UMe's ongoing reissue campaign for the music of Barry White -which has, so far, included singles collections for White, the girl group Love Unlimited, and The Love Unlimited Orchestra - will expand next month for its most extensive entry: a 9-CD or 9-LP box set collecting White's complete 20th Century Records albums.
The 20th Century Records Albums (1973-1979) will arrive on the same day as nine individual, 180-gram LP issues of each title. These records represent the most beloved period of White's distinguished career, featuring the soulful maestro at his most lush and sultry, often aided by the arrangements of Gene Page. The set includes:
- I've Got So Much to Give (20th Century T-407, 1973)
- Stone Gon' (20th Century T-473, 1973)
- Can't Get Enough (20th Century T-444, 1974)
- Just Another Way to Say I Love You (20th Century T-466, 1975)
- Let the Music Play (20th Century T-502, 1976)
- Is This Watcha Wont? (20th Century T-516, 1977)
- Barry White Sings for Someone You Love (20th Century T-543, 1977)
- The Man (20th Century T-571, 1978)
- I Love to Sing the Songs I Sing (20th Century T-590, 1979)
It appears that all of the albums will be presented in their original versions with no additional material added. (Hip-o Select previously reissued I've Got So Much to Give and Let the Music Play in expanded editions with bonus tracks.) Sleeve and label artwork for each title has been faithfully replicated for these new releases. These albums include such perennial White favorites as "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," "Don't Make Me Wait Too Long," "I'm Qualified to Satisfy You," and his fan-favorite cover of Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are." Following 1979's I Love to Sing the Songs I Sing, White began the next chapter of his musical career with a move to his own Unlimited Gold label. Yet, of course, the recordings he left behind at 20th Century Records were nothing less than unlimited gold.
The 20th Century Records Albums (1973-1979) is due from Mercury/UMe on October 26. You'll find the complete track listing below!
Barry White, The 20th Century Records Albums (1973-1979) (Mercury/UMe, 2018)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Vinyl: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
I've Got So Much To Give (20th Century T-407; 1973)
SIDE ONE
- Standing In The Shadows Of Love
- Bring Back My Yesterday
SIDE TWO
- I've Found Someone
- I've Got So Much To Give
- I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby
Stone Gon' (20th Century T-423; 1973)
SIDE ONE
- Girl It's True, Yes I'll Always Love You
- Honey Please, Can't Ya See
- You're My Baby
SIDE TWO
- Hard To Believe That I Found You
- Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up
Can't Get Enough (20th Century T-444; 1974)
SIDE ONE
- Mellow Mood (Pt. I)
- You're The First, The Last, My Everything
- I Can't Believe You Love Me
SIDE TWO
- Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe
- Oh Love, Well We Finally Made It
- I Love You More Than Anything (In This World Girl)
- Mellow Mood (Pt. II)
Just Another Way To Say I Love You (20th Century T-466; 1975)
SIDE ONE
- Heavenly, That's What You Are To Me
- I'll Do For You Anything You Want Me To
- All Because Of You
- Love Serenade (Part I)
SIDE TWO
- What Am I Gonna Do With You
- Let Me Live My Life Lovin' You Babe
- Love Serenade (Part II)
Let The Music Play (20th Century T-502; 1976)
SIDE ONE
- I Don't Know Where Love Has Gone
- If You Know, Won't You Tell Me
- I'm So Blue And You Are Too
SIDE TWO
- Baby, We Better Try To Get It Together
- You See The Trouble With Me
- Let The Music Play
Is This Whatcha Wont? (20th Century T-516; 1976)
SIDE ONE
- Don't Make Me Wait Too Long
- Your Love - So Good I Can Taste It
SIDE TWO
- I'm Qualified To Satisfy You
- I Wanna Lay Down With You Baby
- Now I'm Gonna Make Love To You
Barry White Sings For Someone You Love (20th Century T-543; 1977)
SIDE ONE
- Playing Your Game, Baby
- It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me
- You're So Good, You're Bad
SIDE TWO
- I Never Thought I'd Fall In Love With You
- You Turned My Whole World Around
- Oh, What A Night For Dancing
- Of All The Guys In The World
The Man (20th Century T-571; 1978)
SIDE ONE
- Look At Her
- Your Sweetness Is My Weakness
- Sha La La Means I Love You
SIDE TWO
- September When I First Met You
- It's Only Love Doing Its Thing
- Just The Way You Are
- Early Years
I Love To Sing the Songs I Sing (20th Century T-590; 1979)
SIDE ONE
- I Love To Sing The Songs I Sing
- Girl, What's Your Name
- Once Upon A Time (You Were A Friend Of Mine)
- Oh Me, Oh My (I'm Such A Lucky Guy)
SIDE TWO
- I Can't Leave You Alone
- Call Me, Baby
- How Did You Know It Was Me?
Zubb says
Joe, your article states "Sleeve and label artwork for each title has been faithfully replicated for these new releases". Does that apply to the CD version as well? Will these be in the mini LP packaging or merely cheap single sleeves with just the original LP cover photos as Sony usually does with their complete album releases?
Bill Anthony says
Wow - they should have included a correct CD version of Barry White's Greatest Hits (1975) - every track was a new mix or edit (or both), and what a great album! The CD of that 10-track album that's been around since 1990 has most of the tracks in incorrect versions, and the artwork is incorrect as well.
kurt says
Universal should give Gloria Gaynor the same treatment (Singles set followed by Albums set) next. Her work has rarely received a first class mastering in the digital age.
Jacob Fleming says
It'd be nice if all of the Love Unlimited Orchestra albums got the same treatment, especially on CD.
Robbert says
It would be nice if all of the BW, LU and LUO output would get the re-issue treatment.
Including the Unlimited Gold releases:
https://www.discogs.com/label/149873-Unlimited-Gold
Stefano says
The Love Unlimited reissue catalogue has already been announced too, I guess a bit later this year.
I've been waiting for ages to finally get my hands on a decent remaster of the 1973 'Under the Influence of Love Unlimited' album. That's the first time this album will be available on CD (and/or official digital download), which is quite unbelievable regarding the high profile of Love Unlimited.
Robbert says
But these are only the 20th Century Albums?
Stefano says
Yes, I guess so.
Robert Lett says
I cannot get over how inexpensive this is, I wonder if it even has liner notes at that price. Stoked to get it in any case.
Robert Lett says
Got it today. For the price I'm pretty happy to just have them on CD. It's a bummer there are no notes, booklet or such, pretty much no bells or whistles at all. Cardboard sleeves. I guess the audience for these things are maybe diminishing? After that fantastic Hip-O Select box it's a shame those folks couldn't have gotten hold of this project. Still nice to have it though.