You're the First, the Last, My Everything by Barry White

Album: Can't Get Enough (1974)

Charted: 1 2

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White's friend Peter Sterling Radcliffe started writing this as a country song called "You're My First, You're My Last, My In-Between," but he couldn't get it recorded for 21 years.
When White was down on his luck, Radcliffe stepped up and bought his children toys for Christmas - a kindness White didn't forget when he became famous. So when Radcliffe offered him the song, he didn't hesitate to hear it.

Tony Sepe, another songwriter who was in the room (and whose name ended up on the tune), laughed when he heard the country song with the clip-clop of horses' hooves keeping the rhythm. He was shocked by White's positive reaction. The singer recalled to Billboard: "I said, 'Sterling, that song is a smash.' Tony's face actually changed. I said, 'Sterling, I want you to stay out of my face for the next two or three weeks. When you come back, you're going to be part of a smash.'"
This was used in TV commercials for Black Cherry Vanilla Coke. >>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France
Changing the genre from country to disco, he kept the chord changes and part of Radcliffe's melody but also added his own melody and nearly all new lyrics. "I heard what was inside that song," White explained.

Most of the changes came to him during a rough recording session when it didn't seem like the song was going to pan out. "I went into the studio and made up my own melody all the way through. Half of the words in it I changed right in front of the microphone." When Radcliffe heard the final result, he cried.
This was White's third #1 single on the R&B chart.
This was prominently used on Ally McBeal as John Cage's (Peter MacNicol) personal anthem. White appeared on the season 2 episode "Those Lips, That Hand" to perform the tune as a gift to John from Nelle.
White re-recorded this as a duet with Faith Evans for the soundtrack to Money Talks (1997).
This was also used in these movies:

The Bachelor (1999)
Kiss, Kiss (Bang Bang) (2001)
Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)
Date Movie (2006)
Zookeeper (2011)
Dark Shadows (2012)
In 2005 a version by Howard Brown, a sales ambassador who sang in advertisements for the UK's Halifax Bank, released his version as a charity single after performing it in a commercial. It peaked at #13 in the UK.
What song kept this #2 entry from the #1 spot on the Hot 100? Elton John's version of "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds." But in the UK, White surpassed the English singer. His single went to #1 while Elton's topped out at #10.

Comments: 11

James Pratt from Sierra Vista, AzWhere can I locate a list of the studio musician names that performed on 'You're The First, The Last, My Everything', please?
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1974 {December 29th} Barry White's "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" peaked at #2 {for 2 weeks} on Billboard's Top 100 chart, for the two weeks it was at #2, the #1 record for both those weeks was "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" by Elton John...
The following month on January 12th, 1975 "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" reached #1 for one week on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart...
Between 1973 and 1999 the Galveston, Texas native had forty-two records on the Hot R&B/Soul Singles chart, fourteen made the Top 10 with six reaching the #1* position...
Mr. White, born Barry Eugene Carter, passed away at the young age of 58 on July 4th, 2003...
May he R.I.P.
* He just missed having three more #1 records when "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up"{1973}, "Your Sweetness Is My weakness" {1978}, and"Put Me In Your Mix" {1991} all peaked at #2 on the Hot R&B/Soul Singles chart...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of Billboard's Top 10 on December 29th, 1974:
At #3. "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas
#4. "Junior's Farm"/"Sally G." by Paul McCartney and Wings
#5. "Laughter In The Rain" by Neil Sedaka
#6. "Angie Baby" by Helen Reddy
#7. "Only You" by Ringo Starr
#8. "Boogie On Reggae Woman" by Stevie Wonder
#9. "Please Mr. Postman" by The Carpenters
#10."Mandy" by Barry Manilow
Debra from Amarillo, TexasI was never a real Barry White fan, but I've always loved this song. The instrumentation of the song is maddeningly familiar to me, the sweeping orchestral style and those chord progressions at the end of the bridge. I've always felt like there is either a specific name for this style, or maybe it's reminding me of earlier songs with a similar sound. Does anyone have any ideas on this? Btw, this song led me to appreciate another singer I previously wasn't interested in: Tom Jones. When he played in Amarillo, Jones opened with this Barry White tune, and I was hooked!
Conchita L from OhioBarry was and it will be the romance of all times when a couple falls in love his voice is the perfect note of music to touch your heart to het in your brain and say the perfect word to your love one his music is the destiny to endless love to stay in love .
Is up to us to play his songs to stay in love and pass good music to youngsters... sure my little ones love his songs
Thanks for your time ... Stay in love
Mark from Oakland, CaThis song is one of the finest of the entire disco era..........and Barry White WAS and IS a god. Those of you who love this song might appreciate the rendition Barry did with Pavarotti. It's gorgeous and speaks to the vast appeal of Barry's music. Here's the link to the video. Enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHCcM_uV-r8
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 29th 1974, "You're My First, The Last, My Everything" by Barry White peaked at #2 (for 2 weeks) on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; it had entered the chart on October 27th and spent 15 weeks on the Top 100...
It reached #1 (for 1 week) on January 18th, 1975 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
And on December 7th, 1974 it also reached #1 (for 2 weeks) on the United Kingdom's Singles chart...
The two weeks it was at #2 on the Top 100; the #1 record was "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" by Elton John...
R.I.P Mr. White, born Barry Eugene Carter, (1944 - 2003).
Michael Scott from Punta Gorda, FlWeren't the seventies great! The song reminds me of a perfect love like that Jesus had of GOD. The song Debby Boone sang is like a female equivalent.
Samuel from Kilsyth, United KingdomBarry IS THE FIRST, AND LAST,OUR EVERYTHING,he had that VOICE,that would give out EVERYTHING he felt,to anyone (who is/or was) touched by LOVE, he Certainly Knew how to Deliver that DISTINCTIVE sound, that melted many hearts,god bless,one of our GREATEST singers, his music will go on, and on,WE THANK YOU, Mr BARRY WHITE.
Stormy from Kokomo, InFirst off - Caitlin from New Jersey: You would have LOVED the disco era! It was the best time in my life and I'm 59 years old! There were dance clubs EVERYWHERE and EVERYONE danced! It seems like alot of today's DJs "diss" the disco era (i.e. Bob and Tom, etc.), but disco MADE these guys! This song was also featured on an episode of "Ally McBeal" with Barry singing this directly to one of the cast members at a club. I would think that this would be a popular wedding reception song.
Caitlin from Upper Township, NjBarry White is not only a legend of disco ( wish I could've been around in the 70s) but music all together. He's the king of love songs. They're sweet and sentimental, but not disgustingly mushy. Not trashy, but loving. This is my favorite song by him. RIP BARRY, WE MISS YOU!
Anthony from Clearwater, FlNobody performed love songs like Barry White. He has no peers.

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