Source: Paul Natkin / Getty
There are very few artists that can take a song recorded by someone else and make it their own…and there are even fewer that could do it like the late Luther Vandross.
Nearly 20 years after his passing in 2005, the R&B icon is still one of the greatest singers of the 20th century – a vocal stylist who can make any song into a soulful hit.
Fans got their reminder this past Friday (Oct. 25) as his estate put out a previously unreleased cover of The Beatles’ 1965 hit, “Michelle.” The track’s release coincides with the singer’s upcoming documentary, Luther: Never Too Much, which opens in select cities on Friday (Nov. 1). “Michelle” is also one of several unreleased tracks on his upcoming greatest hits album, set for a December 13 release.
Fonzi Thornton, a close friend and collaborator of Vandross, found the tape while looking through the singer’s archives with family following his passing.
He tells The Hollywood Reporter:
“I found two cassettes labeled ‘Michelle’ in his handwriting — [I had] no idea what it was [and then I] played it! I realized it was a beautiful rendition of the Beatles classic that had been vocally and musically Lutherized. I played Luther’s version for Jeff James, A&R at Sony and Dave Gottlieb, manager of the Vandross Estate, and we agreed it was such a find. We decided to save it until the right time — which is now.”
The Beatles are just the latest in a long list of musicians to have seen their classics remade by one of the greatest vocalists in R&B music. And, to be honest, Luther’s version makes you almost forget that it was a cover to begin with.
Check out some more hits that have been “Lutherized” below!
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
1. “Always and Forever”
Original Artists: Heatwave
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
2. “A House Is Not a Home”
Original Artist: Dionne Warwick
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
3. “If Only For One Night”
Original Artist: Brenda Russell
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
4. “So Amazing”
Original Artist: Dionne Warwick
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
5. “If This World Were Mine” (ft. Cheryl Lynn)
Original Artists: Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
6. “Lovely Day” (ft. Busta Rhymes)
Original Artist: Bill Withers
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
7. “The Closer I Get To You” (ft. Beyoncé)
Original Artists: Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
8. “Love Won’t Let Me Wait”
Original Artist: Major Harris
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
9. “Creepin'”
Original Artist: Stevie Wonder
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
10. “Endless Love” (ft. Mariah Carey)
Original Artists: Lionel Richie & Diana Ross
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
11. “You Stopped Loving Me”
Original Artist: Roberta Flack
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
12. “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now”
Original Artists: McFadden & Whitehead
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
13. “All The Woman I Need”
Original Artist: Linda Clifford (as “All The Man I Need”)
BONUS: This track was also covered by Whitney Houston, so you can click here for her version… just because.
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
14. “Anyone Who Had A Heart”
Original Artist: Dionne Warwick
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
15. “Get It Right” (ft. Precise)
Original Artist: Aretha Franklin
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
16. “I (Who Have Nothing)” (ft. Martha Wash)
Original Artist: Ben E. King
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
17. “Since I Lost My Baby”
Original Artists: The Temptations
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
18. “Buy Me A Rose”
Original Artist: Kenny Rogers
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
19. “Love The One You’re With”
Original Artist: Stephen Stills
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
20. “Crazy Love”
Original Artist: Patti LaBelle
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
21. “Goin’ Out Of My Head”
Original Artists: Little Anthony & The Imperials
LUTHERIZED: Songs That Luther Vandross Sang So Well…You Forgot They Were Sung By Someone Else First was originally published on ronefoxync.staging.go.ione.nyc
