Your Secret Love

Your Secret Love
Your Secret Love
Studio album by Luther Vandross
Released	October 1, 1996
Recorded	October 1995–July 1996
Studio	Camel Island Studios; (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	R&B; quiet storm;
Length	60:14
Label	Epic; Sony;
Producer	Luther Vandross (also executive), Marcus Miller, Nat Adderley, Jr.
Luther Vandross chronology
Singles from Your Secret Love
	"Your Secret Love"; Released: August 20, 1996; "I Can Make It Better"; Released: November 26, 1996;

Your Secret Love is the tenth studio album by American R&B singer Luther Vandross, released by Epic Records in October 1996. The album's title track won the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and was nominated for Best R&B Song at the 39th Grammy Awards in 1997. The album served as Vandross's final album under Epic Records after being part of the record label for fifteen years.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Billboard	(favorable)^[2]
Chicago Tribune	^[3]
Entertainment Weekly	B−^[4]
Music Week	^[5]
Muzik	(Springer)^[6] (Jones)^[7]
Q	^[8]
Rolling Stone	^[9]
Vibe	(favorable)^[8]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Your Secret Love"	Luther Vandross, Reed Vertelney	4:12
2.	"Love Don't Love You Anymore"	Vandross	5:12
3.	"It's Hard for Me to Say"	Vandross, Skip Anderson	4:34
4.	"Crazy Love"	David Lasley, Robin Lerner, Marsha Malamet, Allan Rich	5:13
5.	"I Can Make It Better"	Vandross, Marcus Miller	5:35
6.	"Goin' Out of My Head"	Teddy Randazzo, Bob Weinstein	5:17
7.	"I Can't Wait No Longer (Let's Do This)" (featuring Deidra "Spin" Roper of Salt-n-Pepa)	Miller, Dee Dee Roper	5:39
8.	"Nobody to Love"	Vandross, Miller	5:45
9.	"Whether or Not the World Gets Better" (featuring Lisa Fischer)	Vandross	5:31
10.	"This Time I'm Right"	Vandross	5:07
11.	"Knocks Me Off My Feet"	Stevie Wonder	3:44
12.	"Too Proud to Beg"	Vandross, Vertelney	4:50

Personnel

Luther Vandross – lead vocals, vocal arrangements, arrangements (1, 5, 8), backing vocals (6)
Reed Vertelney – keyboards (1, 5), string programming (1), bass (1, 5), drum programming (1), arrangements (1, 5), drums (5), strings (5)
John "Skip" Anderson – additional keyboards (1), strings (1, 3), bass (1, 2, 3), arrangements (1, 5, 8), keyboards (2), synth strings (2), drums (2, 3, 8), acoustic piano (3), synthesizers (8), synth orchestra and arrangements (8),
Ivan Hampden Jr. – additional programming (1), drums (9, 10), percussion (9)
Marcus Miller – all instruments (4, 6), programming (4, 6, 7), arrangements (4, 6, 7), backing vocals (6), keyboards (7), guitar (7), bass (8, 10)
David Ward – additional programming (4), programming (7)
Nat Adderley Jr. – vibraphone solo (7), acoustic piano (8, 10), arrangements (8, 9, 10), keyboards (9), synth bass (9)
Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10), additional guitar (4), acoustic guitar (7)
Yogi Horton – drums (8)
Paulinho da Costa – percussion (2, 3, 5, 8)
Kirk Whalum – saxophone solo (10)
Leon Pendarvis – string arrangements (2, 4)
Alfred Brown – music contractor (4, 9, 10)
Tawatha Agee – backing vocals (1-5, 7, 10)
Paulette McWilliams – backing vocals (1-5, 7, 10)
Cindy Mizelle – backing vocals (1-5, 7, 10)
Brenda White-King – backing vocals (1-5, 7, 10)
Lisa Fischer – backing vocals (2, 4), lead vocals (9)
David Lasley – backing vocals (2)
Cheryl Lynn – backing vocals (2)
Cissy Houston – backing vocals (4, 10)
Deidra "Spin" Roper – rap (7)
Fonzi Thornton – backing vocals (10), vocal contractor

Production

Luther Vandross – producer, executive producer
Marcus Miller – producer (4, 6, 7)
Nat Adderley Jr. – producer (9, 10)
Ray Bardani – recording (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10), mixing
David Ward – recording (4, 6, 7)
Al Schmitt – orchestra recording
Mike Baumgartner – assistant engineer
Kyle Bess – assistant engineer
Greg Denon – assistant engineer
Mark Eshelman – assistant engineer
Paul Falcone – assistant engineer
Sue McLean – assistant engineer
Pat Weber – assistant engineer
Max Risenhoover – digital editing, sound designer (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10)
Ted Jensen – mastering
Bibi Green – production coordinator (for Marcus Miller)
Pat Dorn – album coordinator
George Corsillo – art direction, design
Norman Jean Roy – photography
Guzman (Connie Hansen and Russell Peacock) – front cover photography
The Marsha Burns Co. / Gallin-Morey Associates – management
Max Szadek – personal assistant

Studios

Recorded at Camel Island Studios (Los Angeles, California) and Sony Scoring Stage (Culver City, California).
Mixed at The Hit Factory (New York City, New York).
Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City, New York).

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1996)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[10]	145
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)^[11]	18
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[12]	61
UK Albums (OCC)^[13]	14
US Billboard 200^[14]	9
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[15]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (1996)	Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[16]	61

Certifications

Certifications for *Your Secret Love*
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[17]	Gold	50,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[18]	Silver	60,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[19]	Platinum	1,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Your Secret Love at AllMusic
^ Reynolds, J.R. (1996-10-19). "Reviews & Previews: Albums" (PDF). Billboard. p. 61. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
^ Kot, Greg (1996-10-11). "Luther Vandross Your Secret Love (Epic)". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
^ Browne, David (1996-10-04). "Your Secret Love Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
^ "Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 1996-09-28. p. 24. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
^ Springer, Jacqueline (December 1996). "Luther Vandross: Your Secret Love" (PDF). Muzik. No. 19. p. 134. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
^ Jones, Bob (December 1996). "Luther Vandross: Your Secret Love" (PDF). Muzik. No. 19. p. 158. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Luther Vandross - Your Secret Love CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved 2013-04-04.
^ Magazine, Rolling Stone (1992). The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll: The Definitive History of the Most Important Artists and Their Music. ISBN 9780679737285.
^ "Luther Vandross ARIA Chart History complete to 2024". ARIA. Retrieved July 26, 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 9521". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Luther Vandross – Your Secret Love" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
^ "Luther Vandross | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
^ "Luther Vandross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
^ "Luther Vandross Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
^ "Canadian album certifications – Luther Vandross – Your Secret Love". Music Canada.
^ "British album certifications – Luther Vandross – Your Secret Love". British Phonographic Industry.
^ "American album certifications – Luther Vandross – Your Secret Love". Recording Industry Association of America.

[1] Your Secret Love at AllMusic

[2] Reynolds, J.R. (1996-10-19). "Reviews & Previews: Albums" (PDF). Billboard. p. 61. Retrieved 2022-12-03.

[3] Kot, Greg (1996-10-11). "Luther Vandross Your Secret Love (Epic)". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 2013-04-04.

[4] Browne, David (1996-10-04). "Your Secret Love Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-04.

[5] "Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 1996-09-28. p. 24. Retrieved 2021-09-05.

[6] Springer, Jacqueline (December 1996). "Luther Vandross: Your Secret Love" (PDF). Muzik. No. 19. p. 134. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.

[7] Jones, Bob (December 1996). "Luther Vandross: Your Secret Love" (PDF). Muzik. No. 19. p. 158. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 16 July 2022.

[cduniverse-8] "Luther Vandross - Your Secret Love CD Album". CD Universe. Retrieved 2013-04-04.

[9] Magazine, Rolling Stone (1992). The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll: The Definitive History of the Most Important Artists and Their Music. ISBN 9780679737285.

[ARIA_history_pages-10] "Luther Vandross ARIA Chart History complete to 2024". ARIA. Retrieved July 26, 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.

[group=-11] "Top RPM Albums: Issue 9521". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 20, 2023.

[ac_Netherlands_Luther_Vandross-12] "Dutchcharts.nl – Luther Vandross – Your Secret Love" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 20, 2018.

[ac_UK_Luther_Vandross-13] "Luther Vandross | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved August 20, 2018.

[ac_Billboard200_Luther_Vandross-14] "Luther Vandross Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2018.

[ac_BillboardRandBHipHop_Luther_Vandross-15] "Luther Vandross Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2018.

[year-end2-16] "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1996". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2018.

[CanadaLuther_VandrossYour_Secret_LovealbumCertRef-17] "Canadian album certifications – Luther Vandross – Your Secret Love". Music Canada.

[United_KingdomLuther_VandrossYour_Secret_LovealbumCertRef-18] "British album certifications – Luther Vandross – Your Secret Love". British Phonographic Industry.

[United_StatesLuther_VandrossYour_Secret_LovealbumCertRef-19] "American album certifications – Luther Vandross – Your Secret Love". Recording Industry Association of America.

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