I've Got So Much to Give
When Barry White first burst onto the music scene in 1973--seemingly out of nowhere--he was dismissed by some critics as anIsaac Hayesimitator. Like Hayes (a chart maker since 1969), White had a deep baritone that made him a natural musical "lover man," and even though his physique was a real contrast to the sexy image ofMarvin Gayeor an early-'70sAl Green, the multitalented producer, songwriter, and artist knew that he had the kind of vocal style to win over a primarily female audience.With this, his very first album, White's music clearly had plenty of bedroom appeal. Using the same technique as Hayes, with extended songs that lasted several minutes, White helped put a lock on midnight love anthems. In addition to the pop and R&B; smash "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby" and his own standouts, "Back My Yesterday" and "I've Found Someone," White took theFour Tops' "Standing in the Shadows of Love" and turned it into a veritable opus. With swirling strings, arrangements courtesy of Gene Page, and his own Love Unlimited vocal trio providing back up, White's first album was just a taste of what was to come.--David Nathan