Barry White
'Unlimited'
UMC/Mercury Records 5 disc set
UK Release Date: 1st February 2010

Ironically issued just ahead of Valentine's day is this wonderful five disc set (four music CD's plus one DVD) from the maestro of super sexy soul the legendary Mr Barry White. Barry White's story didn't start back in the seventies when he first became a household name via a number of disco flavoured hits but goes back to the previous decade where he was a prolific songwriter having penned the northern soul favourite 'This Thing Called Love' for singer Johnny Wyatt which was released here in the UK on the now defunct President record label. White is alleged to have been a somewhat wild boy in his younger teen days having spent time in jail before embarking on his now legendary musical journey.

'Unlimited' isn't just another hits compilation as notable songs such as 'Just The Way You Are' and 'Sho You Right' aren't included (but the latter is included in the bonus DVD) but a whole host of goodies from his collaborations with Love Unlimited (which featured his wife Glodean) and extended versions of singles and LP tracks not normally featured on the normal run of the mill compilations currently available. A quick glance at the track listing soon identifies some great classics but its only when you play then do you realise that the listener is getting the full extended version complete with some additional non single intros such as his massive selling 'You My First, My Last, My Everything' which has Love Unlimited adding extra playout vocals and some of Barry's phrasing on some lines is definitely different to that of the original single release.

The hit song 'I'll Do Anything For You' has some glorious uninterrupted orchastration which was clearly edited out of the original single mix in he 1970's giving this great song the full attention it so richly deserves. 'Can't Get Enough Of Your Love' gets the same treatment in this five minute plus workout of one of his finest moments displaying an arrangement that set the standards for so many other arrangers of the day. For many, the best part of this song is the last minute of pure instrumental and bongo drums. Still a massive record on our live sets as are many others from this set.

Delving deeper into this collection we find two standout tracks lifted from Love Unlimited LP's of the day including the sexy 'I Belong To You' from 1974 issued here on 20th Century and reissued by Universal Music on a digi-pak CD a few years back showing off his arranging talents on the three girls who show how a real song should be sung with some stunning harmonies and at one point you almost feel that the violins were at breaking point. The set also includes the girls top 20 hit 'It May Be Winter Outside' which received a good amount of radio plays in its day along with attention from the northern soul scene. The real jewel in the crown from the girls has to be the 1971 hit 'Walking In The Rain' (with the one I love) which finds a perfect arrangement around a story of Barry's girlfriend being caught in a rain shower before calling him on the phone after arriving home where he tells her he loves her - sickly it might sound but at the time it was nothing short of dynamite!. Issued here in the UK as a single on the UNI label this was two years before Barry started to issue records under his own name.

Before moving back to Barry's own recordings there is the issue of Gloria Scott a soulful lady whose 1974 LP on Casablanca records now commands high prices on the collectors market even though there was a CD issue a few years back. A single entitled 'Just As Long As Were Together' was issued and immediately you knew that Barry had had a hand in writing and producing this excellent piece of mid seventies soul heaven. The record did not sell well here in the UK but over the years has risen in value as the modern soul soul fraternity have adopted it as a masterpiece as well as her other gem 'Too Much Lovemaking'

'Satin Soul' is an uplifting strings laden dance track and encapsulates the orchestra at full belt complete with bongos, horns, and tight drum pattern making it perfect for dancing at the time. Again it made it to a 45 release on 20th Century but did not sell too well but remained a favourite. 1973 was the year that launched Barry into a superstar in his own right and after writing and producing for other artists it was his time to take centre stage and enjoy the fruits of his labour. 'Love's Theme' was released initially as an instrumental but there was a vocal version by Love Unlimited sat on the LP and this new release features that great vocal version. If you liked the instrumental you'll absolutely love the vocal.

It is suggested that Barry's music made more babies during the years 1973 - 1976 and just one listen to the likes of the sultry 'Our Theme' 'Sheet Music' and 'Whisper Softly' and especially 'Midnight and You' you'll understand why he was number one. Barry White enjoyed his main success during the mid 1970's where his singles and albums graces the charts both here and around the world continuously for almost seven years at a time when competition was rife and soul music in the UK was at it's peak you can understand the saying that he set the trends where others followed. Barry White proved that artists could have it all if they possessed his talent, ballads, mid tempo, pop and disco hits all came his way and his music was used on film sets and a number of singles helped define the disco era.

If you thought that Barry White was a four to five hit singles artists then you need to look further into this excellent set where you'll find further recordings from Barry as a solo artist as well as his work with Love Unlimited (of which plenty is included) as well as Gloria Scott. Extra long versions of songs make this a CD package that seems to go on for ever. The fifth disc is a DVD featuring all his work with A & M Records during the 1980's.

Absolutely essential!!!