Yes. It's the Barry White Question.

July 13, 2007 11:45 AM

I need some music recommendations in the style of Barry White. In particular, I'm looking for the type of music which one could imagine would play when a bachelor walks into his penthouse, pushes a button, and a bar swivels around, the lights dim, and Barry starts crooning.

Some examples of these songs would be :

Marvin Gaye - Let's get it on
Barry White - Can't get enough of your love
Teddy Pendegrass - Love TKO

I.e, not romantic songs like Babyface or Billie Holiday or Frank Sinatra, but more the ultra deep male voice asking the lady to relax at his bar.

It's not about the genre, but about the atmosphere created by the song. For example, James Brown - "This is a man's world" would also qualify, as would the Armstrong version of "Mack the knife". I'd also add "Just the guy to do it" by Toby Keith to the list, even though the last 3 are Funk, Jazz and Country, respectively.

So. Any suggestions?

posted by markovich to media & arts (36 comments total)

Al Green

For female voices, Nina Simone
posted by miss lynnster at 11:52 AM on July 13, 2007

Dean Martin works for me too, by the way.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:53 AM on July 13, 2007

By the way, I'm looking for specific songs, not for artists. Artists are too vague, most of their songs are not appropriate.
posted by markovich at 11:59 AM on July 13, 2007

Seconding Miss Lynnster: 70's era Al Green is usually a good bet. His best-known is probably Let's Stay Together.

Also, although the tone is a maybe little more mournful than your other selections, Issac Hayes' rendition of Walk on By is pretty good for "ultra deep male voice" quality.
posted by mhum at 12:06 PM on July 13, 2007

Clarence Carter, however be warned his lyrics don't leave much to the imagination.
posted by bilbo baggins at 12:17 PM on July 13, 2007

Some other songs from my selection. It should be like the type of music you expect Chef from South Park to play.

Lets Get It On - Marvin Gaye
You Remind Me - R. Kelly
Your Love Is King - Sade
Where You Gonna Go - Toby Keith
Just The Guy To Do It - Toby Keith
I Love This Bar - Toby Keith
Love TKO - Pendergrass, Teddy
cant get enough of your love babe - Barry White
Smooth Operator - Sade
The Sound of Silence - Kenny G
Girl From Ipanema - Lou Rawls
Me And Mrs Jones - Ronnie Foster
Craig David - Born To Do It
Kinky Reggae - Bob Marley & The Wailers
its only love doing its thing - Barry White
oh what a night for dancing - Barry White
practice what you preach- Barry White
LL Cool J - Doin It
posted by markovich at 12:18 PM on July 13, 2007

Oh lord, Clarence Carter is genius! Just exactly what I'm looking for!
posted by markovich at 12:21 PM on July 13, 2007

Tom Jones - Sex Bomb or What's New Pussycat
Donna Summer - Love to Love You Baby
posted by iconomy at 12:26 PM on July 13, 2007

I dunno, I'm not sure I'd include R Kelly on the list given his, uh, notoriety. I'm just sayin'...
posted by fuse theorem at 12:32 PM on July 13, 2007

I thought maybe "The Sensual Woman" by the Herbaliser might work.

Gato Barbieri's version of "Earth's Cry, Heaven's Smile" also.
posted by rongorongo at 12:33 PM on July 13, 2007

Maybe try pandora.com and see what it gives you.
posted by thilmony at 12:47 PM on July 13, 2007

Bill Withers' Greatest Hits. Specifically songs like Use Me, Ain't No Sunshine, Just the Two of Us. I mean, just check the album art on this sucker. That should tell you everything you need to know.
posted by rachelpapers at 12:48 PM on July 13, 2007

Well, I see you're already onto Pendergrass, but just check the album art on this sucker. That should tell you more than you need to know. Or you could just listen to the samples, each and every one seems to fit your criteria.
posted by sageleaf at 12:57 PM on July 13, 2007

I'm Your Mechanical Man - Jerry Butler
posted by rocketman at 1:01 PM on July 13, 2007

I see you have Sade on your list - I would add most songs on Norah Jones' first album, especially Come Away with Me (the song). Seconding Bill Withers.
posted by widdershins at 1:19 PM on July 13, 2007

Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison
posted by iconomy at 1:22 PM on July 13, 2007

Al Green: "Simply Beautiful"
Not a super low voice, but oooh man. Ask her to dance when you put it on.

Not as loungey, but also try Otis Redding, "These Arms of Mine" and "That's How Strong My Love Is"; for more contemporary, D'Angelo's "Feel Like Makin' Love" and "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" (both of those are on the slightly explicit side).
posted by CiaoMela at 1:28 PM on July 13, 2007

The look of love by Dusty Springfield. I personally like the Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 version.

audio/video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gxNa3E4Abw

Don't go with with song by ABC. Although its quite awesome, it doesn't have the same feel that you're looking for.
posted by kookywon at 1:40 PM on July 13, 2007

Moments Of Love by Art Of Noise
posted by heartquake at 2:19 PM on July 13, 2007

Morning Sunrise - Weldon Irvine
posted by rocketman at 2:22 PM on July 13, 2007

Super Duper Love, Pts. 1 & 2 - Sugar Billy Garner
posted by rocketman at 2:25 PM on July 13, 2007

So, have you built the penthouse with the swivel-out bar? We need details. Blueprints. Etc.
posted by dudeman at 2:34 PM on July 13, 2007

"Love Won't Let Me Wait" by Major Harris.
posted by essexjan at 3:02 PM on July 13, 2007

Sorry for the derail, but I wanted you to know that plans for your swinging bachelor pad would be even cooler than zoomorphic's fort.
posted by rossmik at 3:48 PM on July 13, 2007

Nthing Al Green: "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)", "L-O-V-E" and ""Love and Happiness" in particular.
posted by Oriole Adams at 6:32 PM on July 13, 2007

Would you believe Faith No More?

Only sometimes though.
posted by spartacusroosevelt at 7:06 PM on July 13, 2007

Barry White wouldn't have existed, in the musical sense, without Hot Buttered Soul. The Isaac Hayes album is still eighteen different kinds of awesome, and even more so in the case of "Walk on By."
posted by raysmj at 8:23 PM on July 13, 2007

Gawd! Someone mentioned Chef and even gave a whole list of songs he'd like without mentioning Isaac Hayes?
posted by raysmj at 8:24 PM on July 13, 2007

The Ultra Lounge series has a lot of music that might fit the bill, and their sampler is a good way to get a cross-section.
posted by L. Fitzgerald Sjoberg at 8:42 PM on July 13, 2007

Leon Haywood - I Wanna Do Something Freaky To You
The Isley Brothers - Between The Sheets
George McCrae - I Get Lifted
Latimore - Lets Do It In Slow Motion
Solomon Burke - Over and Over
Dennis Edwards - Dont Look Any Further
Kool & The Gang - Summer Madness (instr.)
Mtume - Juicy Fruit
Isaac Hayes - Fever
Staple Singers - Lets Do It Again
posted by p3t3 at 9:58 PM on July 13, 2007

Don't forget the Spinners' "I'll Be Around."
posted by ikkyu2 at 10:25 PM on July 13, 2007

It's not always sexual-themed, but damn if Curtis Mayfield didn't make some of the sexiest music I've ever heard. Listen to "Curtis" and try and tell me you're not impressed.
posted by fishmasta at 11:42 PM on July 13, 2007

Luther Vandross "The sweetest one", Johnnie Taylor "Your love is rated X", Tyrone Davis "In the mood", Roy Ayers "The boogie back", The Brothers Johnson "Strawberry letter #23" and Grover Washington jr. "Winelight" (entire album).
posted by iviken at 1:59 AM on July 14, 2007

2nding ultralounge ... there is a torrent of about 15 albums.
posted by jannw at 9:31 AM on July 14, 2007

Darondo.
posted by Dr.Pill at 11:21 AM on July 14, 2007

Dude.
You say chef from South Park.
Chef from South Park is none other than Isaac Hayes, who is very much what you're looking for.
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 11:39 AM on July 14, 2007