Released on 08/10/2001
Label: J Records

Old smoothie pants is back and looking not a day older than in his 80s heyday. In fact, look again and he could be getting younger. Still, nothing's changed in the lyrical department. He opens this one: "She caught me by surprise, I must say / 'Cause I never had seen such a pretty face." Oh, Luther baaybe.

Patronising housewife baiting aside, this is vintage Vandross. A tale of courtship sung to gentle, lilting guitar chords it bears all the hallmarks of J Records boss Clive Davis' greatest successes: it's meticulously inoffensive and naggingly catchy. Apparently it's called 'doing a Dido'?

    by James Poletti