Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

Oh, how I wanted to love this CD. I’ve always had a secret hankering for the deep-throated bass that is Barry White. My obsession was similar to Peter MacNicol’s character on Ally McBeal: each time he’s played on the radio, I start swaying my shoulders and tapping my foot. But, unfortunately, the same kinetic furor doesn’t translate well when White sings live. The late performer was admittedly a bear of a man with a bit of a weight issue. But this never came through on his studio recordings. If anything, it seemed to help him delve deeper to attain the beautifully low bars of music he was known to master. Alas, on this live CD (recorded on 9/9/99 on the last leg of his final tour before his untimely death), he sounds tired and a bit out of it. His vocals are not too crisp. His backup singers and accompaniment by the Love Unlimited Orchestra annoyingly upstage him. And, most devastating of all, he doesn’t exactly inspire you to want to make love.

You see, buying a Barry White CD in the record store is like buying a pack of condoms at the convenience store. There is only one reason to purchase these enticements: you’re looking to get in the mood. He’s a singer meant for two loving people, with the lights turned out, the candles turned up, the wine flowing freely and rose petals skimming the surface of a recently drawn bath. But, when White can’t even hit the high notes on his standards, like Never, Never Gonna Give You Up and You’re the First, the Last, My Everything, he sounds... ahem... flaccid. Ultimately, this CD characterizes him as just another soulful R&B guy singing without much chops, when he should sound like the bone-daddy of them all.

The few highlights on this painfully short 11-track album are It’s Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me and Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe. The old Barry White does shine through a bit on these, but they still pale in comparison to his studio recordings. Also, the bonus track, Let the Music Play," hardly seems like a treat. The same second-rate vocals are matched with second-rate accompaniments, producing an overall second-rate rendition.

One welcome attribute of the CD are the screaming throngs of women heard in the background. Although they add energy to the live recordings, they also hinder the album. You are constantly left wondering, what in the hell are they screaming for? Perhaps White is giving a visual show of talent, because he certainly isn’t commanding in the vocal department.

For aficionados of the Maestro of Love, this will be a must buy no matter what I write. For casual listeners, this is definitely one to skip – especially if you’re looking for some foreplay inducement.