A Bit Too Much Barry White; Al Green Shows Gospel Power

It’s not fair to say that once you’ve heard one Barry White single you’ve heard them all. But you probably can make a strong case that once you’ve heard five of them you’ve heard them all.

Still, Universal Music’s UTV Records label is counting on White’s periodic presence on “Ally McBeal” to lure you into investing in its “ultimate” White collection: a 30-track, two-disc salute to the singer with the deep, distinctive and ultra-sexy voice.

And Del-Fi Records is hoping the interest in White is deep enough to inspire fans to check out “Boss Soul: The Genius of Barry White,” which showcases some of White’s roots as a writer, producer and musician.

Another album that might appeal to “McBeal” fans is the latest Al Green retrospective. This isn’t the “ultimate” Green secular collection--Right Stuff released that four-disc album, “Anthology,” in 1997. This single disc focuses on Green’s ‘70s and ‘80s gospel recordings for Hi and A&M.;

** Barry White’s “The Ultimate Collection” (UTV Records). Even if you haven’t heard White sing on “Ally McBeal,” some of those signature hits must be tucked into your memory bank--you know, those records that backed his remarkable, bedroom-minded vocals with R&B; undercurrents and zesty string arrangements. In his first three years with 20th Century Records, White scored five Top 10 pop singles, including “I’m Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby” and “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything.”

But 30 tracks?

You’ve really got to be under White’s spell to feel the need for that many songs. The set includes recordings he did with Love Unlimited Orchestra as well as some of his ‘90s work with A&M.;

* 1/2 Barry White’s “Boss Soul: The Genius of Barry White” (Del-Fi). The music’s pretty forgettable here, but some fans might be intrigued by White’s early attempts at sculpting hits. Before signing with 20th Century in the early ‘70s, White was hired by Bob Keane to handle various creative duties for Keane’s new R&B; label, Bronco Records.

Keane--who had helped launch the careers of such stars as Sam Cooke, Ritchie Valens and the Bobby Fuller Four-- hoped that he could build Bronco into the West Coast version of Detroit’s Motown and Memphis’ Stax labels, and he thought White could help him reach that ambitious goal in the mid-’60s.

According to Bill Dahl’s liner notes, White, who was already making a name for himself on the Los Angeles R&B; scene as a singer, played a few of his own songs for Keane at an audition and was so impressive that Keane hired him on the spot.

Though White would eventually record a single for Bronco, his main responsibility was finding and developing talent. In that role, he not only wrote songs and produced the recording sessions, but he also often played drums and/or piano on the sessions.

Working with such vocalists as Viola Wills and Felice Taylor, White leaned heavily on the hit sounds of the day. Wills’ “I Got Love,” a 1966 single for Bronco, reaches for the energy of the classic Stax records; Taylor’s “It May Be Winter Outside,” another 1966 single, has the cushiony feel of a Supremes number.

By 1967, White was stepping out as a solo artist--though only one cut, the instrumental “Under the Influence of Love,” really telegraphs the lush mix of strings and R&B; heat that would become the foundation of White’s hit sound.

*** 1/2 Al Green’s “Greatest Gospel Hits” (The Right Stuff). Green is arguably the greatest living soul singer, but is he also the greatest living gospel singer? This 17-song collection might not settle the issue, but it makes for one convincing nomination speech for Green, who has won an armful of Grammys for his gospel recordings.

If you listen casually to the album, you might not even notice the difference between this music and Green’s secular work. The arrangement for “The Lord Will Make a Way” has much of the sinuous, seductive beat found on such Top 10 tunes as “I’m So Tired of Being Alone” and “Call Me.” The collection also includes Green’s versions of such R&B; hits as Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready” and Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me.”

If you pay attention, however, there’s no way to miss the testifying spirit of Green’s vocals. Green experiments a bit too much with pop elements in places to make it a perfect gospel package--as if he’s uncertain about letting go completely of his pop-soul instincts. But mostly, it’s a gem. The best living gospel singer? Who knows? But great? Absolutely.

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