''Power of Love'' is the seventh

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

by American singer-songwriter

Luther Vandross Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an American Soul music, soul and Contemporary R&B, R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer. Over his career, he achieved eleven consecutive RIAA certification, RIAA-certified ...

, released in North America by

Epic Epic commonly refers to: * Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation * Epic film, a genre of film defined by the spectacular presentation of human drama on a grandiose scale Epic(s) ...

on April 26, 1991, following the critical and commercial success of his sixth album '' Any Love'' (1988). ''Power of Love'' received critical acclaim from most critics, earning Vandross a number of awards and accolades including two

American Music Awards The American Music Awards (AMAs) is an annual American music awards show produced by Dick Clark Productions since 1974. Nominees are selected on commercial performance such as sales and airplay. Winners are determined by a poll of the public and ...

and two

Grammy Awards The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...

. It reached number seven on the US ''Billboard'' 200 album chart, while topping the

Top R&B Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip-hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Luminate. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated January 30, ...

chart for five nonconsecutive weeks. On the latter chart, it was Vandross's last number one for twelve years until '' Dance with My Father'' was released. The album was later certified double platinum by the

RIAA The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

Critical reception

Dave Obee from ''

Calgary Herald The ''Calgary Herald'' is a daily newspaper published in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Publication began in 1883 as ''The Calgary Herald, Mining and Ranche Advocate, and General Advertiser''. It is owned by the Postmedia Network. History ''The C ...

'' wrote, "This disc offers more of what we've come to expect: solid R&B vocals, a touch of funk in the guitars and a touch of gospel from supporting singers. A gem is Luther's duet with

Martha Wash Martha Elaine Wash (born December 28, 1953) is an American singer and songwriter. Known for her distinctive and powerful voice, Wash first achieved fame as half of the The Weather Girls, Two Tons O' Fun, along with Izora Armstead, as they sang b ...

on the classic "

I (Who Have Nothing) "I (Who Have Nothing)" (sometimes billed as "I Who Have Nothing") is an English-language cover of the Italian song "''Uno dei tanti''" (English: "One of Many"), with music by Carlo Donida and lyrics by Giulio "Mogol" Rapetti. The original vers ...

" (consider it the definitive version). The title cut is a perfect introduction to an album that's wonderfully seductive. So if you're having trouble getting in the mood - Luther never has, it seems - just slip on this disc and relax. When it ends an hour later, you won't feel the need to put anything else on."

Track listing

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes. Production and Technical * Luther Vandross – producer *

Marcus Miller William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. (born June 14, 1959) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He has worked with trumpeter Miles Davis, pianist Herbie Hancock, singer Luther Vandross, and saxophonists Wayne Shorter and David Sa ...

– producer * Ray Bardani – engineer, mixing * Fred Bova – recording * Brian Cowieson – recording * Carrie McConkey – recording * Michael Morongell – recording *

Shelly Yakus Sheldon Gershon "Shelly" Yakus (born November 1945) is an American music engineer and mixer. Formerly chief engineer and vice president of A&M Records, he was nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. Yakus is referenced ...

– recording * Martin Brumbach – * Mark Harder – recording assistant * Robert Hart – recording assistant * John Herman – recording assistant * Rob Jaczko – recording assistant * Chad Munsey – recording assistant * Brian Schueble – recording assistant * Rich Travali – recording assistant * Dave Collins – digital editing at A&M Studios * Steve Hall – mastering at Future Disc (Hollywood, California) * Marsha Burns – production coordinator * Corsillo/Manzone – design *

Matthew Rolston Matthew Russell Rolston is an American artist, photographer, director and creative director, known for his lighting techniques and detailed approach to art direction and design. Rolston has been identified throughout his career with the revival an ...

– photography * Jeff Jones – hair, make-up * Hutaff Lennon – personal assistant * Elijah Reeder – personal assistant * Alive Enterprises, Inc. – management Performers and musicians * Luther Vandross – lead vocals, backing vocals, vocal arrangements (1-3, 5) * Jason Miles – synthesizer sound programming *

– keyboards (1-4, 6), synthesizer programming (1-4, 6, 8), rhythm arrangements (1-4, 6), bass guitar (2-4, 6, 10), backing vocals (2), additional keyboards (7-9) * Reed Vertelney – synthesizer programming (1) *

Nat Adderley, Jr. Nathaniel Adderley Jr. (born May 23, 1955) is an American pop music, pop and rhythm and blues music arranger and pianist who spent much of his music career arranging as music director for Luther Vandross tours and contributed as co-songwriter on ...

– acoustic piano (2), keyboards (5, 10), synthesizer programming (5, 10), rhythm and string arrangements (5, 10) * Hubert Eaves III – keyboards (7, 9), synthesizer programming (7, 9), rhythm arrangements (7, 9) * John "Skip" Anderson – keyboards (8), synthesizer programming (8), rhythm arrangements (8) * Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitars (2, 3, 5, 6, 9) *

Paulinho da Costa Paulinho da Costa (, born Paulo Roberto da Costa on May 31, 1948) is a Brazilian percussionist. Beginning his career as a samba musician in Brazil, he moved to the United States in the early 1970s and worked with Brazilian bandleader Sérgio Me ...

–

wind chimes Wind chimes are a type of percussion instrument constructed from suspended tubes, rods, bells, or other objects that are often made of metal or wood. The tubes or rods are suspended along with some type of weight or surface which the tubes or ro ...

(2, 6), percussion (5, 8, 10) *

Kirk Whalum Kirk Whalum (born July 11, 1958) is an American R&B and smooth jazz saxophonist and songwriter. Whalum has recorded a series of commercially and critically acclaimed solo studio albums. Along with several film soundtracks, with music ranging fro ...

– saxophone solo (10) * Joe Soldo – string contractor (5) * Alfred Brown – string contractor (10) *

Tawatha Agee Tawatha Agee (born November 14, 1954) is an American vocalist and songwriter. Her voice has been described in ''The New York Times'' as an "acrobatic, gospel-charged soprano." She was the lead singer of funk and soul band Mtume; her soulful lead ...

– backing vocals (1-3, 5-7) *

Lisa Fischer Lisa Melonie Fischer (born December 1, 1958) is an American singer and songwriter. She found success with her 1991 debut album '' So Intense'', which produced the Grammy Award–winning hit single " How Can I Ease the Pain". She has been a back ...

– backing vocals (1, 2) *

Cissy Houston Emily Drinkard (September 30, 1933 – October 7, 2024), known professionally as Cissy Houston, was an American soul and gospel singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, Houston began singing with three of her siblings in the family gospel group, T ...

– backing vocals (1-3, 5-7) *

Darlene Love Darlene Wright (born July 26, 1941), also known by the stage name Darlene Love, is an American R&B and soul singer and actress. She was the lead singer of the girl group the Blossoms and also a solo recording artist. She began singing as a ch ...

– backing vocals (1, 2, 9) *

Paulette McWilliams Paulette McWilliams is an American singer and songwriter. She began her career singing with the bands The American Breed and Rufus, and has appeared as a backing vocalist on recordings and on tour for numerous artists. She worked with Marvin Gay ...

– backing vocals (1-3, 6, 7, 9) *

Fonzi Thornton Alfonso "Fonzi" Thornton is an American vocalist, songwriter, producer and vocal contractor. In a career spanning 40 years, Thornton has sung backing vocals for top artists across many genres of music. His vocal credits can be found on the re ...

– backing vocals (1, 2, 5), vocal contractor * Brenda White King – backing vocals (1-3, 5-7, 9) * Genobia Jeter – backing vocals (2, 9) * Pat Joyner – backing vocals (2) * Kevin Owens – backing vocals (2) * Tamira C. Sanders – backing vocals (2) * Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals (5, 6) * Michelle Cobbs – backing vocals (9) *

– lead vocals (10), backing vocals (10)

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{Authority control 1991 albums Epic Records albums Legacy Recordings albums Luther Vandross albums Albums produced by Luther Vandross Albums produced by Marcus Miller