Released: 1991
After 13 looooooong years, Barry White finally got himself a certified hit with Put Me In Your Mix. It was first album since 1978’s The Man (A-) to reach the top 10 of the R&B charts. The title track was also White’s first top 10 R&B single since 1978’s “Your Sweetness is My Weakness”. Both songs just missed out on the top spot.
It musta felt good to be Barry White in 1991 with a top 10 album and a #2 single after all those years where nothing seemed to sell, whether the albums were good or bad.
Overall, Put Me In Your Mix is a solid album. I actually think the production kind of takes a step back from The Man Is Back! (C+) in terms of quality. Both albums can be instantly tethered to an era in a bad way thanks to programmed percussion (oh how I loathe thee), but The Man Is Back! is less beholden to trends than Put Me In Your Mix.
The “Timeless” Stuff
So obviously, we’re starting off with “Put Me In Your Mix”. It deserved to be a big hit. It has the sweep and scope of White’s classic 70s hits like “I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby”. Not as good as that song, but “Mix” has strings busily at work in addition to a sultry saxophone. Indeed, the musical focus is intently upon White and the background singers; the saxophone; the strings; and the bass. Y’know, the good stuff.
The less you hear from the programmed percussion on this album the better.
Another great example of this principle is “Dark and Lovely (You Over There)”. A mammoth 10-minute ballad with Isaac Hayes(!), this song is a dream combination that contrasts nicely to the luxurious “Put Me In Your Mix”. This song is more desolate putting the focus on the vocalists, the bass, and the saxophone. No loud percussion to muck things up.
Also don’t overlook that title. Ike and Barry letting y’all know the Soul Sisters are looking good. In fact, they went all the way to Ivory Coast to film the music video.
So those are the album’s two best songs, but there’s more appealing stuff. “Who You Giving Your Love To” is another good ballad. “Love Is Good With You” is the best uptempo song overcoming the tinny percussion. Lastly, White’s cover of “Volare” also overcomes cheesy production because it’s so absurd. Barry sings in Italian. With children singing the chorus alongside him. I can’t work up any anger at this.
The Mediocre Stuff
Okay, nothing here is bad. But “Break It Down With You” and especially “Let’s Get Busy” are victimized by the loud, invasive programmed drums. Also, “We’re Gonna Have It All” was unnecessary. That sloooooow ballad makes the album start dragging when it should be on fire coming on the heels of the decent “Love Will Find Us” and the good “Who You Giving Your Love To”.
ALBUM GRADE: C+
Y’all know me. I’m always looking to take a scalpel (or axe) to an album to make it better by knocking off the weak tracks that make it too long. Well, this LP is 10 tracks and 64 minutes. If BW had ditched “Let’s Get Busy” and “We’re Gonna Have It All” it would have been 54 minutes. Too long for my tastes, but I surrender to the CD age and woulda been content with that.
As it stands, this is the overall best batch of Barry White songs since Sheet Music (B) back in 1980.
Song Scores
Let’s Get Busy: 5/10
Love Is Good With You: 7/10
For Real Chill: 7/10
Break It Down With You: 6/10
Volare: 7/10
Put Me in Your Mix: 8/10
Who You Giving Your Love To: 7/10
Love Will Finds Us: 6.5/10
We’re Gonna Have It All: 5/10
Dark and Lovely (You Over There): 7.5/10