So Amazing: An All Star Tribute to Luther Vandross

1	Never Too Much / Mary J. Blige 5:15
2	Superstar / Usher 5:55
3	'Til My Baby Comes Home / Fantasia 4:38
4	So Amazing / Beyoncé 4:11
5	A House Is Not a Home / Aretha Franklin 5:30
6	Power of Love / Donna Summer 3:29
7	If This World Were Mine / Jerimiah "Jermaine" Paul 4:56
8	Anyone Who Had a Heart / Luther Vandross 4:50
9	Dance with My Father / Celine Dion 4:38
10	Always & Forever / Wyclef Jean 4:35
11	If Only for One Night / Babyface 4:23
12	Here & Now / Patti LaBelle 4:29
13	Love Won't Let Me Wait / John Legend 3:55
14	Since I Lost My Baby / Angie Stone 5:23
15	Creepin' / Jamie Foxx 6:11

Barnes & Noble

This festive tribute record to Luther Vandross -- one of greatest talents to emerge from the R&B world in the '80s and '90s -- is appropriately packed with star power. A sassy Mary J. Blige kicks things off by strutting through a funky Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis-produced reading of "Never Too Much" that percolates over a popping bass line and just a smattering of orchestration. Throughout, executive producer and music industry legend Clive Davis flaunts his matchmaking abilities, pairing A-list singers with a cherry-picked set list of Vandross originals and cover songs the crooner remade in his own unique style. Luther idol-and-friend Aretha Franklin shines on a string-caressed version of "A House Is Not a Home," infusing the Bacharach/David classicwith a throaty inflection that conveys the kind of bittersweet emotiveness Vandross achieved on his own version. Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx once again shows off his musical chops on a slow-roiling rendition of Stevie Wonder's "Creepin'". Wonder himself appears alongside Beyoncé on the harmony-rich title cut, accented by lush strings and a harmonica solo. Elsewhere, Patti LaBelle -- Vandross was once president of her fan club -- gives a gospel-flavored twist to "Here & Now," tweaked by a bit of call-and-response vocalizing, and American Idol winner Fantasia turns in an uplifting "'Til My Baby Comes Home." Although there are a few missteps -- namely Usher's amateurish attempt at "Superstar" and Wyclef's inexplicably reggae-tinged reading of "Always & Forever" -- So Amazing is a stellar homage to Vandross's unforgettable musical legacy. Dave Gil de Rubio

All Music Guide

They weren't kidding when they put "All-Star" in the subtitle, but the most satisfying thing about this big-name tribute to the late Luther Vandross is how many of these "All-Stars" let their guard down, expressing both genuine grief over the loss of R&B's most likeable fellows and jubilation over his music, which spoke to so many people, offered a rich blend of influences, and had a warm, soulful grace both in its writing and delivery. Mary J. Blige captures everyone's first encounter with the great "Never Too Much" with a bit of dialog before launching into one of her warmest, most elegant performances. The grief of Aretha Franklin on "A House Is Not a Home" is monolithic, while fellow diva Patti LaBelle hits every "I need you now" in "Here & Now" with touching despair, inferring loss over lyrics that deal with comfort and "always being there." His smoky performance on "Love Won't Let Me Wait" just proves how great a "John Legend: With Strings" album would be, while Angie Stone and "Since I Lost My Baby" is the perfect marriage of singer and song. Well-dressed, finger-snappin' numbers from Jamie Foxx, Fantasia, and Beyoncé with Stevie Wonder capture Luther's big smile while Donna Summer recalls his disco roots with a dancefloor "Power of Love." Add Alicia Keys and Jermaine Paul sounding epic on "If This World Were Mine" and you've got enough highlights to ignore Celine Dion's maudlin "Dance with My Father" and Elton John's misguided Joe Cocker impersonation on "Anyone Who Had a Heart," another "duet" with the deceased made possible through Pro-Tools. Besides these minor annoyances, So Amazing is meatier than most tributes, with deeply grateful performances that not only capture the spirit of Luther but do an excellent job of bringing his widespread influence to the surface. David Jeffries