Barry White's 10 best songs, ranked

22 April 2026, 15:08

By Mayer Nissim

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Barry White was a one of a kind.

Famed for his deep voice and untouchable air of swaggering romance, he's probably soundtracked as many first dances as anyone in the business.

Barry died in 2003 after years of kidney troubles, aged only 58, but by then his place as a legend was more than secured.

White released 20 studio albums and, especially in the 1970s and 1980s, a string of massive hit singles.

Below we round up his greatest songs, ranking them up to the very best.

Practice What You Preach

Barry White - Practice What You Preach (Official Music Video)

Long after what's accepted as Barry's imperial phase, he still could more than wrap his tonsils around an absolute classic.
The lead single from 1994's The Icon Is Love, Barry wrote the song with Gerald Levert and Edwin Nicholas and got a decent sized pop hit and R&B number one.
Just the Way You Are

Barry White - Just The Way You Are (Official Music Video)

This cover of Billy Joel's already massive hit (Joel took it to number 3 in the US) felt tailor-made for Barry White.
He upped the soul vibes and love quotient to make the song his own in 1978.
It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me

It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me (Single Version)

A lovely little half-rhyme in the title of this massive hit, which was written by Ekundayo Paris and Nelson Pigford, though White did the arrangements himself.
You'll probably also probably recognise the song bubbling under the surface of Robbie Williams' 'Rock DJ', which samples it.
What Am I Gonna Do with You

Barry White - What am i gonna do with you

Some of the songs on this list were written or co-written by others, but like many of the hits here, 'What Am I Gonna Do With You' was written, performed and produced by Barry White.
Released in 1975, it as his fifth top ten on the Billboard Hot 100.
You See the Trouble with Me

You See The Trouble With Me

Barry White wrote 'You See The Trouble With Me' with Ray 'Ghostbusters' Parker Jr.
It was a solid soul/disco hit in the US but an absolute monster in the UK, where it reached number two, only being kept of the top by Brotherhood of Man's 'Save Your Kisses For Me' – but that didn't stop it going Platinum.
Let The Music Play

Barry White - Let The Music Play (Official Music Video)

The title track of White's self-produced fifth album, released in 1974, 'Let The Music Play' was incredibly a leftover from his previous album Just Another Way to Say I Love You.
Top 40 in the US, top 10 in the UK, it perfectly captured that sweet pain of dancing the heartbreak away.
Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up

Barry White - Never Never Gonna Give Ya Up • TopPop

Nothing to do with Rick Astley's similarly titled hit, which was still 15 years away, 'Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up' was another hit written and produced solely by White, this time for his second album Stone Gon'.
The single version is a snappy bit of soul love, but you should also seek out the album-closing eight minute epic for even more devotion.
I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby

Barry White - I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby- live 14 February 1974 - Toppop

Where it all began.
Barry White's debut made him an instant recording success, being not just an R&B number one but bona fide number three pop hit (and UK number 23).
The sexed-up, romantic vibes ("It feels so good/ You lying here next to me/ Oh, what a groove/ You have no idea how it feels") really set the tone for White's whole career.
You're the First, the Last, My Everything

Barry White - You're the first, the last, my everything

While some of Barry's tunes very much fours on the physical, sometimes it was all just about pure matters of the heart.
That was true on this stunning bit of balladry focusing on the truest of love ("You're my sun, my moon,, my guiding star").
Written by White with Peter Radcliffe and Tony Sepe, it was a UK number one, only being kept off the top in the US by Elton John's cover of 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'.
Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe

Barry White - Can't Get Enough Of Your Love (Live) Remastered

We could have picked any of (at least) half a dozen White songs from this list to top this ranking, but in the end we've gone for this dazzling lead single from his third album Can't Get Enough, released in 1974.
A US chart-topper, gold record, UK top 10 and all-round classic smooth bit of soul, it perfectly melded the physical and romantic sides of Barry White ("we've shared love and made love") for a gorgeously loved-up classic