Sunday, August 26, 2018

Barry White - Can't Get Enough (1974)

“Can’t Get Enough” by Barry White (1974)

Release Date: August 6, 1974
Produced by Barry White
Genre: R&B, Disco, Soul, Pop, Quiet Storm
Label: 20th Century

Chart Positions: #1 (US, Italy), #2 (Canada, France), #4 (UK, Austria), #5 (Germany), #9 (Norway), #28 (Australia), #1 (US R&B)
Certifications: Gold (US, UK)
Awards: N/A

Singles and Chart Positions:
“Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Babe” #1 (US), #2 (Canada, France), #3 (Italy), #8 (UK),  #12 (Netherlands, South Africa), #13 (Belgium), #23 (Australia), #25 (Germany), #1 (US R&B), #26 (US Adult Contemporary)
“You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” #1 (UK, Italy), #2 (US, South Africa), #3 (Brazil), #4 (France), #5 (Canada), #6 (Ireland, Belgium), #7 (Australia, Austria, Switzerland), #9 (Germany), #13 (Netherlands), #1 (US R&B), #2 (US Dance)
 Singles Certifications: “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Babe”  (US Gold), “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything”  (US Gold, UK Silver)
Other Charting Tracks: N/A
Best Tracks: All Tracks – Solid Album from start to finish



“Can’t Get Enough” is Barry White’s third album and his first to crack the top five in the US and in many other parts of the world. This was Barry’s breakout, the one that launched him to worldwide superstardom.

The album topped the R&B albums chart, his third to do so. It also topped the US Billboard 200 and peaked at #4 on the UK Albums Chart as well as #1 in Italy and #2 in Canada and France.

Barry White wrote all the songs on the album as well as producing, arranging and engineering the album. White was a super talent well worth the recognition he received throughout the 70s and into the 90s.

Despite featuring two of his biggest career hits the album is a solid work with every song worthy of having been a single release.

“Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe” was released as the first single from his album Can't Get Enough in 1974, the song topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and R&B charts and was a big hit throughout much of Europe. It was his second U.S. chart-topper, after "Love's Theme". The song is a pop-soul track with lush string arrangements and a disco-influenced beat behind it.

Barry White fell in love in 1973 with Glodean James, who was one of the members of his Love Unlimited backing trio of singers. He wrote, “Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love Babe” for her one night when he had troubles falling asleep. Barry and Glodean married in October 1974 and for a time were one of the best-known couples in showbiz. The pair separated in 1988 but never divorced and remained good friends for the remainder of White's life.

“You’re The First, The Last, My Everything” has gone on to become Barry’s biggest career hit and was the second single from the album. The song was White's fourth top ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, reaching #2; it spent a week at #1 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. The early disco classic made it to number two on the disco/dance charts. In the UK Singles Chart, it fared even better, spending two weeks at the top in December 1974. It was also #1 in Italy, #2 in South Africa, #3 in Brazil, #4 in France and #5 in Canada and reached the Top 20 in another dozen countries around the world.

"You're The First, The Last, My Everything" (1974)

White's friend Peter Radcliffe started writing this as a Country song called "You're My First, You're My Last, My In-Between," but he couldn't get it recorded for 21 years. White recorded this as a Disco song, keeping most of the structure and two-thirds the title, but he rewrote the lyrics.

The album was a big winner at the 1974 NAACP Awards, which were presented in January 1975. White won Album of the Year ("Can't Get Enough), Male Vocalist of the Year and Producer of the Year. He attended the awards ceremony with his (then) wife Glodean.

The following review appeared in the July 20, 1974 issue of Billboard Magazine in the Top Single Picks section:
"Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe"
"Short talking intro leads into strongest vocal Barry has come up with in some time. Most uptempo thing he's done in a while, which includes his usual strong production work and distinctive beat which should be perfect for discos. Could cross easily into pop."


Barry White 1974






BARRY WHITE

Thursday, August 9, 2018

J. Geils Band - Sanctuary (1978)

“Sanctuary” by J. Geils Band (1978)

Release Date: November 1978
Produced by Seth Justman, Joseph Wissert
Genre: Rock, Classic Rock
Label: EMI

Chart Positions: #49 (US), #53 (Canada)
Certifications: Gold (US)
Awards: N/A

Singles and Chart Positions: 
“One Last Kiss” #6 (France), #35 (US), #58 (Canada), #74 (UK)
“Take It Back” #67 (US), #94 (Canada)
“Sanctuary #47 (US)

 Singles Certifications: N/A
Other Charting Tracks: N/A
Best Tracks: “One Last Kiss,” “Take It Back,” “Sanctuary,” “Wild Man,” “Just Can’t Stop Me”



“Sanctuary” was J. Geils Band’s 8th studio album (10th album overall including live albums). It was their first to have 3 songs make it on to the US singles chart. After having achieved success with Atlantic Records, J. Geils Band switched over to EMI to produce their three most successful albums of their career.

“Sanctuary” was the band’s tightest sounding record in years. They produced a leaner and cleaner sound as they play up the keyboards more than in their past albums, giving the album an overall contemporary sound.

The first single release “One Last Kiss,” although not their highest charting hit, received a fair amount of airplay and put J. Geils Band in the minds of music listeners across the US. The hooky hit single was their first Top 40 since 1974’s “Must Of Got Lost.”



The second single “Take It Back” hints at what was to come in 1981 when J. Giles Band entered the realm of commercial pop and had their biggest hits with “Centerfold” and “Freeze Frame,” “Take It Back” was a very distant prototype for those songs.

“Sanctuary,” the album’s third single just barely missed the Top 40 making it to #47 on the US chart. The song sports a Rolling Stone feel that is inescapable. This may have been a good direction to further explore.

Stand out track “Wild Man” continues with that Mick Jagger Rolling Stones vibe and begins with a dramatic keyboard opening. “Just Can’t Stop Me” brings in a glam feel with it’s “Rebel Rebel” sounding opening working into a rough jam band sound.

J. Geils Band





J. GEILS BAND