"Your Secret Love"
Single by Luther Vandross
from the album Your Secret Love
ReleasedAugust 20, 1996
(US, Europe)
Length4:01 (single edit)
LabelEpic Records
Songwriter(s)L. Vandross, Reed Vertelney
Producer(s)Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross singles chronology
"Every Year, Every Christmas"
(1995) 		"Your Secret Love"
(1996) 		"I Can Make It Better"
(1996)

"Your Secret Love" is a song by American recording artist Luther Vandross, released in August 1996 as the lead single in support of his tenth studio album, Your Secret Love (1996). The single peaked at No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart.[1]

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard described the song as "languid", adding that it "serves as a solid reminder that few can brew classic finger-snappin' rhythms and warmly romantic lyrics this well. Vandross' narrative is so precise and vivid that you can almost feel the candlelight as he cruises through the song's plush, quietly unfurling arrangement. Programmers should play this single as a textbook lesson for youngsters on how R&B balladry is done properly."[2] Peter Miro from Cash Box remarked that "Your Secret Love" "has the elements of his patented style: a soothing serenade, emotive backup vocals, sustained notes held over the refrain, a romantic flair. Altogether it's spelled "chartbound"."[3]

British magazine Music Week rated the song three out of five, writing, "This slick, somewhat passionless mid-tempo ballad is definitive Luther, and should please pop radio."[4] An editor, Alan Jones, stated that Vandross "is back on form" on "a slow-burning R&B plodder". He added that it "has a warmly familiar feel, and Luther's honeyed vocals lend it a pedigree few can match."[5] Ralph Tee from the RM Dance Update commented, "Luther's still got one of the best voices in the business, and here he sounds as good as ever on a brand new beat ballad that seems to have been landed on us out of nowhere. The song itself is not the greatest he's ever done, but a crispy urban mix is very agreeable indeed and for more welcome than another cover version."[6]

Track list

  1. "Your Secret Love (Single Mix)" - 4:01
  2. "Your Secret Love (Remix)", produced by Frankie Knuckles - 4:02
  3. "Power Of Love/Love Power (Power Remix)" - 4:15
  4. "Please Come Home For Christmas" - 3:37

Charts

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 597.
  2. ^ Flick, Larry (August 17, 1996). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. p. 77. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  3. ^ Miro, Peter (August 24, 1996). "Urban" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 13. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  4. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. August 31, 1996. p. 10. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  5. ^ Jones, Alan (September 28, 1996). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 24. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  6. ^ Tee, Ralph (September 14, 1996). "Hot Vinyl" (PDF). Music Week. p. 10. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  7. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  8. ^ "Luther Vandross Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  9. ^ "Luther Vandross Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
  10. ^ "Luther Vandross Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  11. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
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