Listen Again: Can’t Get Enough of Barry White

His trademark bass voice drove his third album and earned him nicknames like “Dr. Love.”

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Barry White had already made his name as a performer, writer, and producer by the time he dropped his third album, Can’t Get Enough, on August 6, 1974. His work with Love Unlimited Orchestra on “Love’s Theme” the year before proved vital to the development of disco, and his solo work combined that dance sound and R&B.

White’s trademark bass voice drove Can’t Get Enough, particularly its two major hits, “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” and “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything.” His signature sound and subject matter earned him nicknames like “Dr. Love,” “The Icon,” “King of Disco,” and the unabashedly awesome “Prince of Pillow Talk.” Can’t Get Enough hit No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and R&B album charts.

Though the album is brief, barely topping 31 minutes, it remains a slab of solid R&B. Rolling Stone places it among the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The two big hits remain essential listens, but stick around for slower jams like “I Can’t Believe You Love Me.”

 

This article is featured in the July/August 2024 issue of The Saturday Evening Post. Subscribe to the magazine for more art, inspiring stories, fiction, humor, and features from our archives.

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Comments

  1. What a wonderful remembrance of the great Barry White, who did so much to propel the burgeoning disco sound coming in at mid-decade, combining it with his unique solo soul R&B creations and style. Great links here Troy. I know Barry would love the fact his music is still appreciated today. Amazing ’70s album cover art too, for sure!

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