box Barry White cd4

Disc 1 starts off with ”I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Babe” and right away the journey begins with some new BW adlibs. We get alternate mixes of all of the early hits. The new mixes stretch out certain passages and highlight different instrumentation. Sometimes there are different background vocals than on the original mixes, like on “You’re the First, The Last, My Everything.” My personal favorite is a track from the 1976 LP “IS THIS WHATCHA WONT” called “Your Love – So Good I Can Taste It.” This is a 12:30 minute masterpiece that moves from a sweet melodic lullaby to a sexy swing and finally a full out declaration of love that only The Maestro could pull off. He finishes this with some of his finest vocals. Perry notes, “Barry never played his records after they were finished and released. ‘They got it,’ he’d say ‘I’m on to the next.’ Yet he did play this one.”


Disc 2 continues with his late 70s hits starting with the “so damn funky” “Playing Your Game, Baby,” and the low-down “It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me.” The groove and horns on the 12” version of “Your Sweetness Is My Weakness” are irresistible. Glodean joins Barry on “Our Theme” a gorgeous song from their 1981 LP “BARRY AND GLODEAN”. Another highlight is Barry’s cover of “Love Song” which was a hit for Elton John. When Barry covered a song it was definitely transformed into a new creation. This is a prime example.


Disc 3 begins with Love Unlimited Orchestra’s “Midnight and You” which Perry describes as “the beginnings of smooth jazz.” For this track he added a beautiful flute solo he found on the master tape. Continuing with the seductive “Baby Blues,” we get a sense why Barry insisted to his disbelieving record company executives that he could sell an orchestra. The first song written by Barry White in 1965 was “Love’s Theme.” In his own words, “It’s incredible, it really is, to have a song like that be the first song a man writes.” Here it begins with the vocal version by Love Unlimited from their IN HEAT LP. Then magically, on the second swirl of the strings, you’re transported to the original version in full splendor. What a magnificent sound that is.

The grooves Barry created for “My Sweet Summer Suite” and the “Theme from King Kong” grab hold of you and don’t let go. Love Unlimited is represented here with “Walkin' In The Rain”, “Under The Influence of Love,” “I Belong To You” and more.


Disc 4 is the treasure that many have been waiting for. Barry worked with several artists who put out incredible recordings that did not achieve the success or notoriety they should have. They include his fellow Texans, Tom Brock and Gloria Scott. Tom has 3 great songs here from his rare 1974 LP I LOVE YOU MORE AND MORE. Gloria Scott is represented by the cult classic “Just As Long As We’re Together” and “I’ve Got To Have All Of You” from her unfinished second album. Jimmie and Vella Cameron came with a great song that Barry produced on them in 1981 called “Be Fair To Me,” another fine example of Barry’s strong guitar lines and rhythm arranging. The horns on this track are ridiculous! Jay Dee, also known as Earl Nelson, is included with “Strange Funky Games and Things” and a totally re-invented version of the standard “You’ve Changed.” Danny Pearson had a top 20 hit with his single “What’s Your Sign.” We also get Barry’s long-time arranger Gene Page’s “Satin Soul.” Or course, there is “The Erotic Garden” – the “After Hours” version of Quincy Jones’ “The Secret Garden,” featuring The Man.


The DVD includes videos from Barry’s A&M hits including “Sho’ You Right,” “Put Me In Your Mix,” “Come On,” “Practice What You Preach,” and his earth shattering collaboration with Isaac Hayes, “Dark & Lovely.” There is also a rare video for “Just The Way You Are.” Two live performances are included: “Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up” live in Brussels and an incredible performance with Luciano Pavorotti singing “You’re The First…”