 | |
| | Publisher: Virgin Books
Salesrank: 1137988
|
|
| Used Price: $31.72 |
|
| Media: Paperback |
|
Editorial Review:
In this memoir, Barry White recounts his rough road to stardom and the lessons he's learned. As a youth he had run with LA street gangs, eventually walking to Hollywood to make his fortune. He also explores the people who have influenced his music, from his mother to Muhammed Ali.
Description of Love Unlimited: Insights on Life and Love:
Barry White is not a man who does things half-heartedly. When he loves, he loves with his whole being; when he makes music, he pulls out all the stops; and when he writes his autobiography, he packs it full of life lessons, explanations of the inspiration behind his songs, and meditations on the nature of Love. Though he authored this book with writing partner Marc Eliot, fans of White's lyrics will not be disappointed by Love Unlimited's prose style. "The power in my music comes from the way I try to deliver what I believe is the power of love," White explains, "All of my songs essentially give out the same message, from me to you--I am, you are, and it is." Though Love Unlimited covers White's gangbanger youth and brief stint in juvenile detention, his essential, positive outlook keeps him from dwelling too long on the bad times--he's much more effusive about his lifelong affair with Lady Music. It is in regard to White's human affairs that the book delivers its real surprises--a man who has earned the nickname "Guru of Love" and who routinely has house keys mailed to him by adoring fans might be justified in a few racy escapades, but White portrays himself as a family man and even a bit of a homebody, preferring to devote himself to one special lady at a time. Overall, White comes off as an immensely likable, stand-up guy who just happens to have a god-given ability to talk to women. (Even as a teen, he played Cyrano for his brother's phone calls to young women and counseled neighborhood couples in trouble.) You too may benefit from the deeply romantic, common-sense advice White sprinkles throughout the book. So run yourself as bubble bath, light some scented candles, put on your favorite Barry White album, and sink in to Love Unlimited. --Ali Davis
Love Unlimited: Insights on Life and Love Reviews:
A Great Man 
2007-12-10 - All I can say is this was a great man. Thank you uncle Barry. RIP.
An Encouraging & Uplifting Transformation
2005-10-01 - This is an excellent autobiography! If you have always loved Barry White's music, after reading this book, you will also love Barry White the Man.
The Sound of Distinction 
2005-02-05 - When most people think of Barry White they remember the smooth, sexy baritone voice, which always seemed to resonate love. His voice was distinctive and so was his musical style, but his life was a rags-to-riches tale. LOVE UNLIMITED, written prior to his death, describes Barry's life from the rough streets of Compton, California through his rise to fame as "The Maestro". Readers will also get a glimpse into his love of family and his true love, Lady Music.
Barry White was raised by a single mother who did all she could to make sure her sons would do well and become successful. However, it didn't stop them from being acquainted with gangs and spending some time in jail. Yet, Barry was the only one of her sons to realize that he didn't want to spend his life in jail or become a disappointment to his mother. The one thing Barry had an affinity for was music. He loved music and when a spiritual voice came to him one day encouraging him to follow the musical road, he did just that. Dropping out of high school and on a wing and a prayer, Barry set out for Hollywood to follow his calling. His road to success was long and hard work. Even with marriage and a family, he refused to give up his dream. With the help of friends, support of his mother and pure determination he accomplished much with little formal training.
LOVE UNLIMITED gives readers insight into the hard-nosed world of the music industry and Barry White's passion. He loved his family, took care of his children and when he loved, he loved deeply. There were lean years before the success and even with success there were problems. He persevered to follow the spiritual voice that continued to speak to him throughout his life. His music was an extension of him as a human being. This was a man of honor who didn't drink, smoke, or party. He was the epitome of his music. This was a wonderful and discerning look at The Maestro, as he was often called. There are no scandals to read within the pages, but it is a fulfilling look into Barry's life and the creative power behind his music.
Reviewed by Cashana Seals
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers
Memoirs from the Maestro.
2004-01-03 - Barry White's life wasn't all love and togetherness as his many hits have prescribed to any lovers out there, but still, having fought his way out of poverty by binding his love of life with his true love of music paved the way to him becoming the icon he will always be. Yeah, there may be a little ego, but he deserves it. Barry's struggle from Compton to being swindled as an employee of a toy store to the dissolution of his first marriage may have broken his spirit, but made him a better man. The most interesting part of his life was the business aspect, especially the parts that dealt with the record company dismissing him and not wanting to acknoledge his gifts, yet reaping the millions of dollars he was making them. Filled with highs and lows, this autobiography wasn't the best I ever read, but made the closer look at Barry's life intriquing.
Oh, Barry Please! 
2002-07-06 - Overall, I found the book to be well written and worth one's money if you are a fan, but, as one of his classic songs are entitled, "BEWARE! He may literally make you sick with his grandiose, egotistical, "I am music, I gave music life" persona. He truly believes he is the "Black Sinatra", or as he puts it, singers, before his arrival onto the music scene, were either "stupid", "leeches", or crybabies".
He outright tells Issac Hayes and Lou Rawls that they are not on his level as artists, not to mention that, according to this book, everyone from Muhammad Ali to Michael Jackson were living in darkness until he arrived on the scene and enriched their lives with his sacred wisdom and guidance- as if he was Jesus Christ. He even leads himself to believe that his deciding to do commercials in the 1990's lead to some sudden surge of black artists being offered commercial endorsements, citing B.B. King and Aretha Franklin- Oh Please Barry! Both Aretha's and B.B's respective careers have endured longer and achievements are far greater than yours. And by the way, they were singing jingles before you came on the scene.
The most sickening moment, however, has to be his comments in regards to the late, great, Marvin Gaye, whom he appears convinced he could have straightened out- And, of course, Marvin begged him to produce him!
Throughout the book, he makes numerous suggestions as to the many artists who have come to him asking him to produce them. Funny thing though, outside of his groups, Love Unlimited (Orchestra), he has never!
Not suprisingly, he also fails to mention that his big comeback hit, 1994's "Practice What You Preach", was actually written and produced by Gerald Levert. So Barry, that, my friend, was the key to the success of your album, "The Icon is Love". And boy, isn't it strange, after reading this memoir, you will have to ask yourself, "If everyone was worshipping Barry, who was listening to Luther? Just a thought.
Barry is much too full of himself- literally and philosophically. If you can stomach his overly inflated ego, you actually may enjoy this book!
