K SPECIAL - Love Unlimited - Under the Influence of... Love Unlimited (2023, 50th Anniversary Remastered Expanded Edition) [1973]

K SPECIAL

Love Unlimited - Under the Influence of... Love Unlimited (2023, 50th Anniversary Remastered Expanded Edition) [1973]

Of the five albums released by Love Unlimited during the 1970s, this is the only album still not officially released on CD. It was released in 2013 as an unofficial CDr ripped from vinyl.

I decided to take it upon myself to recreate the original album from scratch using mostly official CD sources for a much better sounding collection. Only tracks 5 & 6 are taken from the 2013 CDr, the rest are taken from more recent official Barry White CD compilations, compiled from the original first-generation master tapes. Tracks 5 & 6 have now been digitally edited and cleaned up with improved sound to match the high fidelity of the CD releases.

I've also added 10 bonus tracks to the album taken from various Love Unlimited 7" singles, plus the original 1966 and 1967 versions of 'It May Be Winter Outside (But in My Heart It's Spring)', 'I'm Under the Influence of Love' and 'I Feel Love Comin' On' released by Felice Taylor and written and produced by Barry White alongside Paul Politi.

Felice Taylor (born Florain Corella Flanagan, January 29, 1944 - June 12, 2017) was an American soul and pop singer, best known for her recordings in the late 1960s. Her greatest success came after signing for Bob Keane's Mustang label, a subsidiary of Bronco Records. There she was teamed with the songwriters and record producers, Barry White and Paul Politi, who co-wrote "It May Be Winter Outside (But in My Heart It's Spring)", a minor hit reaching No. 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 44 on the R&B chart in early 1967, and its follow-up "I'm Under the Influence of Love". A third single, "I Feel Love Comin' On", also written and produced by White and Politi was not released in the US, but reached No. 11 in the UK Singles Chart, when leased to President Records later in 1967.  

After leaving Bronco, Taylor recorded for Kent Records, and later in the UK with members of The Equals.

In 1973, White's protégées Love Unlimited recorded new versions of "It May Be Winter Outside (But in My Heart It's Spring)" and "Under the Influence of Love" and Barry White recorded "I Feel Love Comin' On" on the Love Unlimited Orchestra's top ten album Rhapsody in White.

Love Unlimited was a female vocal trio that provided backing vocals for American singer-songwriter Barry White on his albums and concert tours. They also found success with their own recordings.

Formed in 1969, the group included Barry White's future wife, Glodean James; her sister, Linda James; and their cousin Diane Taylor.

Their first hit was "Walkin' in the Rain with the One I Love" in 1972. It peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 7 on the Cash Box Top 100, and 6 on the Best Selling Soul Singles Chart. It was also successful in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA in July 1972.

In 1973, when their album titled Under the Influence of... Love Unlimited peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart, Love Unlimited became the first female group to have an album reach the top five since Greatest Hits Vol. 3 from Diana Ross and the Supremes in 1970. The album featured the single "It May Be Winter Outside (But in My Heart It's Spring)" a song originally written by Barry White and Paul Politi for Felice Taylor in 1966. It would peak at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart in early 1975.

In 1975, they had their first and only number one hit, "I Belong to You", which spent a week at the top of the Best Selling Soul Singles Chart. It also peaked at number 27 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was featured on their third album In Heat which also included a vocal version of "Love's Theme".

"Love's Theme" is an instrumental piece written by Barry White around 1965. Recorded and released as a single by White's Love Unlimited Orchestra in 1973, it was one of the few instrumental and purely orchestral singles to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States, which it did in early 1974. Billboard ranked it as #3 on the Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1974.

The song was included on two albums: 1973's Under the Influence of... Love Unlimited (by the vocal group Love Unlimited) and 1974's Rhapsody in White by the Love Unlimited Orchestra. Love Unlimited would re-release the song for their subsequent album, In Heat (1974), only this time with different orchestral arrangements and lyrics written by Aaron Schroeder.

The recording (with a large string orchestra, modified guitar and big rhythm) was considered to be an important influence on the disco sound, which would increase popularity the following year (1974).

In 1977, Love Unlimited moved to White's own record label Unlimited Gold, recording two further albums He's All I've Got (1977) and Love Is Back (1979). The trio disbanded in 1981 after members sought separate careers.

This now 18 track (73:54) expanded edition is such a great album, and it's astonishing to me it's never been officially released on CD. It's never sounded better and is a true collector's item for all Barry White fans worldwide to enjoy.

K

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Track lists

01 The Love Unlimited Orchestra - Love's Theme (Instrumental) 4:04

02 Love Unlimited - Under the Influence of Love 4:20

03 Love Unlimited - Lovin' You, That's All I'm After 4:31

04 Love Unlimited - Oh Love, Well We Finally Made It 3:49

05 Love Unlimited - Say It Again 3:16

06 Love Unlimited - Someone Really Cares for You 5:35

07 Love Unlimited - It May Be Winter Outside (But in My Heart It's Spring) 4:21

08 Love Unlimited - Yes, We Finally Made It (Instrumental) 3:38

09 Love Unlimited - It May Be Winter Outside (But in My Heart It's Spring) (Alternate Version) (Bonus Track) 5:09

10 Love Unlimited - It's Winter Again (Instrumental) (B-side to 'It May Be Winter Outside (But in My Heart It's Spring)') (Bonus Track) 4:15

11 Love Unlimited - Under the Influence of Love (Alternate Version) (Bonus Track) 4:52

12 Love Unlimited - Under the Influence of Love (Original 1974 7" Single Version) (Bonus Track) 3:21

13 Love Unlimited - Under the Influence of Love (Instrumental) (B-side to 'Under the Influence of Love') (Bonus Track) 4:18

14 Felice Taylor - It May Be Winter Outside (But in My Heart It's Spring) (Bonus Track) 2:50

15 Felice Taylor - I'm Under the Influence of Love (Bonus Track) 2:37

16 Felice Taylor - I Feel Love Comin' On (Bonus Track) 2:55

17 The Love Unlimited Orchestra - I Feel Love Comin' On (Bonus Track) 6:24

18 The Love Unlimited Orchestra - Love's Theme (Original 1973 7" Single Version) (Bonus Track) 3:39

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