“Let the Music Play” (1975)

Abstract

This chapter explores how one might historically hear the production practices within Barry White's December 1975 single, “Let the Music Play.” This goal aims to attune an analysis-minded listener to the track's embedded historical, musical, technological, and cultural discourses. White talks in 1974 about his listening “homework” of studying production and musical practices in popular music trends. Across 1973–1974, White was a pivotal figure in the shift from luxe sophistisoul to mainstream, commercial disco. “Let the Music Play” marks a moment when White moves from stylistic leader to an artist reacting to the mainstream market. The track suggests efforts to maintain chart relevance, particularly in production changes in the rhythm section, strings, and other elements. Through considerations of the multitrack master and three commercial mixes, this study considers how to hear White's production responses to mainstream disco's timbral combinations, performance practice, and production and stylistic elements. With an enhanced historical-listening framework, recording analysis can reveal how production, arrangement, mix, musical detail, lyrics, and performance fulfill the social and cultural musical expectations and experiences of the listener/dancer. My analysis here develops understandings both of a hit record and how releasing multiple mixes manifests coexisting but distinct listener experiences and meanings.