Tribute to Luther Vandross to set chart history

[Ronny83]

All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross Sees Oh 'So Amazing' Debut!

           

            Breaks Record as the Highest Debuting Tribute Album

                            in SoundScan History

 

    Debuts at #4 on Top 200, #1 Current R&B Album, #2 Overall R&B Album,

                          #10 Internet Album Charts

 

          Album Sales Soar After Usher, Patti Performance on Oprah

 

    NEW YORK, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- With 103,629 units scanned, the

J Records' release of So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross bows

in at #4 on this week's Top 200 Albums chart, making it the highest debut and

the highest number of units sold in its first week for a tribute album in

Nielson SoundScan history.

    Previously the highest debut was from The Eagles' Common Thread, which was

released in October 2003 and featured a variety of country artists including

Travis Tritt, Clint Black, Alan Jackson and other.  The title debuted at #10

with 64,000 units sold in its first week.

    The high chart position is due in part to the remarkable marketing and TV

campaign along with the star-studded line-up of performers on this tribute

album.  On the day of the album release, millions watched Oprah as she

declared Luther Vandross "a musical great" with soul-stirring performances by

Usher and Patti LaBelle on the "Queen of Daytime"'s 20th season premiere week.

Other TV outlets that built anticipation for the release were the week-long

tribute to Vandross on The Insider and Entertainment Tonight as well as a

performance by LaBelle on CBS's Early Show on 9/22.  The results of this

exposure was a surge in sales, most notably on Amazon where immediately after

Oprah aired, So Amazing shot up on their daily charts from #32 to #7.

    In addition to the TV campaign, throngs of critics weighed in on the

release.  Atlanta Journal Constitution said "WOW," while Milwaukee Journal

Sentinel stated So Amazing has a "dream team of soul stars ... " Billboard

proclaimed the performances on the album "would make Vandross wave his hands

in the air with pride."

    This landmark debut would not have been possible if it wasn't for the bevy

of superstars that contributed their vocal rendition of the songs that Luther

Vandross made famous.  Artists from Alicia Keys to Sir Elton John jumped at

the opportunity to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime tribute.  One of

Vandross' closest friends, Aretha Franklin, states: "It is an honor to sing 'A

House Is Not A Home' for the Luther tribute album -- I don't think anyone will

ever sing it again without thinking of Luther Vandross. The world and Luther

had a love affair going on; he will be remembered for generations to come."

Sir Elton John, who recorded "Anyone Who Had A Heart" to create the album's

duet with Luther's original vocals, says Vandross "will always be one of the

greatest true soul artists.  To be able to do this magnificent song -- one of

the all time classics -- with Luther was very bittersweet."

    Artists and songs featured on So Amazing include: Mary J. Blige ("Never

Too Much"), Aretha Franklin ("A House Is Not A Home"), Usher ("Superstar"),

Beyonce & Stevie Wonder ("So Amazing"), Alicia Keys ("If This World Was Mine"

-- duet with Jermaine Paul), Donna Summer ("Power of Love"), Celine Dion

("Dance With My Father"), Patti LaBelle ("Here and Now"), Jamie Foxx

("Creepin"), Elton John ("Anyone Who Had A Heart" -- duet with Luther's

original vocals), Fantasia ("Til My Baby Comes Home"), John Legend ("Love

Won't Let Me Wait"), Babyface ("If Only For One Night"), Angie Stone ("Since I

Lost my baby") and Wyclef Jean ("Always and Forever").

    Luther Vandross was undeniably one of the most significant balladeers of

our time. Since the 1981 platinum-selling release of Never Too Much, Luther's

recording career spanned over two decades and resulted in a lifetime of chart-

topping hits.  Through the 1980's, he recorded a string of platinum albums,

including Forever, For Always, For Love, Busy Body and The Night I Fell In

Love. He scored his first Grammy Award in 1989 with "Here And Now." His last

studio album, 2003's Dance With My Father, received 4 Grammy Awards (including

Song of the Year for the title song "Dance With My Father") and has generated

worldwide sales exceeding 3 million copies.  Collectively, Luther's body of

work has sold in excess of 30 million records worldwide, winning eight Grammy

Awards, numerous Soul Train, BET, NAACP Image Awards and American Music

Awards.  Vandross died on July 1, 2005 from complications from the stroke he

suffered in 2003.  He was 54.

 

 

 

SOURCE J Records

[isurrender]

thanks !

 

 

I didn"t see it... but is there a billboard review of this album?

[Bellamy]

If Celine sing on Oprah too, it would sell even more.

[Ronny83]

Press release of the compilation for Australia:

 

Sydney, AU (SONY BMG Music Entertainment) - A host of the world's biggest artists will appear on an upcoming album honouring the work of silken voiced legend Luther Vandross. Special guests appearing on 'So Amazing: An All Star Tribute To Luther Vandross' include Usher, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, John Legend, Stevie Wonder and Elton John. R&B star Luther Vandross was an influence and inspiration to many of today's urban artists. Now, a collection of some of Luther's biggest hits is to be released on October 23, featuring a number of very special guest performances.

'So Amazing: An All Star Tribute To Luther Vandross' includes Usher performing 'Superstar', Beyonce singing 'So Amazing', John Legend taking on 'Love Won't Let Me Wait', Alicia Keys joining with Jermaine Paul for a duet on 'If This World Were Mine', Celine Dion's powerful rendition of 'Dance With My Father' and Elton John's duet with Luther on 'Anyone Who Had A Heart.

"His legacy will live on forever and I'm happy that I could contribute to that," Usher said.

'So Amazing: An All Star Tribute To Luther Vandross' is in stores October 23