Luther Vandross - Never Too Much (1981) - Lp

Luther Ronzoni Vandross, Jr. (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American singer, songwriter and record producer.
Throughout his career, Vandross was an in-demand background vocalist for several different artists including Judy Collins, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, David Bowie, Janet Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Ben E. King, and Donna Summer.
He later became the lead vocalist of the group Change, which released its certified gold debut album, The Glow of Love, in 1980 on Warner Bros. Records.
After Vandross left the group, he was signed to Epic Records as a solo artist and released his debut solo album, Never Too Much, in 1981.

The debut solo album from Luther Vandross featured one outstanding song after another. Vandross concocts a bouncy, vibrant flow on his up-tempo numbers and an intimate, emotional connection on his moderate grooves and his lone ballad.
The title track stormed up the Billboard R&B charts to number one where it remained for two weeks.
The mellow groove of "Don't You Know That," which checked in at number ten, was the second single. "Sugar and Spice" had less of an impact on the charts due to its short stay of six weeks. However, this feverish number gets all the juices flowing as does the unreleased "I've Been Working." Also featured on this set is the sentimental number "You Stopped Loving Me."
The song was written by Vandross but initially released by Roberta Flack; both versions stand tall. "A House Is Not a Home" is the only ballad, and an elegant one it is, written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and originally sung by Dionne Warwick nearly 20 years prior.
Vandross orchestrates a contemporary masterpiece with this vintage number. Though it was never an official release by the label, it's a quiet storm jewel.
This is one of the better R&B albums of the early '80s.

Side A
A1. Never Too Much  (3:51)
A2. Sugar And Spice (I Found My Girl)  (4:57)
A3. Don't You Know That?  (4:04)
A4. I've Been Working  (6:36)

Side B
B1. She's A Super Lady  (5:08)
B2. You Stopped Loving Me  (5:15)
B3. A House Is Not A Home  (7:10)

All songs written by Luther Vandross; except "A House Is Not a Home" written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David

Companies, etc.

• Phonographic Copyright (p) – CBS Inc.
• Copyright (c) – CBS Inc.

Credits

• Art Direction – Karen Katz
• Executive-Producer – Larkin Arnold
• Management – David Franklin
• Photography By – William Coupon
• Producer – Luther Vandross
• Carl Beatty - engineer
• Michael H. Brauer - recording, mixing

Personnel

• Luther Vandross - lead and background vocals
• Tawatha Agee, Phillip Ballou, Michelle Cobbs, Cissy Houston, Yvonne Lewis, Sybil Thomas, Fonzi Thornton, Brenda King White, Norma Jean Wright - background vocals
• Nat Adderley, Jr. - keyboards, background vocals
• Ed Walsh - synthesizers
• Steve Love, Georg "Jojje" Wadenius - guitars
• Anthony Jackson, Marcus Miller - bass
• Buddy Williams - drums
• Errol "Crusher" Bennett, Bashiri Johnson - congas, percussion
• Billy King - congas
• Horns and strings arranged by Paul Riser and Leon Pendarvis

Notes

Released: August 12, 1981 

Recorded: April–July 1981, at Media Sound Studios (New York City) 

Genre: Soul, Funk

Style: Disco, Boogie

Length: 36:50 

Label - Epic Records