Released: November 1974
This album title and cover is a big ole flex from Barry White. In 1973 and 1974 he had produced five gold records. He’s got a bunch of jewelry and whatnot laid atop some of those golden discs.
Well, White Gold would be the sixth gold album produced by Barry White as the Love Unlimited Orchestra recorded their most ambitious album: 11 songs and 44 minutes of instrumentals.
The album opens and closes with “Barry’s Love” presented in parts 1 and 2. Neither is that much different than the other and are pleasant mood pieces.
“Satin Soul” was the single released from this album (#22 R&B, #23 pop). It kicks off with an explosion of drum kicks and loud banging piano. “Always Thinking of You” keeps up the energy as White continues propelling the burgeoning disco sound.
I love “Power of Love” cuz Barry runs through all kinds of power movements before telling y’all that love is the greatest power of all. The Orchestra then proceeds to do their best to make love symphonic.
Side One concludes with “Spanish Lei”, which has a drummer who is quite insistent on making your ass dance. Homie is just pounding away on his kit. If you listen to just one side of the album, this is the side to go for, cuz things hit some snags on Side Two.
The first lackluster tune appears with “You Make Me Feel Like This (When You Touch Me)”. Easily the song that shoulda been cut from this album.
Proceedings pick up once more with “Only You Can Make Me Blue”, which is easy listening in the best way possible. This is taken a step further by the album’s best track, “Dreaming”. Talk about living up to your title. Feels like you’re floating on clouds when that music is playing.
And honestly, that’s where the album should have ended. Yet there are three more tracks. The reprise of “Barry’s Love” can stay, I suppose, no harm no foul there.
But the other two tracks (“Just Living It Up” and “Just Like A Baby”) ain’t doing anything to really elevate this LP.
This album really should have ended with “Dreaming” leading into the “Barry’s Love (Part 2)”. Cannot undersell the importance of sequencing and length people.
ALBUM GRADE: B-
Shoulda been a B perhaps even a B+! But as I carped about, the length sunders the album. As do the songs that cause the bloat. Well, relatively speaking. I still give this thing a B-, so it has many good qualities that can be culled from the excess.
Song Scores
Barry’s Love: 7/10
Satin Soul: 7.5/10
Always Thinking of You: 8/10
Power of Love: 7.5/10
Spanish Lei: 7/10
You Make Me Feel Like This (When You Touch Me): 5/10
Only You Can Make Me Blue: 8/10
Dreaming: 8.5/10
Just Living It Up: 6/10
Just Like A Baby: 6/10