"Bad Boy/Having a Party" by Luther Vandross

Song#:  1225
Date:  10/30/1982
Debut:  90
Peak:  55
Weeks:  12
Genre:  R&B



Pop Bits:  Vandross' debut album was a double-platinum, #1 R&B smash that also crossed over to the pop chart (#19). The album contained the #1 R&B hit "Never Too Much" (#33 pop) plus another R&B Top 10. His second album, "Forever, For Always, For Love," continued his R&B hit streak hitting #1 and going platinum. It also did well at pop reaching #20. The success of the album is mainly attributed to this first single which reached #3 on the R&B chart. At pop it hung around the bottom half of the chart for three months, which is a pretty good run despite the low peak. The album got Vandross a Grammy nod for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male.

ReduxReview:  I really like how this song starts out with the party noise and then settles into the groove of "Bad Boy." When it switches to "Having a Party," the crowd noise gets a little overwhelming. It makes me wonder how it sounded on the radio as I'd imaging it was a little jumbled. However, the combo of songs is a great idea with lyrics of "Bad Boy" feeding right into the other tune. I wouldn't consider this on the list of best Luther songs, but it is a cool jam.

ReduxRating:  6/10

Trivia:  This song is a medley made up of a song written by Vandross and Marcus Miller ("Bad Boy") plus a tune originally written and recorded by Sam Cooke. Serving as the b-side to his hit "Bring It on Home to Me" (#2 R&B, #13 pop), the song caught on and also became a hit. It reached #4 at R&B and #17 pop. After its release, Cooke began to use the song as his closing number in his live shows. He continued to do that until his death in 1964.

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