Luther Vandross – Every Year, Every Christmas
Co-Written With Richard Marx In A Brave Year Of Originals
Released in December 1995 as the lead single from This Is Christmas, “Every Year, Every Christmas” received moderate rotation on radio and peaked at number 32 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. The song marked Luther Vandross’s first Christmas album, arriving after the massive success of his covers collection Songs, which had debuted at number five and earned four Grammy nominations. But here’s what makes this track remarkable: Vandross gambled on filling his holiday album with seven original compositions rather than playing it safe with traditional standards. Co-writing this centerpiece with Richard Marx, he crafted a slow, plodding ballad about enduring relationships and seasonal reunions that asked listeners to trust his voice over familiar melodies, a risky move for any artist but especially one releasing their debut Christmas project.
The album This Is Christmas, released on October 18, 1995, debuted at number 190 on the Billboard 200 in late November before climbing to peak at number 28. It hit number four on both the Top Holiday Albums and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, becoming a steady seller throughout multiple Christmas seasons. The Recording Industry Association of America eventually certified it platinum in 2002, seven years after its release, proof that some albums find their audience slowly rather than explosively. Entertainment Weekly gave it a B-minus rating and called it a modest collection of Quiet Storm-style yuletide standards and soggy originals, while Cash Box countered by calling it a superb Christmas collection that would only add to Vandross’s stature as the premiere male soul artist of his age. The mixed reviews reflected an industry unsure whether Christmas albums should innovate or comfort.
Vandross reteamed with trusted collaborators Nat Adderley Jr. and Marcus Miller to produce the album, co-writing all seven original tracks himself. For “Every Year, Every Christmas,” he partnered with Richard Marx, creating a song that stripped away holiday bombast in favor of intimate reflection. The lyrics focused on the emotional weight of seasonal rituals, the way certain songs and traditions bring specific people flooding back into memory, and how love endures even when distance separates. Marx’s melodic sensibility blended perfectly with Vandross’s R&B instincts, resulting in a composition that felt both contemporary and timeless. The decision to make this the lead single showed confidence: rather than leading with a cover of “My Favorite Things” or “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Vandross bet audiences would embrace something new.
Recording sessions featured backing vocals from an all-star roster including Cissy Houston, who provided support on several tracks including the album’s title song. The production emphasized space over clutter, allowing Vandross’s flawless vocals to carry the emotional weight. Gentle beats, lurking guitar chords, and distant synth chimes and bells created atmosphere without overwhelming, the sonic equivalent of watching snow fall through a warm window. This restraint was deliberate: after the lush orchestrations of Songs, Vandross wanted something that felt more personal and less produced. The entire album was brave in its ratio of seven originals to three covers, trusting that fans wanted Luther Vandross Christmas songs, not just Luther Vandross singing Christmas songs.
To promote This Is Christmas, Vandross hosted a syndicated television special that aired in November and December 1995, featuring performances of album tracks alongside guest appearances from Cissy Houston, Paulette McWilliams, and others. The special premiered the music video for “Every Year, Every Christmas,” giving audiences their first visual interpretation of the song. In a particularly memorable promotional moment, Vandross joined NBC Today show co-host Katie Couric to light the 1995 Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, where he performed “O Come All Ye Faithful” accompanied by a 75-voice choir. These high-profile appearances helped establish the album’s presence during the crucial holiday shopping season, even if mainstream pop radio remained hesitant about an R&B artist’s original Christmas material.
The song’s legacy grew through Patti LaBelle’s 2007 cover on her Christmas album Miss Patti’s Christmas. LaBelle’s version was particularly poignant: she dedicated it to Vandross, who had died from complications of a stroke on July 1, 2005, at age 54. Her spoken dedication at the song’s end transformed it from a holiday standard into a memorial, a way of keeping his voice alive through someone else’s interpretation. The gesture highlighted how “Every Year, Every Christmas” had become exactly what Vandross intended: not just another holiday song people tolerate once annually, but a genuine composition worthy of being covered, remembered, and passed forward to new generations of vocalists.
Smash Hits gave the single four out of five stars with a warning: do not listen to this single if you’re going to be boyfriend or girlfriend-less this Christmas, because Luther’s mellow tinkerings and outrageously romantic delivery might break your heart. That review captured something essential about Vandross’s approach to holiday music. While most Christmas songs celebrate togetherness or spiritual joy, “Every Year, Every Christmas” acknowledged loneliness and longing, the bittersweet recognition that holidays amplify both connection and absence. Three decades later, as the song continues appearing on playlists between Mariah Carey and Wham!, it stands as proof that audiences were ready for original Christmas music if someone had the courage and talent to deliver it with conviction.
