Power of Love [Remaster] - Vandross, Luther (CD 2001)

By the time of this 1991 release, Luther Vandross was a bonafide superstar. With a run of three straight outstanding records building his popularity (The Night I Fell in Love, Give Me the Reason, and Any Love) and a wildly popular greatest hits collection chock full of star-studded testimonials to his greatness--not to mention the ubiquitous, runaway train wedding standard "Here and Now"--Luther was arguably the most popular across all demographics pure R&B artist ever (note: Stevie Wonder is just a little too good to block him in simply as R&B, don'tcha think?). Riding this waive of popularity, Power of Love was his first release on the heels of his reaching his career peak. The album was both his most polished album and most ambitious, but like many offerings from an artist suddenly looking down from the high wire it was a composition in search of an identity.

This was an album seemingly constructed by blueprint to further expand and solidify Vandross' increasingly diverse fan base. Was it R&B? Was it reaching for Pop? 1986's Give Me the Reason had dabbled with pop, but nothing as blatant as "Power of Love/Love Power", "She Doesn't Mind", and "The Rush". Though the album was commercially successful, it is telling that his next album would be a return to a sound more obviously grounded in his R&B roots. This isn't his worst album, but there are may albums in his discography that I'd recommend first. And considering the absolute mess that high-profile R&B was devolving into throughout the early 1990's, this well might have been one of the best R&B offerings of that year.

Album Highlights:

The Rush - [5/5] - Okay, it's pop and the sound is a great departure from what made him famous, but I like it. In a way it's understandable why Luther would want to diversify his sound to reach a wider audience, and when it works (as it does here) it's tough to argue. A borderline club/dance track--a couple of beats faster and it would have been--with some of LV's best vocal delivery on the album. It doesn't work as well on other tracks, however.

I Want The Night To Stay - [5/5] - Very mellow track with a heavenly blend of backing vocals. A straightforward ballad, but this song is a good example to use when evaluating the difference in production values between his earlier albums and this one. One of the few slow tracks where Vandross sounds like he's actually trying. Talent that he has, even when he doesn't it still sounds good.

Don't Want To Be A Fool - [5/5] - One of his best songs, and the nearest to his vintage 80's sound in style and content. It captures the ambivalence of someone trying to move on after a love gone bad perfectly. This track might be the one reason to buy the album if you're not trying to complete a Luther Vandross collection, but it is also available on several LV collections. Bet you're wondering how an album that's having criticism heaped on it managed to get a 4 star rating (it's really 3 1/2 rounded up). Well, it's still "Loofa", and even on an off day he's better than most.


Complete Tracklist:

She Doesn't Mind - [4/5] - Very slick "My lady is great" tune.
Power Of Love/Love Power - [4/5] - Nice pop tune. Has an interpolation of an old hit at the end.
I'm Gonna Start Today - [4/5] - Nice "Baby, I've been wrong but I'll do better" track.
The Rush - [5/5] - See Album Highlights
I Want The Night To Stay - [5/5] - See Album Highlights
Don't Want To Be A Fool - [5/5] - See Album Highlights
I Can Tell You That - [3.5/5] - Average, up-tempo track.
Sometimes It's Only Love - [4/5] - Nice track, but it sounds a lot like another song I can't place.
Emotional Love - [3/5] - Filler.
I Who Have Nothing - [4.5/5] - Old style duet with Martha Wash. Decent saxophone solo and nice closing harmony.


The quality of Vandross' voice and his talent is never in question, but sometimes a listener can get the impression that he coasts through his delivery on certain tracks. He's coasting quite a bit here. Overall a decent album, even a good album; for anyone else but LV. Worth a buy at a discount for Vandross fans, casual fans could skip it. Folks new to his music are best served by starting with his mid-80's material and working forward and back.