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Luther
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Luther
Current price: $16.99
Barnes and Noble
Luther
Current price: $16.99
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Size: CD
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Most of the members of
had deep and shared histories when they released the first of their two albums. Namesake and leader
,
, and
started singing together in 1966 and were part of
, a workshop ensemble featured in early seasons of Sesame Street.
' group signed with
in 1973. The deal didn't result in any commercial recordings, but they kept at it as they did assorted background work -- most famously lending credibility to
's
, a gig they landed through
associate
-- and they eventually seized a new opportunity with the
label. By the time
recorded their self-titled debut,
had left and was replaced with
was added to make them a five-member vocal group. There's no doubting that this is
' thing -- he's the sole writer and producer and either fronts or shares the lead on every song, and the high level of finesse in the vocal arrangements sure sounds like his work. (The great
is the only credited arranger.) Although
is rightly considered
' true debut and breakthrough, this is an accomplished first step. Both singles reached the upper half of Billboard's R&B chart. Opener and number 34 R&B hit "Funky Music (Is a Part of Me)" isn't exactly "Tear the Roof Off the Sucker," but only a sourpuss could deny its joyousness; when
performed the song on the
tour, it caught
's attention, and he reworked it as "Fascination." "It's Good for the Soul," the other single, persuasively encourages indulgence though a winding and layered groove driven in part by guitarist
and keyboardist
, another
player and long-term creative partner. The consoling "The 2nd Time Around," one of two songs here that
reworked over a decade later, charted as the B-side of "Funky Music" and showed that he could be a sneaky-powerful balladeer and an effective jingle writer. Another noteworthy deep cut is "Everybody Rejoice," a lively number given an even more exultant group-vocal treatment for
(as "A Brand New Day," introduced on the theatrical version by
). After
deleted both
albums,
acquired the rights to them. They remained out of print until 2024, when his estate arranged a licensing deal. ~ Andy Kellman