CoronaVinyl Day 144 ('80s Soul): Busy Body by Luther Vandross

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Today's CoronaVinyl category is '80s soul, and I'm going with Luther Vandross's third studio album, 1983's Busy Body. 

Vandross was one of the biggest names in both '80s and '90s soul.  Between 1981 and 2003, he released 13 studio albums.  All but one went platinum in the U.S.  Seven of them went Top 10 on the Billboard album chart, including one #1.  On the Billboard R&B album chart, all 13 albums reached the Top 10, and eight hit #1.  He had 12 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including five Top 10 songs.  On the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop singles chart, he had 27 Top 10 singles, including 7 #1s.  Rolling Stone ranked Vandross #54 on its 2008 list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.

Admittedly, I've never listened to Busy Body before, but I was expecting it to feature more slower soulful ballads, as that's kind of what I associate with Vandross, so I was pleasantly surprised when the album turned out to be a nice mix of soul, R&B, pop, and funk.  It produced Vandross's second Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and his highest-charting single to that point, "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye," a duet with Dionne Warwick that reached #27.  There's also a cover of The Carpenters' "Superstar," which is one of my favorite guilty pleasure songs.

Interesting tidbit that I didn't know before today:  Vandross provided backing vocals on David Bowie's 1975 album Young Americans and co-wrote the song "Fascination" for the album.  He also provided ad libs and backing vocals on Stevie Wonder's 1985 hit "Part-Time Lover."

Favorite song from Side 1:  "I'll Let You Slide"

This is a funky song about a guy who invites his lady to go out dancing.  She says no.  He goes anyway.  He comes home, and surprise surprise, she's banging another dude.  But for some reason he'll let it slide if she promises to come back to him.  Horrible game plan, but good song.

Favorite song from Side 2:  "For the Sweetness of Your Love"
I first read this as "For the Love of Sweetness," so I thought it was an ode to Walter Payton.  Even though it's not, I dig it anyway, as it's another one of the funkier songs on the album.