Longtime fans of the late Luther Vandross finally get to hear his long-lost cover of a classic song by The Beatles, and it's iHeartRadio's latest World Premiere.
On Friday, October 25, Luther Vandross' "Michelle" made its grand debut on streaming services via Epic Records and Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music. The soulful rendition of the British band's 1965 hit was reportedly recorded for the soundtrack of The Beatles' animated film Strawberry Fields that was scrapped in 1989. Following Vandross' death in 2005, his longtime friend and background vocalist, Fonzi Thornton, discovered a cassette that was labeled “Luther Vandross Michelle 6/1/89" among a collection of the late singer's recordings and videos.
Vandross' long-lost song is expected to appear on Vandross' brand-new compilation album, Never Too Much: Greatest Hits. The project will feature timeless classics from the decorated singer's iconic career including "So Amazing, "Never Too Much" and a remix of his hit record by Lost Frequencies. The album will also feature a duet with Beyoncé, “The Closer I Get To You," and a previously unreleased track “Speak Your Love,” which is written and produced by Vandross and Fonzi Thornton.
The compilation album will also accompany the upcoming first full-length documentary about Luther Vandross' life and career. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter, Luther: Never Too Much revisits the highs and lows of Vandross' legacy with special appearances by Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Dionne Warwick, Valerie Simpson and Roberta Flack.
Look out for Luther: Never Too Much in theaters October 30 and Never Too Much: Greatest Hits arriving December 13. Listen to Luther Vandross' version of "Michelle" and watch the trailer for the documentary below.