Songs from the school of the Love Unlimited

[Disco Funk]

Originally Posted by remicks

*****



Final Exam Question at the School of The Love Unlimited:



T or F:

The Love Unlimited Orchestra did a version of MOONLIGHT IN VERMONT ??

Answer :
False

Any confusion would stem from the very Barry version of the song as performed by The Heart And Soul Orchestra
found on :





(psst ...... coincidently arranged by Gene Page )



*****

That Heart & Soul Orchestra LP also featured Melvin Ragin on guitar, who was a regular in the Love Unlimited Orchestra.

Another little bit of trivia, for the longest time I thought the guys in this video were the same guys who played on the record.

Love Unlimited Orchestra - Love's Theme

Turns out Love Unlimited Orchestra regulars, at least in the first few years, Ed Greene on drums and Gary Coleman (not 'watchoo talk 'bout') on congas/percussion look like this:

Ed Greene

Gary Coleman

You can see from their discography, they were very prolific session musicians. Ed Greene seamlessly moved from funk to rock recordings.


And here's a recent performance of Ed Greene on drums

I think the drummer on that LUO youtube video is DeLacy White, who was a regular drummer for the group in the later years.

Disco Funk

[Disco Funk]

Here's an artist produced by Barry White I just found out about recently. This is the instrumental B side.



Here's a track by an artist produced by Brian Potter and Dennis Lambert, but using some of the same musicians, including the drummer, as Barry White's LUO.



Disco Funk

[DonaldCleveland]

I'm proud to say that I worked on this 4 CD/1 DVD Barry White Box set, with Harry Weinger and Jack Perry- unlike any Barry collection ever. We have several remixes and longer versions of Barry tracks from the vaults of Jack Perry- Barrys long time musical arranger and co-producer.
Dig the press release here:

A rarities collection celebrating Barry's depth as a songwriter and producer, the 4-CD/1-DVD Unlimited box set presents tracks from when he stepped out with his own sound, with Love Unlimited in 1972, through his final studio album, the Grammy(R)-winning Staying Power, released in 1999. Highlighted on the CDs are extended and/or rare versions of his hits, never-compiled personal favorites and LP tracks, and rare BW productions from a dozen different artists, including Gloria Scott, Tom Brock, Love Unlimited, Love Unlimited Orchestra, White Heat and others. The DVD offers every video from his tenure on A&M Records ("Practice What You Preach," "Sho' You Right," "Come On" and eight more) and rare bonus clips, including a live duet with Luciano Pavarotti that has become a YouTube phenomenon; each clip has bonus commentary from Jack Perry, White's longtime friend, co-producer and musical director. Liner notes
in the lavish packaging - including an essay and commentary by Barry White himself and by Perry, with additional notes from Quincy Jones - reveal the stories behind the songs and the man who made some of the funkiest, most romantic music of all time.

I am proud to say that Disc 4, the BW productions disc was compiled by me. Surely this box inclusive of this disc will have some true "songs from the school of Love Unlimited?":

Tom Brock- I love you more & more
Tom Brock- If we dont make it, nobody can (vocal version from b-side of 7" 45)
Jay Dee- Strange funky games and things
Jimmie & Vella Cameron- Be fair to me
Gene Page- Satin soul
Gloria Scott- Just as long as we're together (longer version)
Gloria Scott- I've got to have all of you (unreleased)
Smoke- Oh love (well, we finally made it) (this is not the SMOKE you think it is...this is an early BW group consisting of Jay Dee and Love Unlimited)
Jay Dee- You've changed
Westwing- Falling in love is a no-no
Tom Brock- Have a nice weekend baby
Danny Pearson- What's your sign girl
Black Satin f/ Fred Parris- How I wish we could do it all again
White Heat- Take a look at yourself
Quincy Jones- The Erotic Garden (this is the version from the maxi-single with the extended BW monologue)
Tina Turner f/ BW- In your wildest dreams

Only thing that breaks my heart is that I wanted each box to have a bonus vinyl 12" of Barry White Greatest Hits, TCD-50 which you old record pool jocks will recognize as the BW 12" that had a host of re-edits and remixes of BW songs and came out a full 6 months before and had different tracks from the consumer version of Barry White Greatest Hits. That original white label 12" is fondly remembered by DJ's- and prized by collectors. It is one of the tools that helped break Barry White to the world because as we all (should) know- Barry White was broken THROUGH the discos of the time. If not for disco play, BW may have been dropped from the 20th Century label. Promo man Billy Smith and the early work of the David Mancuso pool jocks helped break Barry through to radio....thereby making him a star.
Sadly, no vinyl....but we do have a DVD on-board.


WDC

[Disco Funk]

Thanks for that awesome news, Donald! It definitely sounds like something I will be getting my hands on!

What about a CD of instrumental mixes of the Barry White tunes, the B-sides that he never put onto LP? In addition to those, he also had instrumental B sides for the other artists he produced, like Gloria Scott, Jay Dee, and Westwing. I think there are only two tracks of this nature that were put onto CD, the B side of I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Babe, which was on Funky Stuff or Funk Funk, and Let The Music Play, which was put onto a Love Unlimited Orchestra CD.

Also, if you're planning on re-releasing Hot City by Gene Page on CD, that would be something I'd put money down for. That's such a great record.

Incidentally, the Tom Brock LP was released on CD in Europe by Soul Brother, I believe. I bought the Jay Dee LP on CD after being disappointed in the sound of the vinyl, but it turned out to be a vinyl sourced boot from the baltic republic. His Strange Games And Funky Things was on a BBE compilation a number of years ago.

Disco Funk

[remicks]

*****


Did this one already with that tell-tale Barry White/Gene Page sound ....

I now know why

--- arranged by Gene Page :

Originally Posted by remicks

My darling, I .......



*****

____________________



and now one as spotted by Tom Moulton :

DISCO MIX
By Tom Moulton

January 15, 1977



Old Town Records has released a new Arthur Prysock album titled “All My Life.” There are six disco-oriented songs, including his current hit “When love Is New.” “I Wantcha Baby” is also very strong. It is another Gamble & Huff tune. It features two good breaks and is like his current hit in many ways.

“All My Life” is the fastest tune on the LP and is at times reminiscent of the old Barry White style.

markydefad

*****

[Disco Funk]

Thanks for posting that Black Satin feat Fred Parris track, Remicks. I sought out the record as soon as I saw there was a track from that LP on the Barry White CD set. One of the tracks on that Black Satin record is a vocal version of Satin Soul.

I'm not sure I hear the Barry White sound in that Arthur Prysock track. Since it's a John Davis production, that's all I hear. Although, later, John Davis would produce Top Of The Stairs, which was mentioned earlier in the thread.



Donald, if you ever decide to get the DJ Promo version of Greatest Hits out on CD, I'd definitely buy it! I heard a sample of one of the cuts on Youtube, and it had a slightly different mix from the album mix. Maybe it was just my imagination, do you know if the songs were actually remixed, not just used straight from the LPs, for that promo record?

Disco Funk

[remicks]

Originally Posted by Disco Funk

I'm not sure I hear the Barry White sound in that Arthur Prysock track. Since it's a John Davis production, that's all I hear.

You'll have to take that up with Tom Moulton!!!

Originally Posted by Disco Funk

Thanks for posting that Black Satin feat Fred Parris track, Remicks. I sought out the record as soon as I saw there was a track from that LP on the Barry White CD set. One of the tracks on that Black Satin record is a vocal version of Satin Soul.

????

The only Barry White written cut on the LP is HOW I WISH WE COULD DO IT AGAIN . All the rest are by Fred Parris

BTW the hi energy cut TEARS TEARS TEARS is for me the standout .
Sounded familiar right away. I'm sure some club/bar I attended was playing it BITD .



___________________________




Donald , I am most intrigued in the Barry White Unlimited Box Set .
Congratulations.

Amazon-U.S. | Amazon-U.K.

Can you please elaborate on all the exciting "alternate versions" being offered:

such as :

Tracks:


DISC 1:
1. I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More, Baby Alternate Version
2. Never Never Gonna Give Ya Up Alternate Version
3. Honey Please, Can’t Ya See Alternate Version
4. Can’t Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe Alternate Version
5. You’re The First, The Last, My Everything Alternate Version
6. I’ll Do For You Anything You Want Me To Alternate Version
7. What Am I Gonna Do With You Alternate Version

10. Let The Music Play Alternate Version
11. Don’t Make Me Wait Too Long Alternate Version

13. I’m Qualified To Satisfy You Alternate Version



are these of-the-era alternate versions ?? of Barry White's own doing ??

or later day remixes in the hands of others??


I apologize that I can't simply preview any of the provided samples myself as my computer is currently without sound .

Thanks for the clarification .

******

[DonaldCleveland]

YEA~! I'm answering BW questions in a BW thread. YEA~!!!

Disco Funk- PM me about that BW Greatest Hits. Also, I want to see if you spotted the 3 vinyl tracks we used. (Because there were no tapes that turned up in a 3 country search.)

Remicks- The songs are a tourdeforce by BW producer/arranger Jack Perry. Some were done back in the day, some were done recently. Some were done back in the day and REdone recently.

You'll love some of them- you'll hate a couple. It's normal you know...?
People seem to love MOST. Know why? Nothing to do with Me, or Jack, or Harry....THEY LOVE IT BECAUSE IT'S BARRY WHITE PRODUCTIONS~!!(echo,echo,echo,echo)

All: I do not know how many, or what other edits/mixes/songs have been done. I never asked that question of Jack Perry. You may not understand this.....I'm busy. Sometimes, if I suspect an answer will make me even "think" about something else besides the task at hand....I just cannot be bothered with it. And personally- I usually filter questions through the "Is his answer really going to matter?" filter.

We were working on this project. I was Mr. Perry for ONE day. I was not going to burn that out by cramming every single thought I ever had into a question to him. I had work to do- and I did it. Plus I had to run down the hall every so often and ask Special Markets- "Pattie Brooks is still clearing, right??" Did I ever mention that the label that I do 99 percent of my work for- FUNKYTOWNGROOVES is releasing the first two Pattie Brooks albums?
Ok...sorry. Back to Barry White.

Please do not play a sample for 30-45 seconds as one person (ahem ahem) has already done and then come back and ask me if it is really an alternate version, because he didnt hear it in that 30-45 seconds??

Didja know I got my copies of the box just 2 days ago? Because of the amount of songs and the schedule- I never heard all of the tracks until I got my copy~! I had only heard "my sections" Disc 4, and part of Disc 3, and the work that Mr. Perry did that I watched (some trx on Disc 2 and 3). I'm still working MY way through the box~!

[mrbmarco]

This new box set (Amazon-U.S. | Amazon-U.K.) sounds very interesting. I gotta have it. I don't remember getting a BW Greatest Hits promo from the old LA record pool (SCDDJA). When did it come out? This is new news to me. So the songs were mixed differently than on the commercial copy? The only thing I do remember getting was the special 12" of My Sweet Summer Suite. The intro was much much longer than the commercial 12". Oh--we also got the King Kong Theme promo 12". That's all I can remember.

[DonaldCleveland]

Originally Posted by mrbmarco

This new box set sounds very interesting. I gotta have it. I don't remember getting a BW Greatest Hits promo from the old LA record pool (SCDDJA). When did it come out? This is new news to me. So the songs were mixed differently than on the commercial copy? The only thing I do remember getting was the special 12" of My Sweet Summer Suite. The intro was much much longer than the commercial 12". Oh--we also got the King Kong Theme promo 12". That's all I can remember.

"20TH CENTURY RECORDS Presents FOR DISCO DJ'S ONLY!! (Special Mix For Disco Play)"

Promo-only LP which was pressed in conjunction with the 1975 commercial pressing of Barry White's Greatest Hits. The commercial LP had 10 songs, all short single mixes. This white label disco dj pressing omits "Love Serenade", "I've Found Someone" & "I've Got So Much To Give"; the full length versions of the remaining tracks were re-sequenced and segued together into a continuous mix.

Issued in a plain white cardboard cover.