Producers includes: Barry White, Gerald Levert, Tony Nicholas, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis.
Compilation producers: Barry White, Harry Weinger.
Includes liner notes by Brian Chin.
Digitally remastered by Kevin Reeves.
The Ultimate Collection gathers two discs' worth of Barry White's greatest hits and definitive tracks, as selected by White himself. Along with the title track from his 1999 album Staying Power, the set collects '70s hits like "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby," "Can't Get Enough of Your Love Babe," "You're the First, the Last, My Everything," and "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" and highlights of his work with the Love Unlimited Orchestra such as "My Sweet Summer Suite," "Midnight and You," and "Love's Theme." Later tracks like "Sho' You Right," "Put Me in Your Mix," and "Practice What You Preach" round out this worthwhile overview of White's career highlights. ~ Heather Phares
The two-disc, 30-track ULTIMATE COLLECTION was selected and sequenced by the maestro himself, making it truly the most essential Barry White compilation available. With its generous playing time and personal song selection, the set collects all of the husky-voiced crooner's chart hits, from 1973's sultry, career-defining lover-man rap "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More, Baby" to 1999's comeback hit "Staying Power." It also includes key album tracks and the highlights from White's simply gorgeous instrumental easy-listening/soul albums with the Love Unlimited Orchestra (including, naturally, the immortal "Love's Theme"). Hardcore fans may be somewhat put off that THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION presents the shorter single mixes instead of the often-lengthy album versions, but those are already available on the albums' individual reissues. This release features all the punchier radio hits in one place, and serves as a near-perfect career summary of one of soul's most unforgettable artists. minimize