All-Time Greatest Hits by Barry White

WP: Hello everyone, I'm William Pinn and welcome to my review of the Barry White All-Time Greatest Hits CD. With me today is my special guest Barry White. How are you today, Mr. White?

Barry: Beautiful...Call me Barry.

WP: Right on.

Barry: Hold on, that's my line. Don't steal it (laughter).

WP: Barry, I almost feel speechless in your presence. I am such a huge fan of yours. Your songs were hits when I was still in High School-

Barry:: You go back that far? (More laughter.)

WP: Yes, I am afraid I do. I was listening to your greatest hits CD, and boy...does it bring back memories of my callow youth. Along with your stellar music, the artwork and graphics are a stone grove, man! I did not find any song-lyrics sheets, and I thought of rating your CD only four stars, but then I noticed the CD booklet had lots of trivia on you-which made it easier to create this fake interview with you. So I decided to give your CD the high-five stars!

Barry: Right on...Give me five (Barry and I slap hands).

WP: Now one of the more fascinating things I read about you is that you write and arrange your music?

Barry: Yes I do. I don't read and write music, but I have always had a good ear and can hear all of the instruments in my head. I have someone else like Gene Page-who is my favorite arranger-scribble the notes that I arrange for the orchestra.

WP: Your songs have great hooks, but I understand you have coined your own terms to describe your music. Tell us what they are.

Barry: Well I don't use the term "hooks" to describe my music. I call them "locks" or "deep-pocket grooves."

WP: Of course it goes without saying that your front-and-center deep bass voice sounds fantastic against your deep-pocket orchestral backgrounds. Your music really does deserve the moniker Satin Soul.

Barry: Right on. It is ecstasy to my ears to hear you say that.

WP: Can you tell us about some of the tracks on your CD?

Barry: I'm qualified to satisfy (laughter). One deep-pocket groove is Love's Theme.

WP: All these years I never knew that you wrote that instrumental hit! I love that jam! Pardon the pun.

Barry: Right on. I was the first composer to use five guitars in my songs. My ear went to french horns and strings in this lock. Some of the musicians were worried it wouldn't all come together. "Trust me," I said. And what you get is what you now hear.

WP: Many of your locks (songs), including this one, have that guitar-scratchin' disco rhythm, which make them easy to dance to. I know I start to move when I listen to I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby; I've Got So Much To Give; Never, Never Gonna Give You Up; Honey Can't Ya See and of course one of my all time favorites Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe.

Barry: I can't get enough of your kind words (laughter).

WP: Good, because I have yet to mention You're the First, the Last, My Everything. I saw you perform this lock on the Alley McBeal TV series. You still got it, my man!

Barry: Right on. Give me five (Barry and I slap hands).

WP: For reasons mentioned earlier, my other danceable disco favorites on this CD are What Am I Gonna Do With You; I'll Do Anything You Want Me To--

Barry: Within reason (laughter).

WP:...and Let the Music Play. I like how you start off some of your songs speaking in that big deep bass voice-

Barry: Uhh...ahh...uh huh..ya baby...(laughter).

WP: Yes, exactly. You drove the women in my life crazy when they heard your voice. It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me has a bad-boy funky bass that I like. Playing Your Game, Baby has a nice shuffling rhythm-good to slow dance to.

Barry: Uh huh...that is one deep-pocket groove I am proud of. I arranged the strings and band for those special moments when you are with that special someone.

WP: But then you pump up the jam with Your Sweetness Is My Weakness. I can't sit still while that lock is playing, dude.

Barry: Yeah...I used a syncopated horn section against the rhythm section. When we recorded that lock, it all came together nicely.

WP: You also covered Billy Joel's song Just the Way You Are. That was a nice change of pace, but don't go changin', Barry (laughter).

Barry: Don't worry...you can trust me (laughter).

WP: The CD also contains the lock that defines your music: Satin Soul. That one is sort of like a more up-tempo funkier Love's Theme instrumental. It made a disco-tech out of my living room.

Barry: I still can't get enough of your kind words. Fans like you are my life, my world, my everything.

WP: Right on.

Barry: You stole my line again (laughter).

WP: Sorry, dude (laughter). Thanks for stopping by. It was great to have you with us.

Barry: It's been a deep-pocket groove. Give me five...

The CD

01. Love's Theme
02. I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little Bit More, Baby
03. I've Got So Much To Give
04. Never, Never Gonna Give You Up
05. Honey Please, Can't Ya See
06. Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe
07. Your the First, The Last, My Everything
08. What Am I Gonna Do With You
09. I'll Do For You Anything You Want Me To
10. Let the Music Play
11. You See the Trouble With Me
12. Baby, We Better Try to Get It Together
13. Don't Make Me Wait Too Long
14. I'm Qualified To Satisfy You
15. It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me
16. Playing Your Game, Baby
17. Oh, What A Night For Dancing
18. Your Sweetness Is My Weakness
19. Just the Way You Are
20. Satin Soul