Dance with My Father
Studio album by
Luther Vandross
ReleasedJune 10, 2003 (2003-06-10)
RecordedApril 2002–April 2003
Studio
GenreR&B[1]
Length67:18
LabelJ
Producer
Luther Vandross chronology
The Very Best of Love
(2003) 		Dance with My Father
(2003) 		The Essential Luther Vandross
(2003)
Singles from Dance with My Father
  1. "Dance with My Father"
    Released: May 30, 2003
  2. "Think About You"
    Released: September 2003
  3. "Buy Me a Rose"
    Released: January 2004

Dance with My Father is the thirteenth and final studio album by American R&B/soul singer Luther Vandross. It was released by J Records on June 10, 2003 in the United States and served as the follow-up to his self-titled studio album (2001). The album, especially its title track, was dedicated to Vandross's late father and features production credits from Nat Adderley Jr., Shep Crawford, and Marcus Miller as well as guest appearances by singer Beyoncé, R&B trio Next, and rappers Foxy Brown, Queen Latifah, and Busta Rhymes.

Upon its release, Dance with My Father debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart with first week sales of 442,000 units, becoming his first and only album to do so.[2] It also marked his eighth and first album in the twelve years to top the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Critically acclaimed, Dance with My Father earned Vandross two American Music Awards in the Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist and the Favorite Soul/R&B Album categories as well as four Grammy Awards wins out of five nominations, including Song of the Year and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Dance with My Father", Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "The Closer I Get to You", his duet with Beyoncé, and Best R&B Album.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]
BBC Music(favorable)[1]
The Guardian[4]
Entertainment WeeklyB[5]
Los Angeles Times[6]
Plugged In(mixed)[7]
Rolling Stone[8]

Dance with My Father was released to generally positive reviews from music critics. In his review for Allmusic, David Jeffries summed that "Dance with My Father isn't able to maintain the high standards it often achieves, but Vandross' voice is always compelling and the background singers live up to the superior arrangements throughout. With nearly 70 minutes of music on the disc to choose from, more savvy listeners will be able to program their CD players for a more focused and rewarding listen." He rated the album four out of five stars.[3] Writing for The Guardian, Adam Sweeting declared the album "one of Vandross's very finest recordings." He found that "always a class act, a kind of top-of-the-range Lexus among soulmen, Vandross has clung to his traditional strengths – lush melodies and artful arrangements, sung with that elegantly beseeching voice – while incorporating some discreet nods to modernity."[4]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."If I Didn't Know Better"
Vandross4:07
2."Think About You"
  • James Porte
  • Vandross
Vandross5:04
3."If It Ain't One Thing" (featuring Foxy Brown)
Vandross4:13
4."Buy Me a Rose"
  • Jim Funk
  • Erick Hickenlooper
Shep Crawford3:48
5."The Closer I Get to You" (duet with Beyoncé)
Nat Adderley, Jr.6:25
6."Lovely Day" (featuring Busta Rhymes)
  • Vandross
  • Marcus Miller
5:57
7."Dance with My Father"
Vandross4:26
8."She Saw You"
  • Vandross
  • Miller
  • Vandross
  • Miller
5:44
9."Apologize"
  • Rex Rideout
  • Vandross
Vandross4:59
10."Hit It Again" (featuring Queen Latifah)
  • Rideout
  • Vandross
Vandross4:37
11."Right in the Middle"
  • Vandross
  • Vertelney
Vandross4:50
12."Once Were Lovers"
  • Rideout
  • Fonzi Thornton
  • Vandross
Vandross4:34
13."Lovely Day (Part II)" (featuring Busta Rhymes and Next)
  • LaPread
  • Richie
  • Withers
  • Scarborough
Vandross3:54
14."They Said You Needed Me"
  • Vandross
  • Adderley
4:40

Sample credits

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic.[9]

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[21] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[22] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[23] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Award

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2003 American Music Award Favorite Soul/R&B Album Won
Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist Won
2004 BET Awards Best Male R&B Artist Nominated
Grammy Award Song of the Year Won
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance Won
Best R&B Song Nominated
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals Won
Best R&B Album Won
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Album Won
Outstanding Male Artist Won
Outstanding Music Video Won
Outstanding Song Won
Soul Train Music Awards Best Album of the Year Nominated
Best R&B/Soul Album – Male Nominated
Best R&B/Soul Single – Male Won
2005 Soul Train Music Awards Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b Smith, Jack. "Review of Luther Vandross – Dance With My Father". BBC Music. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  2. ^ Martens, Todd (June 18, 2003). "Ailing Vandross Dances Atop Album Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  3. ^ a b Jeffries, David. "Dance with My Father – Luther Vandross". Allmusic.
  4. ^ a b Sweeting, Adam (2003-06-26). "Luther Vandross: Dance With My Father". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  5. ^ Jones, Vanessa (2003-06-20). "Dance With My Father Review". Entertainment Weekly: 72. Archived from the original on April 9, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  6. ^ Nichols, Natalie (2003-06-22). "Romance with special poignancy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  7. ^ Waliszewski, Bob. "Luther Vandross – Dance With My Father – Album Review". Plugged In. Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  8. ^ Walters, Barry (2003-06-03). "Dance With My Father". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  9. ^ "Dance with My Father – Luther Vandross | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  10. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 293.
  11. ^ "ARIA Urban Chart – Week Commencing 15th September 2003" (PDF). The ARIA Report (708): 14. September 15, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved April 19, 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Albums : Top 100". Jam!. July 10, 2003. Archived from the original on December 10, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  13. ^ "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. June 26, 2003. Archived from the original on July 3, 2003. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  14. ^ "Luther Vandross | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  15. ^ "Luther Vandross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  16. ^ "Luther Vandross Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  17. ^ "Billboard 200: Year End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  18. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  19. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  20. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  21. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Luther Vandross – Dance with My Father". Music Canada. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  22. ^ "British album certifications – Luther Vandross – Dance with My Father". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  23. ^ "American album certifications – Luther Vandross – Dance with My Father". Recording Industry Association of America.
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