Greetings from Raggedy’s patio. I am wishing everyone a wonderful Sunday on this beautiful peaceful morning. Life is good, and I am going to see O’s Temptations tonight — if everything’s going according to plan.
Of course, I am listening to some music — some very special music: special because the track is so beautiful, and it keeps getting more beautiful each time I’m re-playing it.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Luther Vandross has been an exceptionally gifted singer, although I never could warm up to his material; it’s just a tad too smooth for my taste. Last night, however, ((Soultaker)), my source of never-ending inspiration, sent me a fascinating track by the group Luther Vandross had been singing with before his solo career.
I didn’t even know Luther had his own group before he became the famous Luther Vandross. It took me no more than three seconds, though, to realize what a high-carat formation this group was.
Discogs has the following info on the group which was called plain and simple –Luther.
Before his breakthrough, Vandross was part of a singing quintet in the late ’70s, consisting former Shades of Jade members Anthony Hinton and Diane Sumler, Theresa V. Reed, and Christine Wiltshire, also called Luther, signed to Cotillion Records. Although the singles “It’s Good for the Soul”, “Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)”, and “The Second Time Around” were relatively successful, their two albums, the self-titled Luther (1976) and This Close to You (1977), didn’t sell enough to make the charts. Vandross bought back the rights to these albums after the record label dropped the group, preventing their later re-release.
I’d like to add that I consider this track a master piece of contemporary music. The singing is outstanding and the arrangement enchanting. Parts of the composition remind me of J. S. Bach even. Give it a listen, and let me know what you think — please!
Enjoy!
Raggedy
Soultaker
