You're the first, the last, my everything
by Barry
White 1974.
On CD Barry White The Collection (Mercury/Phonogram 1988).
Born 12 September 1944, Galveston, Texas,USA.
Raised in Los Angeles, White immersed himself in the local music fraternity while still
very young, playing piano on Jesse Belvin 's hit, 'Goodnight My Love', at the age of 11.
Barry made several records during the early 60s, under his own name, as 'Barry Lee', and
as a member of the Upfronts, the Atlantics and the Majestics. However, he found a greater
success as a backroom figure, guiding the careers of, amongst others, Felice Taylor and
Viola Wills. In 1969 White put together Love Unlimited, a female vocal trio made up of
Diana Taylor, Glodean James (his future wife) and her sister Linda. He also founded the
Love Unlimited Orchestra, a 40-piece ensemble to accompany himself and the singing trio,
for which he conducted, composed and arranged. Love Unlimited's success in 1972 with
'Walkin' In The Rain With The One I Love', featuring White's gravelly, passion-soaked
voice on the telephone, rejuvenated Barry's own career, during which he scored major US
hits with 'I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby', 'Never, Never GonnaGive Ya Up'
(both 1973), 'Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe' and 'You're The First, The Last, My
Everything' (both 1974) all of which proved just as popular in the UK. With these, the
artist established a well-wrought formula where catchy pop/soul melodies were fused to
sweeping arrangements and the singer's husky growl. The style quickly verged on
self-parody as the sexual content of the lyrics grew more explicit, but although his pop
hits lessened towards the end of the 70s, he remained the idolatry subject of live
performances. The singer's last major hit was in 1978 with Billy Joel 's 'Just The Way You
Are'. He later undertook several recordings with Glodean White before returning to the UK
Top 20 in 1987 with 'Sho' You Right'. The subject of critical approbation, particularly
with reference to his large frame. White's achievements during the peak of his career, in
securing gold and platinum discs for worldwide sales, should not be underestimated. Lisa
Stansfield has often voiced her approval of White's work and in 1992, she and White
re-recorded a version of Stansfield's hit, 'All Around The World' but it was not as
successful as the original.
Barry put together Love
Unlimited and their orchestra before 1972, which established him on the soul
& R&B scene. His own vocal recordings starting in the early 70's
establised him as a soul-disco artist and made him a permanent feature of the
charts throughout the seventies. Early releases which found him success on UK
and US dancefloors were "I'm gonna love you just a little more baby",
"Never, never gonna give you up", "Can't get enough of your
love" (US No. 1) and "You're the first, the last, my everything"
(UK No. 1) - all were US gold discs. Further, even more disco orientated tracks
included "What am I gonna do with you", "Let the music play"
and "You see the trouble with me" (UK No. 2). After this, Barry's
chart popularity waned (although he still got in the Top 40), but his live
performances were still very successful. All single title tracks from the 70's
are well worth having as disco favourites
.
SUGGESTED DISCOGRAPHY
I've got
so much to give (20th Century LP, 1973)
Stone
gon' (20th Century LP, 1973)
Can't
get enough (20th Century LP, 1974)
Just
another way to say I love you (20th Century LP, 1975)
Let the
music play (20th Century LP, 1976)
Is this
watcha wont? (20th Century LP, 1976)
Barry
White sings for someone you love (20th Century LP, 1977)
Barry
White the man (20th Century LP, 1978)
The
message is love (20th Century LP, 1979)
I love
to sing the songs I sing (20th Century LP, 1979)
Barry
White's sheet music (20th Century LP, 1980)
I'm
gonna love you just a little bit more baby (20th Century, 1973)
I've got
so much to give (20th Century, 1973)
Never,
never gonna give ya up (20th Century, 1973)
Can't
get enough of your love, babe (20th Century, 1974)
You're
the first, the last, my everything (20th Century, 1974)
What am
I gonna do with you (20th Century, 1975)
I'll do
for you anything you want me to (20th Century, 1975)
Let the
music play (20th Century, 1976)
You see
the trouble with me (20th Century, 1976)
Baby we
better try and get it together (20th Century, 1976)
Don't
make me wait too long (20th Century, 1976)
I'm
qualified to satisfy (20th Century, 1977)
It's
ecstacy when you lay down next to me (20th Century, 1977)
You're the first, the last, my everything