I Know
Studio album by
Luther Vandross
ReleasedAugust 11, 1998
RecordedJanuary–May 1998
Studio
Various
Length67:04
LabelVirgin
Producer
Luther Vandross chronology
Love Is on the Way
(1998) 		I Know
(1998) 		Always & Forever: The Classics
(1999)
Singles from I Know
  1. "I Know"
    Released: June 1998
  2. "Nights in Harlem"
    Released: July 14, 1998

I Know is the eleventh studio album by American R&B singer and songwriter Luther Vandross, released in August 1998 (see 1998 in music), and his only one for Virgin Records. It serves as his first album since fulfilling his contract with Epic after the release of his album Your Secret Love (1996). The album features guest appearances from artists such as Cassandra Wilson, Guru, Stevie Wonder, Brandy, Marcella Precise and Bob James.

The album's title track earned Vandross two nominations at the 41st Grammy Awards including for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the aforementioned album and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for the album's single. The album debuted and peaked at number twenty-six on the US Billboard 200 album chart, becoming his first album since Give Me the Reason (1986) to miss the top ten of the albums chart. The album also peaked within the top ten of the R&B Albums chart, reaching number nine. It was later certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in late 1998, becoming his only studio album to do so.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Entertainment WeeklyB−[2]
Rolling Stone[3]
Vibe(favorable)[4]

AllMusic editor Tim Sheridan found that on Vandross' "Virgin debut, he eases into his groove once again. Whether he's dealing in the easy, gospel-inflected pop of album opener "Keeping My Faith in You" or the jazzy hooks of the title track, Vandross is in command. The disc is strong overall. R&B doesn't get any glossier."[1] Paul Verna from Billboard felt that I Know was "a testament to what a real love song should be, rather than the bump'n'grind workouts that tend to masquerade as '90s romantic music."[5] In a lukewarm review for Entertainment Weekly Tony Scherman wrote that "despite his having sold 20-plus million records, the latter-day king of R&B romance lacks the distinctiveness, the instantly recognizable sound of the genre’s true heroes [...] Treacle then, treacle now."[2]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Keeping My Faith in You"
Vandross4:55
2."Isn't There Someone"
Vandross4:41
3."Religion"
  • Vandross
  • Moran
4:35
4."Get It Right" (featuring Marcella Precise)
  • Vandross
  • Terence "Tramp-Baby" Abney
5:26
5."I Know" (featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica)
  • Vandross
  • Vertelney
Vandross5:22
6."I'm Only Human" (featuring Cassandra Wilson and Bob James)
  • Vandross
  • Miller
  • Vandross
  • Miller
5:28
7."Nights in Harlem" (featuring Marcella Precise)
Vandross4:57
8."Dream Lover"
  • Vandross
  • Miller
Vandross4:32
9."When I Need You"
Nat Adderley Jr.6:47
10."Are You Using Me?"
5:21
11."Are You Mad at Me?"
  • Vandross
  • John Anderson
Vandross4:35
12."Now That I Have You"
  • Vandross
  • Vertelney
Vandross5:01
13."Nights in Harlem (Darkchild Extended Remix)" (featuring Guru)
  • Vandross
  • Brailsford
  • Rideout
  • Thornton
5:24

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[10] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b I Know at AllMusic
  2. ^ a b Scherman, Tony (1998-08-14). "Music Review: 'I Know' Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  3. ^ Magazine, Rolling Stone (1992). The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll: The Definitive History of the Most Important Artists and Their Music. ISBN 9780679737285.
  4. ^ Torres, Richard (September 1998). "Revolutions". Vibe. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  5. ^ Verna, Paul (August 29, 1998). "Reviews & Previews". Billboard . Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  6. ^ "Luther Vandross | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  7. ^ "Luther Vandross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  8. ^ "Luther Vandross Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  9. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  10. ^ "American album certifications – Luther Vandross – I Know". Recording Industry Association of America.


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