criteeker's Full Review: Staying Power by Barry White
Throughout his career, Barry White has been regarded as the Maestro with the deep voice who can light most anyone's fire. In other words, put the Maestro in the air, and it's time to get bare!
His music pulsates with sensual overtones and lusty lyrics. His motto is pleasure. Anyone who loves Barry White's music knows the true meaning of eargasm. His music will keep you coming back for more...and more. I mean, what woman wouldn't want a man with Staying Power? I'm referring to the CD of course (wink wink).
~ P L A Y L I S T ~
"Staying Power" (6:10) Pulsating rhythm. Groovin' bass. Fingers snappin'. As the violins create a windswept feeling... like an approaching storm - "Tonight, when we make love, I'm going to work your body with my...tongue. Cuz I got staying power, when you think it's over, I'll come right back again. Slow down, don't eat so fast, anticipation makes a good thing last. Tease me, with your emotions, soon we'll share nature's body lotions. WOW! It just doesn't get any hotter than that. (5 stars out of 5)
"Don't Play Games" (7:23) Here, the Maestro preaches to lovers by tellin them to be honest and don't play mind games. "Tryin' to be fly, it's not smart it's not wise...no don't play games. It makes a mess and all you get is pain." Background vocals come from Glodean & Bridgette White and Brenda Holloway. Gerald Albright provides a sumptuous saxophone backdrop while Paulinho De Costa provides tangy percussion. (4 stars out of 5)
"The Longer We Make Love" - (with Chaka Khan) (5:49) For each pulsating note of the strings, we get a lusty breath. Very sexy - very erotic. Chaka Khan treats us to a wonderful duet with Barry. De Costa's percussion is wonderful - like usual. "I love the way you freak me. The blacker the berry..the sweeter the juices. The longer we do it, the more we begin to love it. I'll make it nice - turn out the lights" Amen! The constant string pulsating throughout the track, does get a little annoying toward the end. It makes the song seem a bit long. (4 stars out of 5)
"I Get Off On You" (6:31) The beginning does come off as a bit droll, but it blossoms into a sultry ballad complete with a smooth sax track and powerful bass. "You are different. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, baby. And to me, you're different as night and day. From allllll the rest. There's not a lot of things that can excite me, ignite me. You're all that, and then some." He speaks these words in his deepest of deep voices and then breaks into song backed up by the voices of his "lovlies." (4 stars out of 5)
"Which Way is Up" (5:42) Drums and Percussion and bass guitar - oh my! "The world is moving much too fast Enjoy the good things and make them last. Each day there's something new to learn." This song talks about trying to survive in the world and the hurdles to overcome. The background vocals punch up Barry's words. "Got a whole new outlook on life itself. I'm gonna make it - won't settle for nothin' else. It's up to me, to achieve it. I know I will, 'cause I believe it." Words to live by. The words are powerful, the melody is a bit boring. (4 stars out of 5)
"Get Up" (6:11) Here's the song you should play for your lazy friends. "Talk to me. Say Something. You're just sittin' right there - sittin' up there on your a$$. Life is just passin' you bye. You've got to do something." And the chorus wails, "Ya gotta get up, gotta get up - you gotta." Consider this a wake-up in a sexy tone. "You know the only thing that comes to people who do nothing? Oh no, there's a reward - there's a big reward for doin' nothing. You know what reward you get? You don't get a damn thing." Preach it, Dr. White! (4 stars out of 5)
"Sometimes" (6:56) We pick up the tempo but stay in the preaching zone. "Life is a game. And the only way to participate in it, is, you have to get involved. Your heart and soul. Your mind. Oh, your mind is such a great thing - USE IT. These words are spoken and he bursts into song and a duet with a guitar. The song, although catchy, comes off as a bit preachy. Like your dad would come into your room and sing this to you. And after the prior song, it's getting old. I want more fun and sexy stuff. Who's with me? (3.5 stars out of 5)
"Low Rider" (5:18) Ok, back to havin' fun. Here is a great rendition of the classic song made famous by the group, War. Barry's voice makes this version a great one. Paulinho De Costa's percussion is flawless and leads the charge through this toe-tappin' tune. (5 stars out of 5)
"Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" (5:45) Another cover song, but Barry meanders through this 1970s tune with flair. He's backed-up by the trio of lovlies once again. The sub-title (for lettin' me be myself again) is indicative of the RAP verse that (out of nowhere) RUINS this tune. This is almost as horrid as the B.B. King CD with rap on it. It just doesn't work. (2.5 stars out of 5)
"Slow Your Roll" (5:49) After about 1:45 of intro, lead by percussion and bass, Barry's voice finally emerges. If only to utter, "Slow Down." The remainder is pretty much the same throughout the track. A sultry groove and sporadic White ad-libs. A cool percussion showpiece for De Costa. (4 stars our of 5)
"The Longer We Make Love" - (with Lisa Stansfield) (6:26) Same thing, different partner. Instead, Lisa Stansfield joins Barry. Remember her? Well, this version is almost a carbon copy of Chaka Kahn's version. I like Chaka's version a bit more - her ad-libs are more playful. (4 stars out of 5)
Total Time: 68:05 - 11 songs
Bottom Line: If this was anyone else's CD, I would rate it a 2.75 star CD. But Barry White's voice is hard to ridicule. I'm giving it a 4 based on my love for Barry's voice and sexual energy his music creates. The great songs on this CD would be GREAT for a romantic CD or a best of Barry CD. It's also great for cleanin' house due to the constant beats in the songs.
Produced in 1999 for Private Music catalog #01005-82185-2
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