Product Description

'The Collection' is a comprehensive one disc release featuring the most popular tracks by the late Barry White, who passed away in July 2003. The idiosyncratic Texas born crooner shot to fame in the UK following the 1973 hit, 'I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little Bit More Baby'. Fourteen of the sixteentracks featured here reached the top 20 of the UK music charts.

Track Listing

1. You're The First, The Last, My Everything
2. You See The Trouble With Me
3. Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe
4. I'll Do For You Anything You Want Me To - Barry White, Gene Page
5. Just The Way You Are
6. Walkin' In The Rain With The One I Love - Love Unlimited
7. It May Be Winter Outside (But In My Heart It's Spring) - Love Unlimited
8. Love's Theme - The Love Unlimited Orchestra
9. Sho' You Right
10. What Am I Gonna Do With You
11. Baby We Better Try To Get It Together
12. Let The Music Play
13. Don't Make Me Wait Too Long
14. I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby
15. The Right Night
16. Never Never Gonna Give You Up

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #632 in Music
• Released on: 2007-01-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 73 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The walrus of lurve that is Mr Barry White received something of a resurgence thanks to his cameos on hit TV show Ally McBeal--which prompted the release of this collection--but rest assured he is no Dancing Baby fad, here today and boogied off tomorrow; he's been around far too long for that. From Mark & Lard's Fat Harry White to pastiches by Reeves & Mortimer, he's the vocal Casanova whose beautiful bass tones have provided the setting for countless movie love scenes--and plenty of off-screen sexual healing as well. The Collection brings together 16 of his greatest hits, from early 1970s classics like "Love's Theme" (with the Love Unlimited Orchestra) and "Can't Get Enough of Your Love Babe" to popular 1980s tracks such as "Sho' You Right", effortlessly easing from up-tempo numbers (to get you up and dancing) into smooth soul (to get you down and dirty). --Helen Marquis

Customer Reviews

A 'Must Have' Album!
Barry White didn't mean a great deal to me until I worked night shift in a local factory, when he was played quite a lot as the local station's 'sexy, night-time music.' Well, it may have been those things and more if you were at home on the sofa or in bed, but on night shift? But having your sleeping habits turned topsey-turvey certainly gave his music a more receptive edge and the emotions became much sharper, and the 'You See The Trouble With Me' track, which has a quirky and unusual kind of guitar backing really started to appeal.
Then I heard track 5, the ultra-famous 'Just The Way You Are' and being there quietly working and listening with my colleagues, the words and lyrics to this fabulous song made me realise that whatever you thought of 'the walrus of lurve,' he deserved the title and the matching record sales; and I HAD to buy this album. Barry White's greatest songwriting strength was in his knowledge of the human emotions between two people, and it is fabulously captured in this amazing track. Indeed, it could well be played as an 'audio Valentine's Day or Birthday Card' to your loved one. But this album doesn't end there, yes, those are my 2 favourite tracks, but it's great for relaxing to with your partner and letting the whole album play, as it generally leads to something good happening afterwards. Along with Donna Summer, Barry White must have repaired a million relationships, created just as many and been the absent father of countless children; because his music just has that effect on people; thank goodness; he was a big man and the love just shone from within him as his music and songs did with equal magnitude.

The Collection
I'd say this is probably the best place to start if you're interested in giving Barry White a try. You get a fine collection of his best known tracks and get a good mix of his style, from the funk to the soul. He may be classed as slightly 'cheesy' these days, but his voice is amazing and you can't help but smile and tap your feet as each song kicks in. A great selection of Barry at his best for new and old fans alike.

The deep-voiced soulful balladeer
Barry had been involved in the music business for several years, usually working in the background, before finally making the big time. His first success came via the Love Unlimited hit in 1972, Walking in the rain with the one I love. This paved the way for a series of solo recordings that yielded several major international hits.

After a promising start in 1973 with I'm gonna love you just a little bit more baby and Never never gonna give you up, Barry had his best years in 1974 and 1975. Can't get enough of your love babe, You're the first the last my everything (his only UK number one hit), What am I gonna do with you, I'll do anything you want me to, Let the music play and You see the trouble with me all proved hugely popular in many different countries. Barry's distinctive deep, husky voice was well suited to these soulful love songs.

Following those two very successful years, Barry had further hits but they were generally smaller than before. His last major American hit came in 1977 when he made the top five with It's ecstasy when you lay down next to me, which was only a minor UK hit. Nevertheless, he still had two more UK top twenty hits - Just the way you are (a cover of Billy Joel's classic song) in 1978 and Sho you right in 1987.

This compilation includes all of Barry's important British and American hits. If you only want a single CD of Barry's music, this is a good one to choose.