Love Unlimited was more than just a backing group for Barry White—they were a chart-topping vocal trio who left their mark on 1970s soul and R&B. Formed in 1969, the group consisted of Glodean James (Barry White’s future wife), her sister Linda James, and their cousin Diane Taylor. While they began as White’s background vocalists, they soon broke out with hits of their own, including “Walkin’ in the Rain with the One I Love” and “I Belong to You.”
Blending lush harmonies with rich orchestration, Love Unlimited helped define the romantic soul sound that White became known for. Their music and presence also laid the foundation for the Love Unlimited Orchestra, a key part of Barry White’s lush productions.
| Group Name | Love Unlimited |
|---|---|
| Members | Glodean James, Linda James, Diane Taylor |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Genres | R&B, Soul, Disco |
| Years Active | 1969–1985 |
| Labels | Uni Records, 20th Century Records, Unlimited Gold (CBS) |
| Associated Acts | Barry White, Love Unlimited Orchestra |
| Major Hits | “Walkin’ in the Rain with the One I Love” (#14 Pop, #6 R&B, 1972) “I Belong to You” (#1 R&B, #27 Pop, 1974) “It May Be Winter Outside” (#35 R&B, 1973) |
| Notable Albums |
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| Legacy | Helped shape the romantic soul sound of the 1970s; introduced lush harmonies and orchestration in R&B |
Formation and Early Days
Barry White formed Love Unlimited in 1969 as part of his vision to create a full musical experience. He discovered Glodean James, her sister Linda, and their cousin Diane Taylor in Los Angeles. At the time, none of the women had formal training or professional singing experience.
White took them under his wing, coaching them intensely for nearly a year. He saw potential not only for a background group but also as a standalone act. Inspired by his blossoming relationship with Glodean, White wrote “Walkin’ in the Rain with the One I Love” as their debut single.
Breakthrough with “Walkin’ in the Rain with the One I Love”
In 1972, “Walkin’ in the Rain with the One I Love” was released on Uni Records, a subsidiary of MCA. The song was a gentle, romantic track that featured Barry White’s deep voice during the spoken-word sections—his first appearance as a vocalist on record.
The single became a hit:
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#14 on the Billboard Hot 100
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#6 on the R&B chart
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#14 on the UK Singles Chart
The track’s success established Love Unlimited as a promising new group and marked the beginning of White’s transition from producer to performing artist.
From Backing Singers to Chart Performers
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Despite the group’s early success, they were still under contract with Uni Records while Barry White moved on to 20th Century Records. This created logistical issues, especially since White wanted them under the same label.
With help from Russ Regan—now president of 20th Century—White eventually secured a new contract for the trio. Love Unlimited officially joined 20th Century Records in 1973 and released their second album, Under the Influence of… Love Unlimited.
This album produced more singles:
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“Oh Love, Well We Finally Made It” (1973)
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“It May Be Winter Outside (But in My Heart It’s Spring)” – No. 83 Pop, No. 35 R&B
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“Under the Influence of Love” – No. 76 Pop, No. 70 R&B
The album itself was a massive success, peaking at #3 on both the Billboard Pop and R&B Albums charts. This made Love Unlimited the second female group after The Supremes to crack the Top 5 on both charts.
Peak Success: “I Belong to You”
In 1974, Love Unlimited released their third album In Heat. It featured their biggest hit:
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“I Belong to You” – No. 1 on the R&B Singles chart and No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100
The track showcased everything the group had become known for—lush harmonies, romantic lyrics, and smooth orchestration. It cemented their place in 1970s soul music.
Collaborations and Side Projects
Barry White’s musical universe expanded during this time. Love Unlimited regularly backed White during live shows and studio recordings. Their vocals helped define hits like “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” and “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything.”
To complement both his solo work and Love Unlimited, White created the Love Unlimited Orchestra, a 40-piece ensemble responsible for tracks like the instrumental hit “Love’s Theme” (1973), which topped the Billboard Hot 100.
Move to Unlimited Gold and Later Work
In the late 1970s, White formed his own label Unlimited Gold, distributed by CBS Records. Love Unlimited followed him to the new label. Although they didn’t reach previous heights, they released several singles that performed well on the R&B charts:
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“Share a Little Love in Your Heart”
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“I Did It for Love”
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“High Steppin’, Hip Dressin’ Fella (You Got It Together)”
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“I’m So Glad That I’m a Woman”
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“If You Want Me, Say It” – Their last charting single in 1980
These songs continued their focus on love, empowerment, and positivity, reflecting the themes that defined much of Barry White’s discography.
End of the Group and Personal Loss
In 1985, tragedy struck when Diane Taylor passed away. Her death deeply affected the group, and they disbanded shortly after. Barry White and Glodean James also separated in 1988, though they remained legally married and later collaborated again on White’s 1999 album Staying Power.
Influence and Legacy
Though they often stood in the shadow of Barry White’s massive presence, Love Unlimited left a lasting impact. They helped popularize lush, romantic soul music and paved the way for female vocal trios in R&B.
Their songs have been sampled, covered, and referenced by modern artists. And the sound they helped create with White—the blend of sweeping orchestration and sultry soul—is still heard in today’s R&B and pop productions.