Studio album · No. 5

Any Love Songwriting Credits by Luther Vandross

1988 Epic 9 tracks 47:37

Produced by Luther Vandross, Marcus Miller  ·  Engineered by Ray Bardani, Denise Brown, Brendan Fenton, Mary Frengen, Micah Goldberg, Peter Grammatico, Michael White, Debi Cornish, Greg Calbi

Epic Contemporary R&BSoulFunk
Artist
89%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 8 of 9 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 8 / 9 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether Luther Vandross carries a lyricist or composer credit.

89%
8 trackswritten by Luther Vandross 1 trackoutside writers
Luther Vandross's roles on this album

Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist89%
Composer89%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

9
Tracks
8
Lyricists
2
Producers
1
No.1 Single
1988
Released
Data Insight

Vandross has a writing credit on eight of the nine tracks, but he wrote only one of them by himself: "The Second Time Around", a song he had already written and cut in 1976 for the debut album by his group Luther. Every other Vandross song here is a co-write, and the partner changes from track to track. Nat Adderley Jr. on "I Wonder", Hubert Eaves III on "She Won't Talk to Me", David Gamson on "Come Back" and, with Porter Carroll Jr., on "I Know You Want To", and Marcus Miller on three including the title track and "For You to Love". The one song he had no hand in writing is "Love Won't Let Me Wait", a 1975 Major Harris hit written by Bobby Eli and Vinnie Barrett. The seven-minute version that opens side two is a cover, so the copyright belongs to them, not to Vandross.

Vandross cut his sixth album with Marcus Miller between December 1987 and June 1988, splitting the sessions between A&M Studios in Hollywood and Right Track Recording in New York. The two produced all nine tracks, with Miller playing most of the bass and keyboard synthesizers and Nat Adderley Jr., Hubert Eaves III and David Gamson arranging the songs they co-wrote. It ends with a big-band remake of "The Second Time Around", which Vandross had already written and recorded in 1976 with his group Luther.

Track Listing & Credits 9 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
I Wonder
Luther VandrossNat Adderley Jr. Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr.Nathaniel Adderley Jr. Luther VandrossMarcus Miller Luther Vandross (Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals)Nat Adderley Jr. (Keyboards, Synthesizers, Arrangements)Marcus Miller (Additional Synthesizers)Jason Miles (Synthesizer Programming)Paul Jackson Jr. (Guitar)Buddy Williams (Drum Overdubs)Paulinho da Costa (Percussion)Lisa Fischer (Backing Vocals)James Ingram (Backing Vocals)David Lasley (Backing Vocals)Michael Lovesmith (Backing Vocals)Kevin Owens (Backing Vocals)Mark Stevens (Backing Vocals)Darryl Tookes (Backing Vocals)
2
She Won't Talk to Me #3
Luther VandrossHubert Eaves III Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr.Hubert Barclay Eaves III Luther VandrossMarcus Miller Luther Vandross (Lead Vocals)Marcus Miller (Keyboard Synthesizers, Bass, Arrangements)Hubert Eaves III (Arrangements)Jason Miles (Synthesizer Programming)Paul Jackson Jr. (Guitar)Buddy Williams (Drum Overdubs)Paulinho da Costa (Percussion)Lisa Fischer (Backing Vocals)Tawatha Agee (Backing Vocals)Cissy Houston (Backing Vocals)Paulette McWilliams (Backing Vocals)Fonzi Thornton (Backing Vocals)Brenda White King (Backing Vocals)Michael Lovesmith (Backing Vocals)Kevin Owens (Backing Vocals)Mark Stevens (Backing Vocals)
3
I Know You Want To
Luther VandrossDavid GamsonPorter Carroll Jr. Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr.David H. GamsonPorter Carroll Jr. Luther VandrossMarcus Miller Luther Vandross (Lead Vocals)David Gamson (Keyboard Synthesizers, Arrangements)Marcus Miller (Additional Synthesizers, Arrangements)Jason Miles (Synthesizer Programming)Paul Jackson Jr. (Guitar)Buddy Williams (Drum Overdubs)Paulinho da Costa (Percussion)Lisa Fischer (Backing Vocals)Tawatha Agee (Backing Vocals)Cissy Houston (Backing Vocals)Paulette McWilliams (Backing Vocals)Brenda White King (Backing Vocals)
4
Come Back
Luther VandrossDavid Gamson Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr.David H. Gamson Luther VandrossMarcus Miller Luther Vandross (Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals)Marcus Miller (Keyboard Synthesizers, Bass, Arrangements)David Gamson (Keyboard Synthesizers, Arrangements)Jason Miles (Synthesizer Programming)Paul Jackson Jr. (Guitar)Buddy Williams (Drum Overdubs)Paulinho da Costa (Percussion)Lisa Fischer (Backing Vocals)Tawatha Agee (Backing Vocals)Cissy Houston (Backing Vocals)Paulette McWilliams (Backing Vocals)Fonzi Thornton (Backing Vocals)Brenda White King (Backing Vocals)Kevin Owens (Backing Vocals)Michelle Cobbs (Backing Vocals)
5
Any Love #1
Luther VandrossMarcus Miller Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr.William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. Luther VandrossMarcus Miller Luther Vandross (Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals)Marcus Miller (Keyboard Synthesizers, Bass, Arrangements)Jason Miles (Synthesizer Programming)Paul Jackson Jr. (Guitar)Buddy Williams (Drum Overdubs)
6
Love Won't Let Me Wait
Bobby EliVinnie Barrett Eli TatarskyGwendolyn Hines Woolfolk Luther VandrossMarcus Miller Luther Vandross (Lead Vocals)Nat Adderley Jr. (Keyboards, Synthesizers, Rhythm and Synthesizer Arrangements, String Arrangements, Drum Programming)Marcus Miller (Bass, Drum Programming)Jason Miles (Synthesizer Programming)Paul Jackson Jr. (Guitar)Doc Powell (Guitar)Buddy Williams (Drum Overdubs)Paulinho da Costa (Percussion)Amy Knoles (Timpani)Kirk Whalum (Soprano Saxophone)Lisa Fischer (Backing Vocals)Cissy Houston (Backing Vocals)Paulette McWilliams (Backing Vocals)Brenda White King (Backing Vocals)
7
Are You Gonna Love Me
Luther VandrossMarcus Miller Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr.William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. Luther VandrossMarcus Miller Luther Vandross (Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals)Marcus Miller (Keyboard Synthesizers, Bass, Arrangements)Jason Miles (Synthesizer Programming)Paul Jackson Jr. (Guitar)Buddy Williams (Drum Overdubs)Paulinho da Costa (Percussion)Lisa Fischer (Backing Vocals)Tawatha Agee (Backing Vocals)Cissy Houston (Backing Vocals)Paulette McWilliams (Backing Vocals)Fonzi Thornton (Backing Vocals)Brenda White King (Backing Vocals)Kevin Owens (Backing Vocals)
8
For You to Love #3
Luther VandrossMarcus Miller Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr.William Henry Marcus Miller Jr. Luther VandrossMarcus Miller Luther Vandross (Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Arrangements)Marcus Miller (Keyboard Synthesizers, Bass, Arrangements)Nat Adderley Jr. (String Arrangements)Jason Miles (Synthesizer Programming)Paul Jackson Jr. (Guitar)Buddy Williams (Drum Overdubs)Paulinho da Costa (Percussion)
9
The Second Time Around
Luther Vandross Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. Luther VandrossMarcus Miller Luther Vandross (Lead Vocals)Nat Adderley Jr. (Keyboard Synthesizers)Marcus Miller (Bass)Jason Miles (Synthesizer Programming)Paul Jackson Jr. (Guitar)Buddy Williams (Drum Overdubs)George Young (Soprano Saxophone Solo)Paul Riser (Horn, Rhythm and String Arrangements)Alfred Brown (String Contractor)Jerome Ashby (Horns)Peter Gordon (Horns)Harold Jones (Horns)Dave Tofani (Horns)Randy Brecker (Horns)Jon Faddis (Horns)John Miller (Horns)Alan Rubin (Horns)Homer Mensch (Horns)Anthony Hinton (Backing Vocals)Theresa V. Reed (Backing Vocals)Diane Sumler (Backing Vocals)Christine Wiltshire (Backing Vocals)Lisa Fischer (Additional Backing Vocals)Paulette McWilliams (Additional Backing Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 51 contributors

More from Luther Vandross

Frequently Asked Questions Any Love

Did Luther Vandross write everything on Any Love?
No. He is credited on eight of the nine songs. "Love Won't Let Me Wait" is a cover of Major Harris's 1975 single and was written by Bobby Eli and Vinnie Barrett.
Who produced Any Love?
Vandross and Marcus Miller produced all nine tracks together, as the liner notes list them. Vandross also did the vocal arrangements, and Ray Bardani engineered and mixed the record.
Why does "The Second Time Around" sound older than the rest of the album?
Because it is older. Vandross wrote it and recorded it as "The 2nd Time Around" on the 1976 album by his group Luther, then re-cut it here with a horn and string arrangement by Paul Riser.
How did the album chart?
It reached number 9 on the Billboard 200, topped the US R&B albums chart, and peaked at number 3 in the UK. All three singles made the R&B top three, and the title track went to number 1.
Did Any Love win any Grammy Awards?
It was nominated but did not win. The album was up for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male in 1989 and the title track for Best R&B Song. "She Won't Talk to Me" drew a third nomination the following year.

Sources