Your description of the Love Unlimited Orchestra revived my longstanding grudge about the so-called SLSO rock concerts they allow at Powell. If the original Love Unlimited Orchestra was 40 pieces, then the horror show I bought tickets for was even worse than I assumed. There wasn't even 20 pieces on the stage, mostly a drummer too unsophisticated to tone it down for the acoustics of a concert hall and some percussion, a very bad bass player with the same problem, about 3 violins and maybe a cello.
But I have listened pretty closely to many of White's lyrics and I agree with your non-pervy, love-centric interpretation. His enthusiasm for women is only off-putting for those who don't really love women, I think, though I still feel a little squeamish about some of his more graphic flourishes!!
This was the Barry White song that I really liked. Maybe it was the faster, dance beat, maybe it was the terrific melody, probably it was the high note!
According to Wikipedia, the song was built on a previously unrecorded country song, "You're My First, You're My Last, You're My In-Between" that had sat around since 1953. That seems far-fetched as to the length of time it existed, and I can't imagine how White came into contact with it. But, some version of that story is probably true, and that might account for your response to the melody.
Your description of the Love Unlimited Orchestra revived my longstanding grudge about the so-called SLSO rock concerts they allow at Powell. If the original Love Unlimited Orchestra was 40 pieces, then the horror show I bought tickets for was even worse than I assumed. There wasn't even 20 pieces on the stage, mostly a drummer too unsophisticated to tone it down for the acoustics of a concert hall and some percussion, a very bad bass player with the same problem, about 3 violins and maybe a cello.
But I have listened pretty closely to many of White's lyrics and I agree with your non-pervy, love-centric interpretation. His enthusiasm for women is only off-putting for those who don't really love women, I think, though I still feel a little squeamish about some of his more graphic flourishes!!
This was the Barry White song that I really liked. Maybe it was the faster, dance beat, maybe it was the terrific melody, probably it was the high note!
According to Wikipedia, the song was built on a previously unrecorded country song, "You're My First, You're My Last, You're My In-Between" that had sat around since 1953. That seems far-fetched as to the length of time it existed, and I can't imagine how White came into contact with it. But, some version of that story is probably true, and that might account for your response to the melody.