LP Review: The Right Night & Barry White
Not a good or even decent album, but there are signs of life
Released: 1987
After the complete collapse of his musical mojo in 1982 and 1983, Barry White’s contract with CBS records expired, his custom Unlimited Gold label closed up shop, and he took a musical hiatus.
The Love Unlimited Orchestra was no more. Love Unlimited was also defunct. Sadly, member Diane Taylor died of cancer in 1985. Her cousin Linda James seems to have not recorded any more music with Barry White. Love Unlimited’s other member Glodean White (sister of Linda and cousin of Diane) still contributed backing vocals for her husband on subsequent albums.
Out of this darkness emerged The Right Night & Barry White in late 1987.
There’s no mistaking this thing as a good album, but it’s not an embarrassment like Barry’s last few albums from the early 1980s. It is also unmistakeably late 1980s. Lots of programmed drums and keyboards substituting for real horns and strings (a truly shameful development for Barry White).
The only consistently “live” instruments here are the bass and rhythm guitars.
The Good Stuff
Alright, with all that said, there is some good stuff here.
“Sho’ You Right” would be so much better if actual horns were used. And if an actual electric guitar was shredding this bad boy up and down instead of an electronic keyboard. Nonetheless, it jams cuz the lyrics are great. I mean, just look at that title!
And the bass player earns their keep. I think it’s Nathan East, who’s one of the best to ever get funky on that instrument. Anyways, thank God that Barry did the song live with a real band before he died.
Released as a single, “Sho’ You Right” was modestly successful on the R&B charts (#17) and was White’s biggest hit in the UK in a decade (#14).
Two other dance songs are horribly dated, but still fun. “Good Dancin’ Music” and “For Your Love (I’ll Do Most Anything)”.
The one good non-dance song is “Who’s the Fool”. It’s very stripped down and the sparse production helps keep the focus on White’s vocals and (synth) strings instead of other programmed blips and blops that might otherwise distract you.
The Mediocre/Bad Stuff
Shockingly, White struggled with the ballads and slow jams (except for the aforementioned “Who’s the Fool”). Without his customary symphonic sound, he seemed at a loss for how to adapt to the era of synthesized balladry. “There's a Place (Where Love Never Ends)” is limp. And heaven help you, if you decide to listen to “Love Is In Your Eyes”.
ALBUM GRADE: D
The worst thing going against this album, I mean besides the late 80s production, is the length. There’s 10 songs here and the shortest one is five minutes! This things clocks in at 69 minutes. Yeah, not nice.
The dawning of the compact disc age would see more travesties such as this. A decidely meh or mediocre album becoming worse than it should have been because people just abused the fact they could make a 60- or 70- minute album without thinking whether they should.
If I remove all the songs I give 2s or 3s to below, the album still clocks in at 41 minutes. And you’re left with the six best songs, which woulda made this album a C. Still not great, but that’s decent.
Anywyas, I’m just glad Barry White actually had multiple good songs on an album for the first time since 1981’s Beware (C).
And although it didn’t set the charts on fire, it was White’s best performing LP since 1980’s Sheet Music (B).
Song Scores
Good Dancin’ Music: 6.5/10
As Time Goes By: 4/10
Sho’ You Right: 7.5/10
For Your Love (I’ll Do Most Anything): 7/10
There's a Place (Where Love Never Ends): 4/10
Love Is In Your Eyes: 2/10
I’m Ready For Love: 3/10
Share: 3/10
Who’s The Fool: 7/10
The Right Night: 3/10