This box set tells the whole story, with a great overview of his twenty year career. All the hits and much, much more. His sultry, steamy voice won't let your body stay still. If you don't know his music, buy his first greatest hits collection, then go buy this one. Actually, if you buy the first greatest hits collection,.....you won't need any encouragement from me to buy this one. PS: Love Unlimited Orchestra brought orchestration into pop culture (save the Moody Blues, years ahead of their times). The unique and inviting sound of Love Unlimited was pivotal to pop culture in the 70's. Like the Moody Blues, they were years ahead of their time.

Ever since `Ally McBeal' brought his tunes back into the limelight, I've been a regular listener of Barry White. When I throw on one of the CDs from his `Just For You' collection, I just kick back and relax to those signature basso profundo performances and violin-laden backgrounds. It's the closest I've ever come to transcendental meditation. I've even come pretty close to just falling asleep to his deep voice and calming melodies... soul lullabyes.

I also got to know some of the lesser-known tunes that he's crooned, and became enamored with many of them as well. Some are somewhat disco-esque, but that's okay- I like to groove to those too. They give me those occasional, badly-needed low-impact workouts.

`Late

One of the most successful R & B artists ever, many thought it would only be a matter of time before Barry White would get his own boxed set. That set came in the form of 1992's "Just For You", spanning 20 years of great music packed on 3 discs.

Disc 1 contains all the music from his peak period (1973 - 1978), when he recorded his best music and biggest hits. These songs - "I'm Love You Just A Little More, Baby", "Never Never Gonna Give You Up" (now with the eerie breathing/piano/string intro), "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe", "You're The First, "Love's Theme", The Last, My Everything" (with the magnificent, swirling string line), "What Am I Gonna Do With You", "Let The Music Play", and "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me" to name (more than) just a few - dominated the airwaves with their freshness and sophistcation. This music is like fine wine - it gets better with age.

Disc 2 begins with one of Barry's all - time greatest works, the Love Unlimited Orchestra track "My Sweet Summer Suite". I love this song's string line and the groove. A lot of Barry's unknown works are here. I especially enjoyed the steamy "Sho' You Right" and the lush "I've Got So Much To Give". Another highlight is the soothing "It's Only Love Doing Its Thing" with its tinges of Latino music. Also, listen to the smooth "Playing Your Game, Baby" and the luscious "Oh, What A Night For Dancing".

Disc 3 begins with the pulsating rhythms of "Satin Soul", a great Love Unlimited Orchestra track. This cd is the best one. "I'll Do For You Anything You Want Me To Do" is a great dance song with its mesmerizing melody. His cover of "Just The Way You Are" to me is better than the Billy Joel hit version. "Walkin' In The Rain With The One I Love" was Barry's first taste of success when the girl group Love Unlimited took it to number 14. It's still great today. The rest of cd is just too good to mention.

This is an essentail boxed set for all music fans. I hope soon that Barry will get another boxed set that will include his post - 1992 material right up to his untimely passing on July 4th of last year.

R.I.P.
Barry White
1944 - 2003

When you're putting together a boxed set for an artist as diverse as Barry White, there is no doubt some pressure to make it work. Fortunately, Polydor did not succumb to the pressure, and "Just For You" is my favorite boxed set I have ever owned. While it's more of a greatest hits album than a boxed set, it still contains a hefty 50 tracks, plu s a beaiutiful 32 - page booklet featuring a detailed essay by David Ritz, information on songs, and lots of pictures.

Disc 1 contains all the monster hit. From the fiery passion of "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe" to the climactic buildup intro yto "Never Never Gonna Give You Up" to the swirling string line of "You're The First, The Last, My Everything", you can't go wrong. Not to be overlooked are "Let The Music Play", "Don't Make Me Wait Too Long", "Your Sweetnss Is My Weakness" and the mesmerizing "You See The Trouble With Me", which has a dramatic string line compensated by Barry's upbeat vocal stylings.

Disc 2 has mostly album cuts and minor singles. Opening it is my favorite Love Unlimited Orchestra track "My Sweet Summer Suite", with a groove so mesmorizing you'll dance when you hear it in your head. "Sho' You Right" is ahady rush of sensual lyrics and a steamy spoken interlude that Barry injects his won personal flare into. Barry tones things down a bit for "I've Got So Much To Give" and the soothing "It's Only Love Doing Its Thing".

Disc 3 starts off with pulsating "Satin Soul", with great guitar/string section interplay, and a funky groove. "I'll Do For You Anything You Want Me To" is one of Barry's best dance songs, especially the hypnotic swirl of the intro. And I think that his rendiion of Billy Joel's classic "Just The Way You Are" is the definitive version, especially the spoken intro that was much needed in Joel's version to make it click. Barry makes brief contributions to Lisa Stansfield's "All Around The World", Big Daddy Kane's "All Of Me" and Quincy Jones' "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Site)", in wich he shares the mic with some of the smoothest soul singers of the modern era. He also sahres an intimate duet with Isaac Hayes on "Dark And Lovely".

Before I conclude this review, I would just like to mention that thre a few songs omitted here that I wish were included. They are "Put Me In Your Mix", "Oh Love Well We Finally Made It", "Standing In The Shadows Of Love", "I'm Qualified To Satisfy You", "Baby We Better Try To Get It Together", "Under The Influnce Of Love", his demo recording of "Home On The Range" and the unedited version of "I'll Do For You Anything You Want Me To".

In conclusion, buy this album. If you don't you will be missing ouut on the legacy of a magnificent musician whose legend will live on long after his shocking and untimely death last year.

This box set is great for anyone who is a Barry White fan or of romantic,sultry 70's R&B/disco."Never Ever Gonna Give You Up","I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More","You're The First,The Last,My Everything","Love's Theme","It's Escatsy When You're Laying Next To Me","Your Sweetness Is My Weakness"...if you love any of the songs above,this is the place to get them since they are presented in their full-length glory with excellent sound quality,informative liner notes,and beautiful cover design to match.So don't delay...get "Just For You" for someone you love!