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Barry White’s final album, released in 1999, was fittingly titled Staying Power–and with a career that stretched across three decades and produced some of the most enduring pop-soul of the disco era and beyond, it’s as good as any a description for the late, great White’s discography. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, UMe puts fans in the mood for love with an assortment of new compilations devoted to his tenure on 20th Century Records

Born Barry Eugene Carter in Galveston, Texas, the impossibly deep-voiced singer-songwriter-arranger was a teenage gang member jailed at 16 for theft; upon hearing Elvis Presley’s “It’s Now or Never” while incarcerated, he took the music and message to heart, focusing on honing his musical skills once freed. Finally, in the 1970s, he hit pay dirt several times over: first as a writer, producer and arranger for both female trio Love Unlimited, then the backing band he fronted, The Love Unlimited Orchestra (who topped the pop charts in 1973 with the dizzying disco instrumental “Love’s Theme”); then as a velvety-smooth frontman on his own. Debut single “I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby” was a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and topped the R&B chart.

White achieved similar heights through the ’70s with his unique brand of luscious, celebratory soul, perfect for club play as well as more intimate settings. By the time White left the 20th Century Records label to create his own Unlimited Gold imprint, he’d notched six No. 1 R&B albums and logged one of the definitive tracks of the decade: “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” – a No. 1 hit on pop and R&B single and album charts (for its parent album, 1974’s Can’t Get Enough). White remained a pop culture staple for the rest of his days, serving as a notable early guest star on The Simpsons and notching a surprise pop and R&B hit with 1994’s “Practice What You Preach.” Though he passed away in 2003 at the too-young age of 58, his influence is still palpable for anyone in the mood for love music.

The prolific output of Barry White has been celebrated on countless compilations and not one but two box sets: 1993’s Just For You and 2009’s rarities-packed Unlimited. A cadre of compilations is planned for April 13 in celebration of that first fantastic phase of his career. Love’s Theme: The Best of The 20th Century Records Singles offers nearly a dozen of White’s most popular A-sides, including “I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby,” “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe,” “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything,” “Let The Music Play,” “It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me” and more. True to its title, the disc kicks off with the Love Unlimited Orchestra’s “Love’s Theme”; the accompanying double vinyl version adds “Satin Soul,” another bonus cut from the orchestra, to its lineup.

For the collector, the triple-disc The Complete 20th Century Records Singles (1973-1979) features not only every complete solo A-side from Barry White’s tenure with the label (including six Top 10 pop hits and a dozen Top 10 R&B singles, all in their original edits or mixes) but a host of sides that never made it past their original vinyl release. This includes both instrumental B-sides featuring the unforgettable Love Unlimited Orchestra arrangements (11 in total), rare U.K.-only single versions, and a handful of disco mixes available on promo 12″ releases.

A week later, on April 20, UMe will issue The 20th Century Records Singles (1973-1975), a box set featuring 10 recreated 45 RPM singles from White’s early tenure on the label, with replica labels and sleeves and a four-page book of liner notes.

These sets will infuse new life into Barry White’s hit-filled catalogue, thanks to the team of producer Bill Levenson, mastering engineer Kevin Reeves and master tape researcher Andy Skurow (whose impeccable work has aided several Second Disc Records releases), who painstakingly tracked down original tapes and recreated original single edits where necessary. Richard Havers contributes liner notes to the deluxe set, while detailed discographical information is included in both packages.

Fall under the influence of love with either collection, with full track lists and Amazon links below!

Love’s Theme: The Best of The 20th Century Records Singles (20th Century/Mercury/UMe, 2018)

CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. (TBD) / Amazon Canada

1. Love’s Theme – The Love Unlimited Orchestra
2. I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby
3. I’ve Got So Much To Give
4. Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up
5. Honey Please, Can’t You See
6. Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe
7. You’re The First, The Last, My Everything
8. What Am I Gonna Do With You
9. I’ll Do For You Anything You Want Me To
10. Let the Music Play
11. Satin Soul – The Love Unlimited Orchestra (vinyl bonus track)
12. You See The Trouble With Me
13. Baby, We Better Try to Get It Together
14. Don’t Make Me Wait Too Long
15. I’m Qualified to Satisfy You
16. It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me
17. Playing Your Game, Baby
18. Oh, What a Night for Dancin’
19. Your Sweetness is My Weakness
20. Just The Way You Are
21. September When I First Met You
22. I Love to Sing The Songs I Sing

The Complete 20th Century Records Singles (1973-1979) (20th Century/Mercury/UMe, 2018)

Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

Disc 1

1. I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby
2. Just a Little More, Baby (Instrumental)
3. I’ve Got So Much to Give
4. I’ve Got So Much to Give (Instrumental)
5. Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up (Short Version)
6. Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up (Long Version)
7. No, I’m Never Gonna Give Ya Up (Instrumental)
8. Honey Please, Can’t You See
9. Honey Please, Can’t You See (Instrumental)
10. Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe
11. Just Not Enough (Instrumental)
12. You’re The First, The Last, My Everything
13. More Than Anything, You’re My Everything (Instrumental)
14. What Am I Gonna Do With You
15. What Am I Gonna Do With You, Baby (Instrumental)

Disc 2

1. I’ll Do For You Anything You Want Me To
2. Anything You Want Me To (Instrumental)
3. Let The Music Play
4. Let The Music Play (Instrumental)
5. You See The Trouble With Me
6. I’m So Blue and You Are Too
7. Baby, We Better Try to Get It Together
8. If You Know, Won’t You Tell Me
9. Don’t Make Me Wait Too Long
10. Can’t You See It’s Only You I Want (Instrumental)
11. I’m Qualified to Satisfy You
12. I’m Qualified to Satisfy You (Instrumental)
13. It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me
14. I Never Thought I’d Fall In Love With You
15. It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me (Disco Version)

Disc 3

1. Playing Your Game, Baby
2. Of All the Guys In The World
3. Oh What a Night For Dancing
4. You’re So Good, You’re Bad
5. Your Sweetness Is My Weakness
6. It’s Only Love Doing Its Thing
7. Just The Way You Are
8. Now I’m Gonna Make Love to You
9. Sha La La Means I Love You
10. September When I First Met You
11. Early Years
12. I Love to Sing The Songs I Sing
13. Oh Me, Oh My (I’m Such a Lucky Guy)
14. How Did You Know It Was Me?
15. Oh Me, Oh My (I’m Such a Lucky Guy) (Disco Version)
16. I Love to Sing The Songs I Sing (Disco Version)

The 20th Century Records Singles (1973-1975) (20th Century/Mercury/UMe, 2018)

Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. (TBD) / Amazon Canada (TBD)

Single 1: The Love Unlimited Orchestra, Love’s Theme b/w Sweet Moments (20th Century TC-2069, 1973)
Single 2: I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby b/w Just a Little More Baby (Instrumental) (20th Century TC-2018, 1973)
Single 3: I’ve Got So Much to Give b/w I’ve Got So Much to Give (Instrumental) (20th Century TC-2042, 1973)
Single 4: Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up (Short Version) b/w/ No, I’m Never Gonna Give Ya Up (Instrumental) (20th Century TC-2058, 1973)
Single 5: Honey Please, Can’t Ya See b/w Honey Please, Can’t Ya See (Instrumental) (20th Century TC-2077, 1974)
Single 6: Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe b/w Just Not Enough (Instrumental) (20th Century TC-2120, 1974)
Single 7: You’re The First, The Last, My Everything b/w More Than Anything, You’re My Everything (Instrumental) (20th Century TC-2133, 1974)
Single 8: What Am I Gonna Do with You b/w What Am I Gonna Do with You, Baby (Instrumental) (20th Century TC-2177, 1975)
Single 9: I’ll Do for You Anything You Want Me To b/w Anything You Want Me To (Instrumental) (20th Century TC-2208, 1975)
Single 10: Let the Music Play b/w Let the Music Play (Instrumental) (20th Century TC-2265, 1975)