I personally have been a huge Barry White fan since as far back as I can recall ever listening to music. Not that I’ve ever used his deep, syrup-dipped tones to woo any women whilst they were at my place of residence, but moreover as a way to match up other artists over the years against his massive musical impression.

And now, Marshall Blonstein's Audio Fidelity has just-released a limited numbered edition 180g vinyl LP of soul legend Barry White's critically acclaimed 1974 masterpiece Can't Get Enough. Indeed, this just-released album - that actually even made Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time - marks the very first time White‘s music has been given the audiophile treatment!

For the record, Can’t Get Enough was the third release from the big, cuddly musical teddy bear and ensured that his run of album and chart successes continued. Indeed, the album topped the Billboard 200 and R&B charts and even peaked at #4 in the UK.

Side One eases us in with the short orchestral, yet multi-layered instrumental ‘Mellow Mood (Pt. I),’ before the anthem-inspired ‘You're My First, My Last, My Everything’ - a song everyone knows whether they know it’s White or not - comes bellowing at us on this newly-remastered vinyl. My goodness, turned up to a reasonable level and wow, it fairly bounces off the turntable. As crisp as the day it was recorded the sound his huge from White. The last track on Side One is ‘I Can't Believe You Love Me,’ which not only is the longest on the entire album but also slows down White’s hurry to vocally make love to us! “Different strokes for different folks,” as he himself says, it‘s a spoken word tour de force.

And what can be said of the impressive Side Two opener ‘You’re My First, You’re My Last, You’re My Everything’ can definitely also be said of the classic album-titled ‘Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe’ which also found its way - easily - to top the singles charts that year. Preceded by White’s spoken-word musical intro, where we’re informed “too much of a good thing” cannot be bad; surely, it’s a Disco-era blockbuster to listen to, even today. Indeed, where most all the songs contained on this great album are pure-White through and through, it’s the two best known singles that bring the dance floor vibe of the 70’s to the musical fore here.

Produced by Barry White and mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, that track is followed by the slower pace of ‘Oh Love, Well We Finally Made It,’ which is yet another prime example of how White could make love to each and every one of us (“I will let the big fire burn until I let the whole world know”) through vinyl! ‘I Love You More Than Anything (In This World Girl)’ just makes you want to listen to this album over and over, for it’s not just the two hits that make this fantastic album what it was/is. “I wish them all the luck in the world baby, ’cause they’re gonna need it. They let you get away and I know you’ve got a sad story, but I‘ve got a story for you too,” is how we get introduced to this musical storytelling. A love song for the ages, every line, every verse could so easily be used over and over on any given Valentine’s Day. An underrated gem, a so-called lost classic on this album, perhaps, but still one powerhaus of a track.

The album comes to a close with the book-ending instrumental track to the Side One opener of the same name, ‘Mellow Mood (Pt. II).’ Oh, and just so you know as an added bonus all the lyrics to all the vocals on the record are included, listed on the inside of the attractive glossy coated gatefold jacket.

Reviewed by: Russell A. Trunk