Artist: Barry White Album: Under the Influence of Love

Year: 2003
Duration: 29:58

A of Barry White's Under the Influence of Love Album

Barry White is a music icon who has left a significant impact on the R&B and Soul music industry. With a career spanning over three decades, he produced numerous albums, one of which we would be reviewing today: Under the Influence of Love. This album was released in 1994 and was a fusion of his earlier works, which aimed to appeal to his long-term fans and attract new ones. In this post, we would take a deep dive into this album and provide an honest review.
To understand the musical style of Barry White, we have to go back to the 1970s. This was the period when he released his popular tracks, such as Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe and You're My First, My Last, My Everything, and cemented his status in the music industry. With Under the Influence of Love, we see a continuation of this style, with a touch of contemporary R&B. The album features ten tracks, opening with the title track, which is a smooth and groovy jam that showcases Barry White's deep baritone voice.
One standout track from the album is Come On, which exhibits Barry White's sensual vocals, and the use of brass instruments to create an upbeat sound. The song had a great balance of rhythm and blues, which is what made Barry White's music stand out. I Only Want To Be With You is another great track from the album, with a soft piano melody fused with Barry White's velvety voice in a slow tempo that tugs at the heartstrings. The song would make for a great romantic evening with your significant other.
One of the most innovative aspects of Under the Influence of Love is how it plays to the strengths of Barry White's voice. The album's producer, Gerald Levert, knew what would work for the music legend, and the arrangements reflect that. The use of the classic soul sound, fused with the contemporary R&B instrumentals, created a unique blend of musical style that albeit sounding dated, still resonates with a modern audience.
Despite the brilliance of the album, it does have a few evident drawbacks. One such issue is that the album doesn't showcase any new material from Barry White. It's mostly a best-of collection of his earlier works, reimagined with a modern touch. Also, the album only features ten short tracks, barely running for 40 minutes, which might leave some listeners wanting more.
Overall, Under the Influence of Love is a worthy addition to Barry White's long list of hit albums. While the album might not have been perfect, it showcased his voice incredibly, displaying the perfect balance between contemporary R&B and the classic soul sound that made Barry White a legend. This was the last album the music icon released before his unfortunate passing, cementing his place as a musical legend. If you are an avid listener of R&B and soul music, you should definitely give Under the Influence of Love a listen.