Give Me the Reason (Luther Vandross album)

1986 studio album by Luther Vandross

Give Me the Reason

Studio album by Luther Vandross

Released

September 26, 1986

Recorded

June 1985–June 1986

Studio

AIR (Salem, Montserrat)
Minot Sound (White Plains, New York)
Westlake Studios (West Hollywood, California)

Genre

Length

46:18

Label

Epic

Producer

Luther Vandross
Marcus Miller

Luther Vandross chronology

The Night I Fell in Love
(1985)

Give Me the Reason
(1986)

Any Love
(1988)

Singles from Give Me the Reason

"Stop to Love"
Released: August 1986
"Give Me the Reason"
Released: November 1986
"I Really Didn't Mean It"
Released: April 1987
"There's Nothing Better Than Love"
Released: June 1987
"So Amazing"
Released: September 1987

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Chicago Tribune
Robert Christgau	B
Los Angeles Times	(average)
Rolling Stone	(mixed)
The Rolling Stone Album Guide

"Stop to Love"

Luther Vandross' "Stop to Love" from Give Me the Reason

Problems playing this file? See media help.

Give Me the Reason is the fifth studio album by American R&B/soul singer-songwriter Luther Vandross, released on September 26, 1986, by Epic Records. The album earned Vandross an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist and a nomination for "Favorite Soul/R&B Album" in 1988, while the title track was nominated for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male at the 29th Grammy Awards.

The album also includes Vandross' first Billboard top-20 pop hit, "Stop to Love." It also marked a svelte, thinner Vandross due to a weight loss earlier in the year. The album went on to sell over 2 million copies in the United States and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In addition to the title track and "Stop to Love," the album features three other hit singles: "So Amazing", "There's Nothing Better Than Love" (duet with Gregory Hines), and "I Really Didn't Mean It."

Track listing

Side A
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Stop to Love"	Luther Vandross, Nat Adderley, Jr.	5:19
2.	"See Me"	Vandross, Marcus Miller	5:29
3.	"I Gave It Up (When I Fell in Love)"	Vandross, Miller	4:45
4.	"So Amazing"	Vandross	3:41
5.	"Give Me the Reason" (from the soundtrack Ruthless People)	Vandross, Adderley	4:45

Side B
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
6.	"There's Nothing Better Than Love" (Duet with Gregory Hines)	Vandross, Skip Anderson	4:42
7.	"I Really Didn't Mean It"	Vandross, Miller	5:43
8.	"Because It's Really Love"	Vandross	6:13
9.	"Anyone Who Had a Heart"	Burt Bacharach, Hal David	5:45

Personnel

Luther Vandross – lead and backing vocals, vocal arrangements
Nat Adderley, Jr. – keyboards, synthesizers, string arrangements, rhythm and synthesizer arrangements (1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9), horn and string arrangements (4)
Marcus Miller – synthesizers, bass, rhythm and synthesizer arrangements (2, 3, 7), backing vocals
Jason Miles – synthesizer programming
Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar (1-6, 8, 9)
Doc Powell – guitar (1-6, 8, 9)
Ira Siegel – guitar (7)
Yogi Horton – drums
Paulinho da Costa – congas, percussion
Kirk Whalum – saxophone solo (3, 9)
Paul Riser – horn and string arrangements (4)
John "Skip Anderson – rhythm arrangements (6)
David Lasley – backing vocals, vocal contractor
Kevin Owens – backing vocals
Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals, vocal contractor
Ava Cherry – alto vocals
Charlotte Crossley – alto vocals
Michelle Cobbs – alto vocals
Paulette McWilliams – alto vocals, vocal contractor
Alfa Anderson – soprano vocals
Lisa Fischer – soprano vocals
Cissy Houston – soprano vocals
Cheryl Lynn – soprano vocals
Myrna Smith-Schilling – soprano vocals

Production

Marcus Miller – producer
Luther Vandross – producer
Larkin Arnold – executive producer
Ray Bardani – engineer, mixing
Greg Calbi – mastering at Sterling Sound (New York, NY).
Marsha Burns – production coordinator
George Corsillo – art direction, design
Matthew Rolston – photography

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1987–88)	Peak position
UK Albums (OCC)	3
US Billboard 200	14
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	1

Year-end charts

Chart (1987)	Peak position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	2

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)	2× Platinum	600,000
United States (RIAA)	2× Platinum	2,000,000
Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

Give Me the Reason at AllMusic
Kot, Greg (October 3, 1993). "The Best Of Vandross On Record". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
Grein, Paul (October 12, 1986). "Vandross: 'Tis the 'reason'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
Christgau, Robert. "CG: Luther Vandross". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
Aletti, Vince (March 12, 1987). "Give Me The Reason". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
Aletti, Vince (March 12, 1987). "Give Me The Reason". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
"Luther Vandross | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
"Luther Vandross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
"Luther Vandross Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
"R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1987". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
"British album certifications – Luther Vandross – Give Me the Reason". British Phonographic Industry.
"American album certifications – Luther Vandross – Give Me the Reason". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

Review from Rolling Stone

v t e Luther Vandross
Discography Tours
Studio albums	Never Too Much Forever, for Always, for Love Busy Body The Night I Fell in Love Give Me the Reason Any Love Power of Love Never Let Me Go Songs This Is Christmas Your Secret Love I Know Luther Vandross Dance with My Father
Compilation albums	The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love One Night with You: The Best of Love, Volume 2 Love Is on the Way Always & Forever: The Classics Greatest Hits Super Hits Smooth Love The Ultimate Luther Vandross Stop to Love The Very Best of Love The Essential Luther Vandross Artist Collection: Luther Vandross Love, Luther Lovesongs
Live albums	Live Radio City Music Hall 2003
Singles	"Never Too Much" "Don't You Know That?" "If This World Were Mine" "Bad Boy"/"Having a Party" "Since I Lost My Baby" "How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye" "I'll Let You Slide" "Superstar"/"Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" (Medley) "Til My Baby Comes Home" "It's Over Now" "Wait for Love" "Give Me the Reason" "Stop to Love" "There's Nothing Better Than Love" "I Really Didn't Mean It" "So Amazing" "Any Love" "She Won't Talk to Me" "For You to Love" "Here and Now" "Treat You Right" "Power of Love/Love Power" "Don't Want to Be a Fool" "The Rush" "Sometimes It's Only Love" "The Best Things in Life Are Free" "Little Miracles (Happen Every Day)" "Heaven Knows" "Never Let Me Go" "Endless Love" "Always and Forever" "Love the One You're With" / "Going in Circles" "Every Year, Every Christmas" "Your Secret Love" "I Can Make It Better" "Nights in Harlem" "I Know" "Take You Out" "Can Heaven Wait" "I'd Rather" "Dance with My Father" "Think About You" "Buy Me a Rose" "The Closer I Get to You" "One Shining Moment" "Shine"
Other songs	"A House Is Not a Home" "Any Day Now"
Tribute albums	Forever, for Always, for Luther So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross Forever, for Always, for Luther Volume II
Related articles	Luther (album) This Close to You Change (band) Luther Burger

This 1980s R&B/soul album-related article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.

Categories: