America's West Coast Music Recording Icons

                                                         ( Part 2 )
                                    
                                 


Barry White

Barry White exerted incredible influence as a cultural icon, famous all over the world for his romantic and sexual themes: many parents around the world claim that they were influenced by his songs in terms of their love making and no doubt babies have been born due to the effects of the sexually-charged lyrics of songs such as “Please take of your clothes” and “I am here to please you”. If you use your imagination, you can understand the extent of his influence on females, with his sexy, raspy bass-baritone voice, supported by lush orchestral backing. Barry White has certainly mastered the language of foreplay to a fine art. His sensuous songs concentrated on male-female relationships with great sensitivity and later influenced disco music and British soul artists such as Lisa Stansfield and Soul 11 Soul.

This album was Barry White's first gold certified
album of his career as a solo artist

Between 1973 and 1974 Barry White generated over $16 million in revenue for 20^th Century Records, from three different sources. With Love Unlimited he achieved R&B number 1 and Pop number 27 with the song “I Belong To You” from the gold album “In Heat”. From the Love Unlimited Orchestra came “Love Theme”, a gold single (for over million copies sold in the USA) taken from the gold album “Rhapsody In White”. The orchestra produced another gold album entitled “White Gold”, featuring the hit single “Satin Soul”. But the greatest achievement amongst White’s recording projects were his solo efforts, starting in 1973 with his first gold single “I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby” which reached R&B number 1 and Pop number 3, from the gold album “I’ve Got So Much To Give”.

This is the third solo album that contains gold singles
 "You're The First, My Last My Everything" and
 "Can't Get Enough Your Love Babe"

The next major achievement was the gold single “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” which topped the British Pop chart and peaked at Pop number 2 and R&B number 1 in America. In 1974 White finally achieved the ultimate by going to number one on both Billboard Pop and R&B charts with another gold single “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe” in the USA . It is interesting to note that these last two gold singles came from the same gold album entitled “Can’t Get Enough”. During that period in America Pop culture, Barry White was the only producer, songwriter and artist to have hit records from three different sources at the same time.

  White’s cultural influence became noticeable  with academic institutions such as Oxford University which invited the legendary artist to speak to their body of over 900 students organized by the Oxford Union about his “lady music” and his three decades of creative and dynamic involvement in the music industry. Barry’s voice and music has also appeared in television, movies and commercial advertisement. Compare to Bill Withers’  extensive list , White’s listing is extremely small, arranging from movies: Coonskin aka Street Fight (1975); Why Color? Voice only (1992) and television: Ally McBeal series ( cameo role appearance singing one of his hit songs).

The “Milk to the Rescue” commercial campaign in America used Love Unlimited  Orchestra to for background music with voiceover to inform us of the benefits of calcium in our health. The only major difference between the two artists is that Barry White has sold a large quantity of gold and platinum records globally with over 41 platinum albums and 106 gold albums, 10 platinum  and 20 gold singles to his credit mounting to worldwide sales in excess of 100 million at present. This is indeed remarkable for a man who achieved the American dream by using music as his transport to move from the ghetto to international success.

This was Barry White last  gold certified
solo album recording of his career
before death

Approximately 80 million baby boomers in the USA grew up listening to the powerful songs of Bill Withers and Barry White. According to the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America), consumers aged 40 and above purchased 36.6 percent of recorded music sold in America during 2003. The biggest selling genres were Rap and R&B, accounting for over one third of all records sold in 2003 (and 2004). Artists such as Bill Withers and Barry White have created economic sustainability in the recording industry with re-released recordings of previous hit albums and compilations, especially after 9/11, when the industry went through tremendously difficult and challenging times financially.

 On entering many five star hotels and corporate offices across the world you will hear the sound of the “Love Theme” by Love Unlimited Orchestra, creating an ambience to soothe the heavy demands of life in general. It is fascinating to see how these artists (the two BWs, Barry White and Bill Withers) have maintained their global appeal. They are indeed cultural institutions to be celebrated and respected for their outstanding achievement and impact on popular music. These men have proved once again that well written and brilliantly produced compositions will live on for generations, constantly renewing their appeal.

Researched and compiled by
Mr K Tomlin Music Historian
©RCM Music/Signaturesoundsonline 2013