Product Description

For his first album on Virgin, R&B icon Vandross decided itwas time to reinvent his music. That's just what he does onI KNOW, his 14th release. Over the course of this recording, everything from rap to funk to house to jazz turns up in the musical mix, but whatever the flavour of the cut, every track here is 100 percent Luther, as the singer delivers the kind of full-bodied, emotive performances that are his trademark.
"Nights in Harlem" is laced with rap and funk, as Vandross engages in a bit of nostalgia, recalling his boyhood. Joined by Cassandra Wilson, Vandross indulges his jazz jones on one of the album's highlights "I'm Only Human". With the help of "Little" Louie Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzales, our man even dips his toe into the waters of house music on the propulsive dance-floor thumper "Are You Using Me?" Long-time Luther fans needn't fear, though; there are still plenty of straight-up R&B tunes around which Vandross can wrap his celebrated tonsils.

Track Listing

1. Keeping My Faith In You
2. Isn't There Someone
3. Religion There Is No Religion
4. Get It Right
5. I Know
6. I'm Only Human
7. Nights In Harlem
8. Dream Lover
9. When I Need You
10. Are You Using Me
11. Are You Mad At Me
12. Now That I Have You
13. Nights In Harlem (2)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #74893 in Music
• Released on: 1998-08-10
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Friendship, love, nostalgia, and truth are the fertile lyrical ingredients that colour the melodic canvas of Vandross's 13th album. A master of R&B vocal phrasing, jazzy composition, and pop string arrangements, Vandross remains on point with standout tunes such as "Keeping My Faith in You", "Are You Using Me?" and "Religion". However, the veteran singer also explores fresh creative paths on which to deliver his rich, trademark vocals. He raises the stakes by going uncharacteristically up-tempo with the inventive "Nights in Harlem", where he recalls festive sentimental memories. The equally spirited "Get It Right" pushes the artist's established aesthetic even further by tapping into subtle but contemporary hip-hop beats and rhymes by budding female rapper Precise. --J.R. Reynolds

Customer Reviews

listen again please
reviewers come and go but class is permanent. from the uplifting opening number - keeping my faith in you - through all the rest, this is an example of luthers vocally perfect ability. i like to sing on a karaoke. i have won a few competitions. but you try and sing like him. it cant be done. now to prove the point, luther did cover a lot of songs and he did that because he could. how many of his songs have been covered by other artists? indeed i think his version of the leo sayer classic - when i need you - is a million times better than the original. and thats on this album! and is worth the price on its own. so please listen again.

Must try harder!
OK, so artists have bleak periods in their careers when they can't find a record company that can help them to flourish, they can't write a song that is as good as their first few hits and they sound a bit tired. If I had to choose a Luther album to highlight his bleak period it would have to be this one. 'I Know' is bland at best and extremely tedious at worst. Standout tracks (and it's not an extensive list) read as follows: 'Keeping My Faith In You' - one of the finest songs he's recorded in recent years, it's a mid tempo ballad complete with a choir to help him out and a very catchy chorus and verses. 'Religion' - is a song and a story, which makes you think about diversity in life and how different people find their own ways to cope, and erm.....that's it. Two good songs does not equate to a good album. It was Luther's first album for Virgin (look what happened to Mariah in their hands) he's trying too much to be hip, the songs have no melodies and it all just ends up being dull. I'm a fan of Luther, but I am also the kind of music fan that can admit when an album is rubbish. Steer clear of this one and go from 'Songs' to 'Dance With My Father' - now there's a classy album.

Luther has entered the 21st century
Luther has entered the 21st century with this his first album with Virgin carrying the same classy style fans have come to love and expect but with a fresh quality that makes me wonder why have I only just "discovered" this 1998 release. Every track is worthy of being released as a single, but to my knowledge has not. More airplay would have surely guaranteed high chart positions, especially for the upbeat "Nights in Harlem", the haunting "Dream Lover" and beautiful title track, "I Know". There are no familiar tracks, the only cover being "When I Need You" (remember Leo Sayer's huge hit-well this one is MUCH better), so if your'e looking for a "typical" Luther album which contains half the tracks you already have on other albums then this one's not for you, if you're looking for an exciting new Luther album which is fantastic from start to finish then buy it, you definitely wont be disapointed.