At the end of September, Luther Vandross will be touring South Africa and this, his 14th solo album, has been timeously released to coincide with these shows. Half our population is ecstatic and the other half is unmoved. If you are unsure which camp you fall into, just ask yourself to name one of Luther's biggest hits.

He's had a few in his 17-year career: 'Power Of Love', 'Don't Wanna Be A Fool' and 'Endless Love', his duet with Mariah Carey, are the more famous ones. Still, through sheer determination, coupled with a deep, silky voice, Luther Vandross has worked his way to the top of the soul/r&b heap and this album signals his intentions to stay there.

'I Know', his first album on the Virgin label after leaving Epic and the first over which he has exerted complete creative control, sounds good enough to notch up yet another platinum disc to add to Luther's large collection. It features a number of interesting collaborations with some contemporary artists and promises to yield a few more hit singles.

The songs cover the usual soul areas including love, faith and childhoods spent in Harlem. 'Keeping My Faith In You' sets the soulful tone here followed by the gentle touch of 'Isn't There Someone'. The slightly bland title track features an harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder and 'I'm Only Human' finds soul diva Cassandra Wilson adding backing vocals to Bob James unmistakable guitar sound on one of the highlights of this album.

New rappers Precise help out on "Get It Right', a tune written for Aretha Franklin in 1983 by Luther and Marcus Miller. Precise pop up again on "Nights In Harlem' an ode to Luther's happy childhood spent dreaming of the day when he would strut the legendary Apollo Theatre stage (wish granted!). An extended remix of this song, featuring Guru, crops up again at the end of the album. "When I Need You', the sweet song made famous by Leo Sayer, also gets the Vandross treatment in a lengthy, jazzy version.

'I Know' is a classy and seamless piece of work, which can only attract more new fans to this big soulman's music and concerts. How about you?

Stephen "Sugar" Segerman

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