The Best Of Barry White 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection

This midline-priced compilation attempts to survey Barry White’s recording career from 1973-1999, giving equal weight to different periods of that time as if they were equally successful. That’s what can happen when the artist is involved in the selection of a compilation; White is credited as compilation producer along with Universal’s Harry Weinger in what may be his final contemporary album credit (he died while the disc was in production). As a result, “Staying Power,” which peaked at number 45 on the Billboard R&B/hip-hop chart in 1999, is included, but not “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything,” which topped both the pop and R&B charts in 1975. As such, the collection must be viewed more as a sampler than a true best-of, and even at the discount price consumers would be better advised to pay the extra bucks it takes to pick up one of White’s earlier compilations — Barry White’s Greatest Hits or All Time Greatest Hits — instead. – William Ruhlmann