certified double platinum by the RIAA.

Power of Love
Studio album by
Luther Vandross
ReleasedApril 26, 1991
RecordedSeptember 1990–January 1991[1]
Studio
Genre
Length55:19
LabelEpic
Producer
Luther Vandross chronology
The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love
(1989)		 Power of Love
(1991)		 Never Let Me Go
(1993)
Singles from Power of Love
  1. "Power of Love/Love Power"
    Released: April 9, 1991
  2. "Don't Want to Be a Fool"
    Released: June 20, 1991
  3. "The Rush"
    Released: November 1991
  4. "Sometimes It's Only Love"
    Released: April 1992
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Calgary HeraldB[3]
Chicago Tribune[4]
Robert Christgau(neither)[5]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[6]
Los Angeles Times[7]
Rolling Stone[8]

Critical reception

Dave Obee from Calgary Herald wrote, "This disc offers more of what we've come to expect: solid R&B vocals, a touch of funk in the guitars and a touch of gospel from supporting singers. A gem is Luther's duet with Martha Wash on the classic "I (Who Have Nothing)" (consider it the definitive version). The title cut is a perfect introduction to an album that's wonderfully seductive. So if you're having trouble getting in the mood - Luther never has, it seems - just slip on this disc and relax. When it ends an hour later, you won't feel the need to put anything else on."[3]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."She Doesn't Mind"Luther Vandross, Reed Vertelney4:05
2."Power of Love/Love Power"Vandross, Marcus Miller, Teddy Vann6:42
3."I'm Gonna Start Today"Vandross, Miller6:12
4."The Rush"Vandross, Miller6:45
5."I Want the Night to Stay"Vandross, Nat Adderley, Jr.5:26
6."Don't Want to Be a Fool"Vandross, Miller4:34
7."I Can Tell You That"Vandross, Hubert Eaves III5:25
8."Sometimes It's Only Love"Vandross, Skip Anderson4:54
9."Emotional Love"Vandross, Eaves3:53
10."I (Who Have Nothing)" (Duet with Martha Wash)Carlo Donida, Mogol, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller7:26

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[9]

Technical

  • Produced by Luther Vandross and Marcus Miller
  • Engineered and mixed by Ray Bardani
  • Recorded by Fred Bova, Brian Cowieson, Carrie McConkey, Michael Morongell and Shelly Yakus
  • Recording assistants – Martin Brumbach, Mark Harder, Robert Hart, John Herman, Rob Jaczko, Chad Munsey, Brian Schueble and Rich Travali
  • Mastered by Steve Hall at Future Disc (Hollywood, California)
  • Production coordinator – Marsha Burns
  • Art direction and design – George Corsillo
  • Photography – Matthew Rolston

Performers and musicians

  • Luther Vandross – lead and backing vocals, vocal arrangements (1, 2, 3, 5)
  • Jason Miles – synthesizer sound programming
  • Marcus Miller – keyboards (1-4, 6), synthesizer programming (1-4, 6, 8), rhythm arrangements (1-4, 6), bass guitar (2, 3, 4, 6, 10), backing vocals (2), additional keyboards (7, 8, 9)
  • Reed Vertelney – synthesizer programming (1)
  • Nat Adderley, Jr. – acoustic piano (2), keyboards (5, 10), synthesizer programming (5, 10), rhythm and string arrangements (5, 10)
  • Hubert Eaves III – keyboards (7, 9), synthesizer programming (7, 9), rhythm arrangements (7, 9)
  • John "Skip" Anderson – keyboards (8), synthesizer programming (8), rhythm arrangements (8)
  • Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar (2, 3, 5, 6, 9)
  • Paulinho da Costa – wind chimes (2, 6), percussion (5, 8, 10)
  • Kirk Whalum – saxophone solo (10)
  • Joe Soldo – string contractor (5)
  • Alfred Brown – string contractor (10)
  • Tawatha Agee – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7)
  • Lisa Fischer – backing vocals (1, 2)
  • Cissy Houston – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7)
  • Darlene Love – backing vocals (1, 2, 9)
  • Paulette McWilliams – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9)
  • Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals (1, 2, 5), vocal contractor (all tracks)
  • Brenda White King – backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9)
  • Genobia Jeter – backing vocals (2, 9)
  • Pat Joyner – backing vocals (2)
  • Kevin Owens – backing vocals (2)
  • Tamira C. Sanders – backing vocals (2)
  • Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals (5, 6)
  • Michelle Cobbs – backing vocals (9)
  • Martha Wash – lead and backing vocals (10)

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[17] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[18] Silver 60,000^
United States (RIAA)[19] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
  1. "Own a Piece of recording History with this Converted Mini Moog to Studio Electronics Midi Moog | Jasons musical treasures | Reverb".
  2. AllMusic review
  3. Obee, Dave (May 26, 1991). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald.
  4. "Luther VandrossPower of Love (Epic) (STAR)(STAR)(STAR)Vandross, long..." Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 2016-08-29.
  5. Robert Christgau Consumer Guide (mislabeled as "Love Power)
  6. "Power of Love". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2022-08-16.
  7. Los Angeles Times review (mislabeled as "Love Power")
  8. "Power Of Love". Rolling Stone. 1991-06-13. Archived from the original on 2016-05-05.
  9. Any Love (booklet). Epic Records. 1988.
  10. "Bubbling Down Under Week Commencing July 8, 1991". bubblingdownunder.com. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  11. "Austriancharts.at – Luther Vandross – Your Secret Love" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  12. "Luther Vandross | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  13. "Luther Vandross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  14. "Luther Vandross Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  15. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  16. "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1991". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  17. "Canadian album certifications – Luther Vandross – Power of Love". Music Canada.
  18. "British album certifications – Luther Vandross – Power of Love". British Phonographic Industry. Select albums in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Power of Love in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  19. "American album certifications – Luther Vandross – Power of Love". Recording Industry Association of America.
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