From his hitmaking ’70s heyday until his untimely passing in 2003, Barry White set an unmatched standard for sexy, seductive, soulful R&B. As a vocalist, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist, White created music that was unmatched in its sonic and romantic intensity, highlighted by lush, widescreen arrangements and the artist’s deep, dark baritone voice. Over the course of his remarkable career, two-time Grammy Award–winner Barry White scored 106 gold albums worldwide, with 41 of those attaining platinum status, along with 20 gold and 10 platinum singles, with worldwide record sales of over 100 million records. He remains one of the best-selling recording artists of all time.
On April 13, Mercury Records/UMe will release the first of a series of catalog releases of Barry White’s classic work, in a yearlong celebration of the 45th anniversary of White’s first release on 20th Century Records. New collections feature such White solo hits as “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe” and “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything,” along with hits by female trio Love Unlimited (“Walkin’ In The Rain With The One I Love,” “I Belong To You”) and the 40-piece Love Unlimited Orchestra (“Love’s Theme,” “Satin Soul”), both of which benefited from White’s distinctive songwriting and production skills.
The White reissue series launches with a pair of remastered White hits collections: Love’s Theme: The Best Of The 20th Century Records Singles, a single-CD compilation incorporating 21 classic White hits, which will also be available as a double vinyl LP including the bonus track “Satin Soul” by Love Unlimited Orchestra; and the three-CD, 46-track The Complete 20th Century Records Singles (1973-1979), which will be presented in a specially-designed box with the three discs packaged in individual wallets. Both albums will feature expansive liner notes and track details. Pre-order is available now for both the physical and digital collections with digital downloads receiving the first in a series of instant grat downloads that will be rolled out up to the album’s release. Love’s Theme: The Best Of The 20th Century Records Singles includes the title track “Love’s Theme” and “I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby” while The Complete 20th Century Records Singles (1973-1979) is also accompanied by that song as well as “Just A Little More, Baby (Instrumental).”
On April 20, Mercury/UMe will release The 20th Century Records Singles (1973-1975), a box set of 10 seven-inch vinyl singles that replicates White’s original hit single releases. The ten singles will be housed in a two-piece rigid box, with each disc in a 20th Century Records sleeve and 7″ labels that duplicate the originals, along with a four-page illustrated book. The vinyl set features newly remastered audio from the 20th Century Records master tapes, cut at Abbey Road Studios for the highest possible sound quality.
These comprehensive sets kick off UMG’s historic Barry White/20th Century Records remastered reissue program, with future releases to include complete 20th Century Records LP and CD album box sets, and new compilations and album box sets spotlighting Love Unlimited and the Love Unlimited Orchestra.
