Love Unlimited, Walkin’ in the Rain With the One I Love | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 101^st edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Walkin’ in the Rain With the One I Love” by Love Unlimited.   

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 101^st edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Walkin’ in the Rain With the One I Love” performed by Love Unlimited.

“Oh, I’m just / Walking in the rain with the one I love / Feels so fine.” Did you know that Barry White penned and produced “Walkin’ in the Rain With the One I Love”? White didn’t record it.  Those honors belong to Love Unlimited (Glodean James, Linda James, and Diane Taylor). With “Walkin’ in the Rain With the One I Love,” the trio earned their sole top-20 hit.  After debuting at no. 97, it eventually peaked at no. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. That’s a hit! Upping the ante, the single was certified gold by the RIAA. “Walkin’” is the ninth and final track on the collective’s self-titled album.  Naturally, it is the crown jewel of greatest hits compilations.

“Walkin’ in the Rain With the One I Love” begins with an intro before any singing.  “Everyone’s trying to get out in the rain / Oh, it feels so good / The rain and thinking of you…” After setting the tone with the rain-filled, spoken word intro, the glorious chorus rocks out – in the most soulful way possible! Besides the high-flying vocals by the lead singer Glodean James and the trio collectively, the music is gorgeous.  The sound is idiomatic of the 1970s.  The rhythm section is lit, led by glorious keys, a robust bass line, and a sickening groove.  Also sweetening the accompaniment are the symphonic instruments – soaring strings, horns, etc.  Remember how I said that Barry White didn’t record this? Well, towards the end, he makes an appearance in the sexy interlude:

“Baby, I’m home

I’ve got something to tell you

What?

I love you

Ha, I love you too

Did you get caught in the rain?

Oh, yes

It was so beautiful…”

Fun fact, in 1974, Barry and Glodean married. Although they separated, they never divorced. The love and the music are lit on “Walkin’ in the Rain With the One I Love”.

Love Unlimited // Love Unlimited // Geffen / UMG Recordings, Inc. // 1972

Love Unlimited, Walkin’ in the Rain With the One I Love: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 101 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Geffen / UMG Recordings, Inc.; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]