Customer Reviews

The Icon Is Love

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I grew up on Barry White and some of my fondest teenage memories are when hewould be playing on 8- track or album. I can not say enough about his music and the messages that he explains through them. My favorite song by Barry, would have to be "Practice what you Preach", because that is wat I have done for a great many years now. What can I say moreover about his great style of song? One would just have to put on any of his music and judge for themselves. I have reviewed a lot of his works, and what more could one say-- it is the kind that you can fall in love with, or all over again: I did!

There's something about Barry White that is so great, so amazing, so wild, so cool. His music evokes the slow steady love that men need to aspire to. Every song is about sex no matter what he's saying. The good sex, the slow sex, the sex that drives everyone involved wild.

This CD is mostly amazing. From the sultry "Baby's Home" to the energetic "I Only Want to Be with You" to the subtle, but not-too-subtle "Practice What You Preach", this CD hits the private amazing moments of a love affair that make it worth the shouting and arguing that happens in between.

The only reason why I give it four stars is because the deadweights of "There It Is" and "Whatever We Had, We Had" are the longest songs in the batch. The former is just mediocre, while the latter evokes the "We are breaking up but I want to say everything in order that you think of me in a good way" desperation perfectly. We've all been in that place where we want to leave a good impression with an ex-girlfriend so we just go on babbling. Only I don't want to remember it. I don't want to hear it. I especially don't want to hear it for over 10 minutes when all he's really saying in the song is "It's over" over and over again.

Besides that one song this is a perfect gift, for yourself or that lover or that potential lover.

Only now am I able to once again listen to Barry White and celebrate his musical genius; in the months following his death, I could only mourn his passing. It is still hard to believe that the icon, and Barry White truly was the icon, is no longer with us, but he will live forever through his music. The Icon Is Love was released in 1994, and it offered incontrovertible proof that the man was still at the top of his game. These songs are generally a little slower in tempo than White's string of earlier hits, but there can be no doubt that this is vintage Barry White material. Austin Powers only wishes he had half of the mojo that Barry White possessed.

Practice What You Preach opens this album in grand style. This track begins with a sultry rap spoken to the accompaniment of a sensuous bass line, after which Barry launches right into lyrics of great energy and appeal. The chorus is fantastic, so catchy you will carry this tune around in your head for days at a time. Practice What You Preach spent 30 weeks on the Billboard R&B charts, three of them at number one, and helped reenergize White's career. Two other singles from this album, Come On and There It Is also made the charts. Come On oozes with sensual power, as White pleads with his partner to come on and play; satisfaction is guaranteed in this up-tempo track. There It Is, however, is much less entrancing; this is actually my least favorite song on the album. Two other tracks merit special mention: Baby's Home and Whatever We Had, We Had. These are vintage White classics that belong right alongside so many of his earlier standout recordings. Oozing with that unquantifiable magic White's voice conveys, the singer gives the words and music all the time and attention they deserve. Baby's Home runs over eight minutes, while What We Had, We Had runs for over ten and a half minutes - neither song is too long. The latter has to do with breaking up and remaining friends, while Baby's Home expresses all of the magic of a love still burning with passion.

Sexy Undercover picks up the tempo a little bit, as Barry tells his lady that he's shy on the outside but full of surprises behind closed doors; he's got the mojo working hard in this dance-worthy track. I Only Want To Be With You, in which Barry sings that love is so much more than a physical thing, lays down a smooth, toe-tapping groove with just a touch of good old-fashioned funk; I wish this song had been released as a single because I think it would have been a huge hit. Don't You Want to Know is slow and sensual, really a beautiful little song. Love Is the Icon and The Time Is Right are great tracks, as well.

With a nice mixture of up-tempo tracks and mesmerizing ballads, this 1994 album returned Barry White to the spotlight and, in so doing, gave the world ten more Barry White classics to enjoy forevermore. Barry White may have mellowed a little bit by 1994, but the magic was still there for all to hear and enjoy. He was and always will be the icon.

I have always loved listening to Barry White because he's got a voice that's out of this world and this is his greatest yet. I fell in love with The Icon is Love the first time I listened to it. This CD is the ultimate when it comes to love songs from Barry. From the music to Barry talking, this CD is soft, sensual and passionate. A very addictive CD. A must buy for all those in love.

Anyone who personally knows me knows what Barry White will always mean to me. There was not one song on "The Icon Is Love" that didn't move me. Every single song on this album including his fast hits went beyond doing justice. "Sexy Undercover" will make any two romantics grind with each other on the dance floor, not in an explicit way, but in a sexy love-encouraging way. "Baby's Home" and "There It Is"...no explanation needed. To anyone who hates Barry White, it's your prerogative, your fault, and your loss! I said it, yes I did.

Barry white is truly an inspirational musician and person. Going on for more than 3 decades he proves he can still get jiggy with his new music. I am a teenager and mostly like his new 90's hits as preferred to his older ones. Its funny how when you hear a song that you like when your really young that moment in time and what you did at that specific time stays in your memory. In this case everytime i hear the song "practice what you preach" it brings back memories of when i was in 7th grade technology class turning on the radio hearing this song, and going out to buy the album the same day. Thanks Barry for those memories. 4 stars

on this album barry white was able to fuse his trademark style and mix it up to a comtempary one.practice what you preach is one of the best 90's songs.i prefer this album to staying power.but the genius of barry white is still vital.

Considered White's 90's "comeback", although the singer had continuously recorded and released albums since his 70's peak, "The Icon is Love" introduced a new generation to the baritone crooner.

White stalwart Jack Perry was joined in producing duties with the likes of Jam & Lewis ("I Only Want to Be With You", "Come On"), Chuckii Booker ("The Time is Right", "Sexy Undercover"), and Gerald Levert ("Practice What You Preach", "There It Is"), and the resulting collaborations provide White with a well-balanced offering featuring a little old with the new.

The last cut, "Whatever We Had, We Had" is a reflection on the end of his marriage to Glodean. White knew how to begin AND end a relationship.

With his recent passing, one can be grateful that his unique musical style will live on.

Cut listing and times:

1. Practice What You Preach 5:59
2. There it is 7:03
3. I Only Want to Be with You 5:01
4. The Time is Right 5:46
5. Baby's Home 8:17
6. Come On 5:50
7. Love is the Icon 4:38
8. Sexy Undercover 4:51
9. Don't You Want to Know? 6:51
10. Whatever We Had, We Had 10:41

Been enjoying this CD ever since I got it thanks and keep up the good work. Will order again.

By the time this CD was released in 1994, many felt that Barry White was well past his prime as his three previous A&M releases had not scored any major hits despite being well-received by both music critics and fans of romantic Soul. "Practice What You Preach", "It's Over", "Baby's Home" and the simply glorious "Come On" all played key roles in Mr. White's career revival and (in many ways) this CD modernized and updated his music without making it lose its soulful and romantic vibe. A classic.