I Know

I Know Artist: Luther Vandross
Label: Virgin Records Us
Category: Music


Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Media: Audio Cassette


UPC: 724384608941
EAN: 0724384608941
ASIN: B000009OGS


Release Date: 1998-08-11

I Know


Related Categories:

General General
Categories | R&B | Styles | Music
General General
Categories | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
Quiet Storm Quiet Storm
Categories | R&B | Styles | Music
General General
Categories | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Tracks:

  1. Keeping My Faith in You
  2. Isn't There Someone
  3. Religion
  4. Get It Right
  5. I Know - Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder
  6. I'm Only Human - Hilary James, Luther Vandross, Cassandra Wilson
  7. Nights in Harlem
  8. Dream Lover
  9. When I Need You
  10. Are You Using Me?
  11. Are You Mad at Me?
  12. Now That I Have You
  13. Nights in Harlem [A Darkchild Extended Remix]

Similar Items:

  1. Your Secret Love
  2. Never Let Me Go
  3. Songs
  4. Busy Body
  5. Luther Vandross

Amazon.com

Friendship, love, nostalgia, and truth are the fertile lyrical ingredients that color the melodic canvas of Vandross's 13th album. A master of R&B vocal phrasing, jazzy composition, and pop string arrangements, Vandross remains on point with standout tunes such as "Keeping My Faith in You," "Are You Using Me?" and "Religion." However, the veteran singer also explores fresh creative paths on which to deliver his rich, trademark vocals. He raises the stakes by going uncharacteristically up-tempo with the inventive "Nights in Harlem," where he recalls festive sentimental memories. The equally spirited "Get It Right" pushes the artist's established aesthetic even further by tapping into subtle but contemporary hip-hop beats and rhymes by budding female rapper Precise. <I>--J.R. Reynolds</I>

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A Gem!.......2005-07-21

"When I Need You" and "Now That I Have You" are more than worth the price of the CD. Luther's rendition of the former reminds me of just how special he was. He truly had the gift to take a song and make it his own. The latter song reminds me that sometimes, as a songwriter, the simple thing often is the most special thing.

You can have every album from the Epic/Sony era and every one from the J-Records register. If you don't have 'I Know', you're missing out on a gem and your collection is truly incomplete.

5 out of 5 stars 3 Star CD with a 5 Star Song On It!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2005-07-15

If you have never heard Luther work his magic on "When I Need You", (yes, IT'S A REMAKE) then buy this CD. It's worth the price of the CD!!!!!! You'll enjoy "Get It Right", "I Know", "Isn't There Someone" and "Are You Mad At Me?".

But, clearly the 5 star song of this CD is "When I Need You"!!@!!!!!??!>@@@!!@##!!!!!!!!

5 out of 5 stars Virgin Records Debut.......2005-06-11

I remember this album when I was in the 6th grade. I love this album. Luther ups the ante with broader strokes of jazz,funk,and dance-sounds that have always been a part of his music. The balladry is still confidently smoorh,and yet intricate and involved. This album is a revitalized Luther. This album boasts an influx of new blood. This album has been certified Gold. Remember,this was 1998.

5 out of 5 stars A Masterpeice!!.......2005-04-07

It's hard to believe that 7 years from the release of this CD that me and my wife still play this CD more than any other CD. It sounds just as new and refreshing since the very first time that we played it. This is the one CD that we take where ever we go when we travel.


This is Luther's most complete album since "The Night I Fell In Love" or "Give Me The Reason." This album's only downfall is that it was recorded on Virgin Records, which obvioiusly had no idea how to market this disc. This CD does not contain that one killer single to get alot of radio air-play, but that's also the beauty of this disc, becasue that killer song would be the one song that you would skip over becasue you're tired of hearing it!!


The CD kicks off with the socially conscious always controversal subject of religion with "Keeping My Faith In You."
It is simply eloquent. Luther is in top form when he sings this song and it took me a few spins to figure out why he would kick-off a CD with this song? I know now that it is a powerful track that Luther feels quite comfortable singing about and it shows on this song.

Track 2- "Isn't There Someone" is a song penned by Luther and Richard Marx (Dance With My Father). This song is for everybody!!! It's a song that everyone can relate to. You can hear the emptiness in his heart when he sings this song. This is one of several highlights on this disc.

3- "Religion": Refer to my comments on track 1 except this track deals with being accepted by your peers and leaving the judging to which ever higher being you believe in. Great !!!!

4- "Get It Right": Simply "down right funky"!! Precise provides the rap on this track while producers Terrence "Tramp Baby" Abney and Luther provide one of Luther's most listenable uptempo cuts since "Stop To Love." Was urban adult radio ever issued a non-rap version of this cut?

5- "I Know"- Luther and Stevie Wonder on harmonica. It's the only track that I recall Luther promoting on the disc. Beautiful song!!

6- "I'm Only Human" - AWWWWESOMEEE!! Featuring Bob James and Cassandra Wilson. The music arrangements are unique and quite refreshing while the vocalist compliment each other nicely.

7- "Nights In Harlem" - This jam is just full of that old school funk that anyone who grew up in the '70's or '80's can relate to. It's just a real "good time groove"!!

8- "Dream Lover" - This is my favorite song on the disc. This is what Luther does best. He has a way of taking subjects that everyone can relate to but not everyone talks about. The words and music are on point!! Gotta give an extra shout-out to the background vocalist becasue they actually complete the song and make it whole.

9- "When I Need You" - Unlike others, I find this remake very refreshing. I loved the orignal version (Leo Sayer) back in the '70's and I can't understand why some would call this song "corny." Granted, it's not as mesmerizing as his other ballads, but to me it stands just as tall as "Other Side Of The World." And if I didn't know any better, I would have thought that Luther's version is the original.

10- "Are You Using Me" - This is my least favorite track on the disc but I love it!! It's a great dance song and sounds good when I'm BBQ'ing!!!!

11- "Are You Mad At Me" - Again. Luther's vocals simply shine on the melodic track. It's an easy song to like.

12- "Now That I Have You" - It starts of kinda corny, but after a few listens, you will fall in love with this song. It's a beautiful love song that would compliment "any who has a heart" and enjoys being in love.

13- "Nights in Harlam (Remix)" - Ohh This is just HOTT!!!

This CD is for anyone who enjoys some really great music!!!

2 out of 5 stars Luther's most uneven recording.......2004-08-03

I would actually give this album two-and-a-half stars. Luther's debut outing for Virgin Records may pale in comparison to the majority of his Epic/Sony catalogue, but it has enough quality material to make it a decent buy for his many fans. Luther was obviously trying hard to broaden his image by tackling some different sounds than that of which he is usually associated with. He may have tried a little too hard, judging that disc comes off feeling quite uneven.

The stern "Religion" attempts to have a serious gospel feel, but it instead winds up sounding dreary and plodding. The light hip hop of "Nights In Harlem" (presented in two versions, one with Precise and a remix with Guru) is too contrived to really hit the mark, and "Are You Using Me?" is even less successful. Also, the extended take on Leo Sayer's whiny "When I Need You," may be Luther's weakest cover selection ever. Luther also covers "Get It Right," one of his least-successful compositions that he wrote and produced for Aretha Franklin back in 1983, and it doesn't work any better now than it did then. It is worth mentioning that all of the above mentioned tracks are expertly produced, so they sound fine while they're playing. The only problem is that they are surprisingly anonymous for material written and performed by Luther, and feature little of his usual inventiveness or personality.

However, when I KNOW does work, it can stand with some of his best. The gospel-tinged opener "Keeping My Faith," the jazzy title track, and quiet storm ballad "Isn't There Someone" are all terrific tracks where the Luther we know and love gets a chance to shine. Also of note is subtle "I'm Only Human" (featuring Cassandra Wilson and Hillary James), which is one of Luther's most strikingly arranged recordings. This is the album that broke Luther's incredible success streak, becoming his first studio album not to reach Platinum sales and peaking at a disappointing #26 on the Hot 200. Although a average album when taken as a whole, the considerable amount of sub-par material easily makes I KNOW Luther's weakest studio effort to date.

Music:

  1. Euphrates River ~ Main Ingredient
  2. Who I Am ~ Beverley Knight
  3. Oh No Not My Baby: The Best of Maxine Brown ~ Maxine Brown
  4. playing the hits from the motor city ~ spirit traveller
  5. Soul Patrol: Southern Soul Classics, Vol. 4 ~ Various Artists
  6. Your Pops Don't Like Me ~ Nick Cannon
  7. This Ain't a Game ~ Ray J
  8. Poet II ~ Bobby Womack
  9. Chuck Willis Wails ~ Chuck Willis
  10. Burn Baby Burn ~ The Trammps

Music

Music

Music CD

Asi Nacio La Salsa ~ Various Artists

Sigamos Siendo Amigos ~ Boris

Aqua ~ Edgar Froese

In the Mood With: Best of Bebop Era 1946 ~ Various Artists

Night in Roppong: Live in Japan ~ Etta Jones, Houston Person

The Best of Odetta: Ballads & Blues ~ Odetta

Venga y le Cuento ~ Luis Landriscina

Sem Lenço, Sem Documento ~ Caetano Veloso

Suenos E Ilusiones ~ Grieta

Shake Shake ~ Jonny Z