In Brief

* Barry White, “The Icon Is Love,” A&M.; Never known for his prim ways, White really spells out his intentions on this randy roundup of bedroom ballads. But even White must realize that so much emphasis on mattress-bouncing can only carry you so far. He sounds resigned on “Whatever We Had,” in which he suggests that an enduring love can be the most slippery icon to capture.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).