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Dance with My Father (album)

Dance with My Father
Studio album by
Luther Vandross
ReleasedJune 10, 2003 (2003-06-10)
RecordedApril 2002–April 2003
Studio
GenreR&B[1]
Length67:18
LabelJ
Producer
Luther Vandross chronology
The Very Best of Love
(2003) 		Dance with My Father
(2003) 		The Essential Luther Vandross
(2003)
Singles from Dance with My Father
  1. "Dance with My Father"
    Released: May 30, 2003
  2. "Think About You"
    Released: September 2003
  3. "Buy Me a Rose"
    Released: January 2004

Dance with My Father is the fourteenth and final studio album by American singer Luther Vandross. It was released by J Records on June 10, 2003 in the United States and served as the follow-up to his self-titled studio album (2001). The album, especially its title track, was dedicated to Vandross's late father Luther Vandross, Sr. and features production credits from Nat Adderley Jr., Shep Crawford, and Marcus Miller as well as guest appearances by singer Beyoncé, R&B trio Next, and rappers Foxy Brown, Queen Latifah, and Busta Rhymes.

Upon its release, Dance with My Father debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart with first week sales of 442,000 units, becoming his first and only album to do so. It also marked his eighth and first album in the twelve years to top the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Critically acclaimed, Dance with My Father earned Vandross two American Music Awards in the Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist and the Favorite Soul/R&B Album categories as well as four Grammy Awards wins out of five nominations, including Song of the Year and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Dance with My Father", Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "The Closer I Get to You", his duet with Beyoncé, and Best R&B Album.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The Guardian[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB[4]
Los Angeles Times[5]
Plugged In(mixed)[6]
Rolling Stone[7]
Vibe[8]

Dance with My Father was released to generally positive reviews from music critics. In his review for Allmusic, David Jeffries summed that "Dance with My Father isn't able to maintain the high standards it often achieves, but Vandross' voice is always compelling and the background singers live up to the superior arrangements throughout. With nearly 70 minutes of music on the disc to choose from, more savvy listeners will be able to program their CD players for a more focused and rewarding listen." He rated the album four out of five stars.[2] Writing for The Guardian, Adam Sweeting declared the album "one of Vandross's very finest recordings." He found that "always a class act, a kind of top-of-the-range Lexus among soulmen, Vandross has clung to his traditional strengths – lush melodies and artful arrangements, sung with that elegantly beseeching voice – while incorporating some discreet nods to modernity."[3]

BBC Music critic Jack Smith called Dance with My Father "another faultless, high-gloss collection of love songs to follow his 2001 Luther Vandross release [...] Now in his early-50s, Vandross is so much the master of his craft, you cant help but want him to stretch out a little, take a few chances, maybe get a collaborator with some more imaginative ideas for instrumentation to match his own impeccable vocal arrangements. But if you like your R&B to be smooth and your songs to be grown-up, you're not going to argue too much."[1] Los Angeles Times editor described the album as "a beautifully sung, ultra-nostalgic ballad cataloging childhood memories of his long-departed dad. But more to the point, [it] better updates the singer-songwriter-producer's time-tested strengths as a butter-voiced chronicler of romance."[5] Gail Mitchell, writing for Billboard, found that Dance with My Father was "signature Luther: hot-buttered vocals dripping over lush ballads, with occasional midtempo spikes [...] Vandross proves, again, that he's a gifted vocalist who transcends time."[9]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for Dance with My Father
Organization Year Category Result Ref.
American Music Awards 2003 Favorite Soul/R&B Album Won [10]
Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist Won
BET Awards 2004 Best Male R&B Artist Nominated
Grammy Award 2004 Song of the Year Won [11]
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance Won
Best R&B Song Nominated
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals Won
Best R&B Album Won
NAACP Image Awards 2004 Outstanding Album Won [12]
Outstanding Male Artist Won
Outstanding Music Video Won
Outstanding Song Won
Soul Train Music Awards 2004 Best Album of the Year Nominated [13]
Best R&B/Soul Album – Male Nominated
Best R&B/Soul Single – Male Won
Soul Train Music Awards 2005 Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo Nominated

Chart performance

Upon its release, Dance with My Father debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart with first week sales of 442,000 units, becoming Vandross' first and only album to do so,[14] while also marking his best sales week in the Nielsen SoundScan era.[14] The album was his eighth and first album in the twelve years to top the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[15] By October 2003, Dance with My Father had sold 1.2 million copies in the United States.[16] On April 14, 2004, it was certified Double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RAA) for domestic shipments figures in excess of 2.0 million units.[17]

Track listing

Dance with My Father track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."If I Didn't Know Better"
Vandross4:07
2."Think About You"
  • James Porte
  • Vandross
Vandross5:04
3."If It Ain't One Thing" (featuring Foxy Brown)
Vandross4:13
4."Buy Me a Rose"
  • Jim Funk
  • Erick Hickenlooper
Shep Crawford3:48
5."The Closer I Get to You" (duet with Beyoncé)
Nat Adderley, Jr.6:25
6."Lovely Day" (featuring Busta Rhymes)
  • Vandross
  • Marcus Miller
5:57
7."Dance with My Father"
Vandross4:26
8."She Saw You"
  • Vandross
  • Miller
  • Vandross
  • Miller
5:44
9."Apologize"
  • Rex Rideout
  • Vandross
Vandross4:59
10."Hit It Again" (featuring Queen Latifah)
  • Rideout
  • Vandross
Vandross4:37
11."Right in the Middle"
  • Vandross
  • Vertelney
Vandross4:50
12."Once Were Lovers"
  • Rideout
  • Fonzi Thornton
  • Vandross
Vandross4:34
13."Lovely Day (Part II)" (featuring Busta Rhymes and Next)
  • LaPread
  • Richie
  • Withers
  • Scarborough
Vandross3:54
14."They Said You Needed Me"
  • Vandross
  • Adderley
4:40
Total length:67:18

Sample credits

  • "Lovely Day (Part II)" contains excerpts from the composition "Say Yeah" as performed by The Commodores.

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic.[18]

  • Nat Adderley Jr. – arranger, keyboards, piano, producer, string arrangements
  • Tawatha Agee – background vocals
  • Sanford Allen – concert master
  • Alli – art direction
  • June Ambrose – stylist
  • Skip Anderson – arranger, keyboards, programming, soloist, vibraphone
  • Ray Bardani – engineer, mixing, string engineer
  • Beyoncé – primary artist
  • Big Bub – background vocals
  • Jeff Bova – sound design
  • Al Brown – string contractor
  • Al Brown & His Tunetoppers – string contractor
  • Foxy Brown – featured artist, guest artist, vocals
  • Sharon Bryant – background vocals
  • Busta Rhymes – featured artist, guest artist, vocals
  • Shep Crawford – instrumentation, producer
  • Carl Cyrius – assistant engineer
  • Jason Dale – assistant engineer
  • Jill Dell'Abate – production coordination
  • DJ Kay Gee – remix producer
  • James Ervin – choreographer
  • Jim Ervin – choreographer
  • Eddie F. – remix producer
  • Paul J. Falcone – vocal engineer, vocal recording
  • Phil Hamilton – guitar
  • Reggie Hamilton – bass
  • Ivan Hampden – arranger, drum programming, drums, keyboard programming
  • Cissy Houston – guest artist, background vocals
  • Loren Howard – mixing assistant
  • Roger Innocent – hair stylist
  • Michael J – background vocals
  • Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar
  • Brion James – guitar
  • Chris James – piano
  • Joyce James – performer, background vocals
  • Bashiri Johnson – percussion
  • Jeff Jones – hair stylist, make-Up
  • Beyoncé Knowles – primary artist
  • Chris LeBeau – art producer, artwork
  • Darren Lighty – remix producer
  • Richard Marx – drum programming, keyboard programming
  • Michael McCoy – assistant engineer
  • Rick McDonald – background vocals
  • Daniel Milazzo – assistant engineer
  • Byron Miller – bass
  • Marcus Miller – arranger, drum programming, engineer, keyboard programming, producer, background vocals
  • Claudius Mittendorfer – assistant engineer
  • Cindy Mizelle – background vocals
  • Robbie Nevil – guitar, keyboards
  • Flip Osman – assistant engineer
  • April Owens – group member, performer, background vocals
  • Dave Perini – assistant engineer
  • James Porte – arranger, drum programming, keyboard programming
  • Herb Powers Jr. – mastering
  • Queen Latifah – featured artist, guest artist, primary artist, vocals
  • Jerome Ramos – bass
  • Rex Rideout – arranger, drum programming, keyboard programming
  • RL – background vocals
  • Matt Snedecor – assistant engineer
  • Jason Stasium – assistant engineer
  • Max Szadek – assistant, personal assistant
  • Candace Thomas – group member, performer, background vocals
  • Fonzi Thornton – vocal contractor, background vocals
  • Luther Vandross – executive producer, primary artist, producer, vocal arrangement, vocals, background vocals
  • Gabriel Varde – engineer, tracking
  • Víctor Vega – guitar
  • Reed Vertelney – arranger, drum programming, keyboard programming
  • Jamie Wallace – assistant engineer
  • Stan Wallace – engineer
  • Rick Watford – guitar
  • Ricky Watford "Bishop" – guitar
  • Kevin Westenberg – photography
  • Brenda White-King – background vocals
  • James "D-Train" Williams – background vocals
  • Jay Williams – guitar
  • Stevie Wonder – guest artist, harmonica, soloist
  • "You Can Ask" Giz – engineer, mixing

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Dance with My Father
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[29] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[30] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[17] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ a b Smith, Jack. "Review of Luther Vandross – Dance With My Father". BBC Music. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Jeffries, David. "Dance with My Father – Luther Vandross". Allmusic.
  3. ^ a b Sweeting, Adam (2003-06-26). "Luther Vandross: Dance With My Father". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  4. ^ Jones, Vanessa (2003-06-20). "Dance With My Father Review". Entertainment Weekly: 72. Archived from the original on April 9, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  5. ^ a b Nichols, Natalie (2003-06-22). "Romance with special poignancy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
  6. ^ Waliszewski, Bob. "Luther Vandross – Dance With My Father – Album Review". Plugged In (publication). Archived from the original on 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  7. ^ Walters, Barry (2003-06-03). "Dance With My Father". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
  8. ^ Checkoway, Laura (August 21, 2003). "LUTHER VANDROSS – DANCE WITH MY FATHER (J)". Vibe. Archived from the original on November 30, 2004. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  9. ^ Mitchell, Gail (June 14, 2003). "Music News: Dance With My Father". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  10. ^ "Vandross, 50 Cent Honored With Two AMAs". Billboard. November 17, 2003. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  11. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Acts Lead Grammy Nominees". Billboard. December 4, 2003. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  12. ^ Susman, Gary (January 8, 2004). "Beyonce, Soul Food lead NAACP Noms". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  13. ^ "OutKast Snags Two Soul Train Awards". Billboard. March 21, 2004. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Martens, Todd (June 18, 2003). "Ailing Vandross Dances Atop Album Chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Luther Vandross Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  16. ^ Martens, Todd (October 27, 2003). "Hot Product". Billboard. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "American album certifications – Luther Vandross – Dance with My Father". Recording Industry Association of America.
  18. ^ "Dance with My Father – Luther Vandross | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  19. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 293.
  20. ^ "ARIA Urban Chart – Week Commencing 15th September 2003" (PDF). The ARIA Report (708): 14. September 15, 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 22, 2008. Retrieved April 19, 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "Albums : Top 100". Jam!. July 10, 2003. Archived from the original on December 10, 2004. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  22. ^ "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. June 26, 2003. Archived from the original on July 3, 2003. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  23. ^ "Luther Vandross | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  24. ^ "Luther Vandross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  25. ^ "Billboard 200: Year End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  26. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  27. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  28. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2004". Billboard. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  29. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Luther Vandross – Dance with My Father". Music Canada. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  30. ^ "British album certifications – Luther Vandross – Dance with My Father". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
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