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.
Love Unlimited | |
|---|---|
 Love Unlimited, c. 1972 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | San Pedro, California[1] |
| Genres | R&B, soul, funk |
| Years active | 1969–1981[2] |
| Labels | UNI, 20th Century Fox |
| Past members | Glodean James Linda James Diane Taylor |
Career
editFormed in 1969, the group included Barry White's future wife, Glodean James; her sister, Linda James; and their cousin Diane Taylor.[3]
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.[4] It was also successful in the United Kingdom, peaking at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart.[5] It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA in July 1972.[6]
In 1973, when their album titled Under the Influence of... Love Unlimited peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart,[4] 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.[5]
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.[4] The song was featured on their third album In Heat which also included a vocal version of "Love's Theme".[1]
In 1977, they were moved to White's own record label Unlimited Gold, recording two further albums He's All I've Got and Love Is Back (1979).[1] The trio disbanded in 1981 after members sought separate careers.[2] Diane Taylor died of cancer in 1985.[3]
Discography
editAlbums
edit| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Record label | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [4] |
US R&B [4] |
AUS [7] |
CAN [8] |
NL [9] | ||||||||||
| 1972 | From a Girl's Point of View We Give to You... Love Unlimited | 151 | 19 | — | — | — | UNI | |||||||
| 1973 | Under the Influence of... Love Unlimited | 3 | 3 | 18 | 1 | — | 20th Century | |||||||
| 1974 | In Heat | 85 | 15 | — | 81 | — | ||||||||
| 1977 | He's All I've Got | 192 | 51 | — | — | — | Unlimited Gold | |||||||
| 1979 | Love Is Back | — | 70 | — | — | 12 | ||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
Singles
edit| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [4] |
US R&B [4] |
CAN [8] |
NL [9] |
UK [5] | ||||||||||
| 1972 | "Walkin' in the Rain with the One I Love" | 14 | 6 | 40 | 12 | 14 |
|
From a Girl's Point of View We Give to You... Love Unlimited | ||||||
| "Is It Really True Boy - Is It Really Me" | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| "Are You Sure" | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| 1973 | "Fragile - Handle with Care" | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
| "Oh Love, Well We Finally Made It" | — | 70 | — | — | — | Under the Influence of... Love Unlimited | ||||||||
| "Yes, We Finally Made It" | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
| "It May Be Winter Outside (But in My Heart It's Spring)" | 83 | 35 | — | — | 11 | |||||||||
| 1974 | "Under the Influence of Love" | 76 | 70 | 78 | — | — | ||||||||
| "People of Tomorrow Are the Children of Today" | — | — | — | — | — | Together Brothers | ||||||||
| "I Belong to You" | 27 | 1 | 37 | — | — | In Heat | ||||||||
| 1975 | "Share a Little Love in Your Heart" | — | 21 | — | — | — | ||||||||
| 1977 | "I Did It for Love" | — | 66 | — | — | — | He's All I've Got | |||||||
| 1979 | "High Steppin', Hip Dressin' Fella (You Got It Together)" | — | 45 | — | — | — | Love Is Back | |||||||
| 1980 | "I'm So Glad That I'm a Woman" | — | 96 | — | 2 | — | ||||||||
| "If You Want Me, Say It" | — | 71 | — | — | — | |||||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | ||||||||||||||
References
edit- ^ a b c "Love Unlimited - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ a b "Love Unlimited Split for Separate Careers". Jet. Vol. 60, no. 4. Johnson Publishing Company. April 9, 1981. p. 61. ISSN 0021-5996.
- ^ a b "Love Unlimited Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "US Charts > Love Unlimited". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 15, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ^ a b c "UK Charts > Love Unlimited". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 315. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ David Kent (1993). Australian Charts Book 1970—1992. Australian Chart Book Pty Ltd, Turramurra, N.S.W. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ a b "CAN Charts > Love Unlimited". RPM. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
- ^ a b "NL Charts > Love Unlimited". Dutch Charts. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
- ^ a b "US Certifications > Love Unlimited". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 12, 2020.