THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

974-Luther Vandross-Never Too Much.

1981-It first charted in the UK in 1983, when reaching Number 44. It was then re-mixed, and re-released in 1989, and peaked at Number 13.

Best Bit-At 0.01.’A thousand kisses from you’ is just not realistic, as you will surely end up with chapped lips.

Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr. was born on April 20th, 1951, in New York City, United States, he suffered from diabetes and hypertension, and after suffering a severe stroke in April 2003, he died on July 1st, 2003, of a heart attack at the age of 54. Luther began performing at amateur nights at the ‘Apollo’ theatre in Harlem in 1969. He became a member of the singing group ‘Listen My Brother’ while performing at the ‘Apollo,’ which led to him appearing on the pilot episode, and other episodes of ‘Sesame Street,’ during 1969-1979.

In the early 1970’s Luther made his living as a backing vocalist, and occasional songwriter, he also wrote, and sang commercial jingles for companies, including, ‘Kentucky Fried Chicken,’ and ‘Burger King.’ The list of artists Luther sang backing for is far too substantial to write about here, but two which appear in this countdown are Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway, (see also best songs 541) and David Bowie, on his ‘Young Americans Album (see also best songs 209.) In 1975 while singing backing vocals for David Bowie, (1947-2016) Bowie re-wrote Luther’s song ‘Funky Music (Is a Part of Me,’) which became the Bowie song ‘Fascination.’ Luther made his breakthrough as a featured singer as part of the put together studio band ‘Change,’ singing the lead on two of their UK top 40 hits in 1980,’The Glow of Love, (UK Number 14) and ‘Searching,’ (UK Number 11) Luther said that ‘The Glow of Love’ was the most beautiful song I’ve ever sung in my life.’

The discography of Luther Vandross includes 13 studio Albums released between 1981-2003, and 59 singles that were issued between 1981-2006. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 top 40 singles chart, Luther achieved 11 top 40 hits, with his 1994 duet with Mariah Carey on ‘Endless Love,’ charting the highest at Number 2, while in the UK, he has had 18 top 40 hits, with his 1992 collaboration with Janet Jackson, ‘BBD,’ and Ralph Tresvant, on ‘The Best Things in Life Are Free,’ charting the highest at Number 2. Luther Vandross who has sold in excess of 40 million records worldwide is considered one of the best male vocalists of all time, with Mariah Carey (see also best songs 822) in 2008 saying in several interviews, that standing next to Luther Vandross while recording their duet ‘Endless Love’ was intimidating.

‘Never Too Much’ was the debut solo single from Luther Vandross, and was taken from his debut studio Album of the same name from August 1981. Luther wrote, and also produced the song, as well as singing lead and backing vocals, also providing backing vocals on the track was Cissy Houston (see also best songs 228.) When ‘Never Too Much was first released it made Number 33 in America on Billboard, and failed to chart in the UK, but in 1989 the song was released again, this time with two different remixes, one by ‘Justin Strauss,’ and one by ‘Ben Liebrand.’ In the UK the song this time reached Number 13, although it failed to chart in America.

‘Never Too Much’ is a song about being in love, and being totally infatuated with another person. The song never mentions genders, and this is probably because Luther Vandross was gay, but he never came out. In 2012 Luther’s friend, who was also his childhood idol, the American R&B singer Patti LaBelle confirmed that he was gay. LaBelle said ‘Luther thought that coming out as gay would harm his career, given that his target audience were women seeking some mode of emotional engagement from his words.’ LaBelle also said that Luther had a lot of lady fans, and ‘He just didn’t want to upset the world.’

‘I can’t fool myself, I don’t want nobody else to ever love me. You are my shining star, my guiding light, my love fantasy. There’s not a minute, hour, day or night, that I don’t love you.’