Thick lashes. Long nails. Eyebrows done. Perfectly white teeth. Nope not a 20-something selfie in the age of social media.  Love Unlimited in the early 70’s. 

I’m not gonna lie – I was first drawn to Love Unlimited because of the amazing album covers with their glamorous looks and the don’t-eff-with-me stare of their lead singer, Glodean White on the aptly titled “In Heat” LP.  And a girl group of three?  I’m in. 

It seemed like every household when I was 10 had the “Under the Influence of Love” LP – I saw it everywhere.  I didn’t know the connection between Barry White and these girls (his wife, her sister and her cousin) until much later.  But I do know that “Love’s Theme” was always on the radio, and since it’s an instrumental on their album, I think most DJs would say “Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra”.  It wasn’t until much later that I realized they sang back-up for him, and he was the engine behind their machine.  They only had 5 albums and I have them all – but water damage got to one of them.  The bane of a collector’s existence! 

I remember seeing Glodean White with Jackee Harry at The Catalina Jazz Club for a Mary Wilson performance.  My heart skipped a beat because I wanted to approach her so badly.  The Catalina Jazz Club is an intimate venue in Los Angeles that often has fellow artists in the audience watching their friends perform.  I’m always prepared with sharpies and index cards, and I was ready to head over to Glodean and Jackee.  Jackee saw me coming, must have seen the gleam in my eye and gave me a death stare.  Ummm.  Got it.  “Don’t even try coming this way.”  (More about Jackee later; the friendly version.) 

Playing Love Unlimited records one day during COVID lockdown, I decided to see if I could find a way to reach Glodean.  My detective work led me to a possible phone number, and SHE ANSWERED!  She was a bit taken aback that I had found her but was really sweet when I explained that I was a benign fan, a sincere admirer and that I wanted to send her some photographs to sign and would gladly send a check in donation to a charity of her choice.  Glodean said there was no need to send a check and yes, she would sign my pictures – she then put me on hold (like a business line?) and came back on the line a few moments later to give me a mailing address.  I sent the photos and stamped return envelope via priority mail.  It’s been over 2 years now.  Sometimes it works.  Sometimes it doesn’t. 

“Walking in the Rain with the One I Love” is their biggest overall hit and “I Belong to You” was their only #1 song on the R&B Charts – but my absolute favorite is their biggest (#11) UK hit – “It May Be Winter Outside (But in My Heart It’s Spring)”.  Could it be because it’s a perfect girl group pop-ditty, that was written by Barry White, but also recorded in 1967 by Felice Taylor.  Check out the two versions here:  

Felice Taylor 

Love Unlimited

I strongly recommend searching YouTube for these lovely ladies’ performances.  Their visuals are so much fun!  Soul Train and TV appearances with the great choreography, matching outfits and style, Style, STYLE! “It May Be Winter Outside” in black pantsuits with white lapels is one of my favorites and the white feathers/lime green skirts in “Under the Influence of Love” … WOW.

I love this Dutch TV performance of my favorite song of theirs – check it out …