Just For You

2008 repressing of the four CD edition of this excellent box set from the late great Soul artist. The first three CDs contain an excellent overview of his career, filled with hits, album tracks and delectable bits of Soul/Slow Jam heaven. The fouth CD features three updated mixes of 'Let The Music Play'. A most excellent way to remember the musical legend. 43 tracks including 'Love's Theme', 'Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up', 'You're The First, The Last, My Everything', 'I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby' and more. Universal.

Putting together a comprehensive boxed set for an artist such as Barry White--whose multifaceted recording career extends across several decades--is a daunting task, especially considering that the man with the instantly recognizable, unmistakable voice has racked up nearly 50 hit singles in his capacity as a recording artist. Add to that his work as the creator and mastermind of the vocal trio Love Unlimited and the Love Unlimited Orchestra and the notion of a collection that's truly representative of this contemporary pop and soul legend seems nigh on impossible.

Fortunately, the compilers of this three-CD set succeeded in capturing all of White's major hits--from his first chart entry (1973's "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby") to "Dark and Lovely," a 1992 duet with fellow deep-voiced lover man Isaac Hayes--as well as selections from the Orchestra (including 1973's unforgettable "Love Theme") and the trio ("Walkin' in the Rain with the One I Love"), giving a complete musical picture of White, the singer, producer, and writer. The addition of a previously unreleased track ("Love's Beginning") and the essential "Secret Garden" (from Quincy Jones's 1990 set, Back on the Block) make this the definitive Barry White collection. --David Nathan