Released: September 1974
1974 was the year of Barry White.
The vocal group he produced and wrote for, Love Unlimited, had an album go gold and reach #3 on the pop chart. Their backing musicians, the Love Unlimited Orchestra, hit #1 on the pop singles chart with “Love’s Theme”. The orchestra’s debut album, Rhapsody in White, was released in early 1974 and also attained gold status while reaching #8 on the pop albums chart.
Well later on in 1974, The Maestro himself completed a triple crown of sorts as his third studio album, Can’t Get Enough, reached #1 on the pop charts, had a #1 pop single, and had another single reach #2 on that register. The two singles and the album all went gold.
Barry White was indeed white hot.
This (almost) excellent album begins with the appropriately titled “Mellow Mood (Part 1)”. It’s an instrumental from the Love Unlimited Orchestra that merely sets you up for an okie doke. It’s brooding nature sticks around for about two minutes making you all contemplative and shit… right before…
BOOM!
You’re transported to a world of dance fever with “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything”!
Some of White’s previous work was proto-disco. Well this here is disco. Sweet sweet disco. The song was originally written as a country tune, but was never recorded. White somehow stumbled across it, rewrote some of the lyrics, did some rearrangements, et voila! You have one of the greatest songs ever made.
There’s the intro that lures you in with White speaking loveliness over a galloping drum beat topped with an intermittent bass and sterling strings. There is constant dramatic starting (announced with drums) and stopping (announced with sudden silencing of the strings) throughout the song.
Plus Love Unlimited provides killer backup vocals all the way through.
And of course White growls with all his might.
Factoring in international sales, this would be the biggest hit of White’s career. Top 10 in Belgium, Canada, France, Ireland, South Africa (#2), Germany, and the US (#2); while topping the charts in Britain and Spain. It also hit #1 R&B and #2 on the newly created disco chart.
Sadly, after that 4:30 of pure heaven, the album sinks into an abyss provided by “I Can’t Believe You Love Me”. The first two minutes are serviceable enough with a sexy sax and an interesting build up that… leads to nowhere. Absolutely nowhere. White does some rapping about how much he loves his lady, but when it comes time to sing, there’s nothing interesting.
I can’t believe White somehow made that song a total of 10 minutes.
Well, at least it killed all the excitement stirred up by “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything”. I guess that’s an accomplishment.
Side Two opens with White’s other monster hit “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe”, which can likely be considered his signature song (#1 R&B, #1 pop, #8 UK). You’ve probably heard the song. Nothing I can write can do it anymore justice.
A seminal song of my childhood…
The good news is that White didn’t mess up this side of the album with a gargantuan millstone.
Next up was “Oh Love, Well We Finally Made It”, which was originally done by Love Unlimited. White justifies this cover version by having the song be funkier (thanks to more prominent bass guitar) than the more gossamer rendition by the female trio.
“I Love You More Than Anything (In This World Girl)” finds White doing some trash talking of some poor sucker who let a wonderful woman slip away into his loving arms.
Sample lyric:
He better go out and find someone new,
Cuz I don’t see no one but me giving love to you
The album concludes with a reprise of “Mellow Mood”.
ALBUM GRADE: B
A damn shame that Barry White throws out two perfect songs and the album can’t get more than a “B” because he had that big ole 10-minute turd. But you grade the album you get, not the album you want. Also, this thing is kind of short at only 30 minutes, which makes the 10-minute sludge song all the more glaring. That’s 33% of your album given over to dreck.
White would rectify the situation on his next LP, both in terms of runtime and not having any duds… finally.
Song Scores
Mellow Mood: 8/10
You're The First, The Last, My Everything: 10/10
I Can't Believe You Love Me: 3/10
Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe: 10/10
Oh Love, Well We Finally Made It: 8.5/10
I Love You More Than Anything (In This World Girl): 6.5/10