Customer Reviews: Read 23 more reviews...
 Skimpy For A CD September 12, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
When this first came out in 1975 as a vinyl LP, Barry White, as a solo artist, only had seven legitimate hit singles to that point, so the inclusion of three tracks (5, 8 and 10) that were not themselves hits - i.e., charters on any of the Billboard Pop Hot 100, R&B or Adult Contemporary (AC) listings - was understandable.
But whereas most CDs covering such early albums have been blessed with "bonus" tracks, this 1990 release has never been so upgraded. The skimpiness of the package is then magnified by the complete lack of liner notes, not to mention a discography of the contents which would have at least explained where those three non-hits came from. Were they failed singles or culled from an album?
The seven hits that are here are, certainly, still among the best of the 46 he registered from early 1973 to 1999, the first 18 on the 20th Century label (he would have two more on that label after moving to Unlimited Gold in 1979), not to mention the seven instrumentals as leader of the 40-piece The Love Unlimited Orchestra from 1973 to 1977, and the first hit on Uni in 1972 for the female vocal trio known as Love Unlimited on which Barry's voice is heard on the telephone.
His first as a solo artist was the smash I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby which made it to # 1 R&B, # 3 Hot 100 and # 27 AC in May/June 1973 on 20th Century 2018 b/w Just A Little More Baby, followed later that summer by I've Got So Much To Give, a # 5 R&B/# 32 Hot 100/# 46 AC in August on 20th Century 2042 b/w an instrumental version of the same tune. He then closed out 1973 with the # 2 R&B/# 7 Hot 100/# 40 AC Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up on 20th Century 2058 b/w a longer version of the same tune (this is the hit side).
1974 also produced three hits, with the first, Honey Please, Can't Ya See, peaking at # 6 R&B/# 44 Hot 100 in March/April on 20th Century 2077 b/w an instrumental rendition of the same song. Later that summer, Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe became his second # 1 R&B (where it stayed for 3 weeks), and his first Hot 100 # 1, as well as # 26 AC on 20th Century 2120 b/w Just Not Enough, and around Christmas, You're The First, The Last, My Everything also became a R&B # 1, and hit # 2 Hot 100 on 20th Century 2133 b/w More Than Anything, You're My Everything.
The final hit presented here, What Am I Gonna Do With You?, was his fourth R&B # 1, reaching that level in April/May 1975 on 2oth Century 2177 b/w What Am I Gonna Do With You Baby? Two more hits would follow that year.
The AAD sound is excellent, and if a particular song or two of his that you're seeking is in the CD, rest assured it's the original and of the highest quality. But other than that, I would suggest looking around for a more recent compilation presenting many more of his hits and also providing the kind of background information that most music-buyers look for these days. Such as the 2-CD 30-track set Barry White The Ultimate Collection which gives you everything in here except those non-hit tracks.
 For $1.99, a great price for the selection June 29, 2008
For under $2, you can't go wrong with this collection.
I purchased the CD version from Amazon.com of course.
Old school thinking here since I prefer owning the title
on CD. Go for it if you have been sitting the fence for
Barry White.
 A Valentine's Day Must February 5, 2008
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
With Valentine's day nearby,Barry White entered my thoughts.
He just seems to celebrate love in his songs, in his voice. Most of the songs are very upbeat very emotional (in a good way)
I have a few cds of his and I don't know which I like the best.
His popularity will only increse with time.
Wonderful!
Early Barry White is my favorite July 21, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This compilation covers exactly my favorite period of Barry White's body of work. Younger people might compare it to some of his later stuff and think it isn't much different. Maybe - I really don't know whether he got worse after this, or maybe the initial impact wore off on me or perhaps it's a matter of sentimental attachment to a certain period of my early teens. All I know is that these songs sound like magic to me, a kind of magic that I don't hear in later hits like "Let The Music Play", for instance. This is vintage Barry White, when the multitalented musician had just discovered his singing abilities and was writing his best stuff. His early albums didn't have that many songs, sometimes just five or six that he would make the most of, so ten tracks is a very generous sample of his best solo vocal stuff. But you still need a compilation of The Love Unlimited Orchestra ("Love's Theme") and maybe even the Love Unlimited trio to have a representative collection of the best of his music
Listening to Barry White is a Guilty Pleasure February 23, 2007
Oh gosh, what can I say? I try to pretend that I'm some sort of pseudo-intellectual who only listens to Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach. Alas, I must admit the truth: I enjoy the singing of Barry White. Please don't tell anyone. Let this be our little secret. This particular album is fantastic. You should also own a copy.
David Thomson
Flares into Darkness
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