He also wrote the song “Every Girl (Wants My Guy)” which was a top 10 hit. In 1983, he produced another album for Aretha Franklin. This album features the hit singles “Bad Boy/Having a Party,” “Since I Lost My Baby” and “Promise Me.” The album sold over one million copies. He wrote every song on this album except two remakes that were featured on the album. He released his second album Forever, For Always, For Love in 1982. Vandross continued to work with other artists while continuing to record his own music. It was her first album to reach gold status since 1976. The title track was a number one r&b hit single for her. After working with Cheryl Lynn, he worked with one of his idols Aretha Franklin in 1982. This song reached the top five on the r&b charts. He also sang “If This World Were Mine” with her. He wrote the title track and it was an r&b hit. He worked with Cheryl Lynn on her hit album Instant Love in 1982. Even though he did his first album, he worked with other artists. It was an r&b hit, but it wasn’t considered a pop hit at the time. The album also features the hit singles “Sugar and Spice (I Found Me a Girl)” and “A House Is Not a Home.” This album sold over two million copies. “Don’t You Know That” was a top 10 r&b song. “Never Too Much” was a number one song off this album. The only song he didn’t write was “A House Is Not a Home.” This is a cover of Dionne Warwick’s song.
Vandross wrote and produced the majority of the songs on this album. He released his debut album Never Too Much in 1981.