Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye was an iconic American singer, songwriter, and producer known as the "Prince of Motown" and "Prince of Soul." Born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. on April 2, 1939, in Washington, D.C., he tragically died on April 1, 1984.
Gaye grew up in a strict Pentecostal household as the son of a church minister, where he first sang in the choir and learned drums and piano. He joined the Air Force in 1955 but was discharged early, then formed the doo-wop group the Marquees, which evolved into the Moonglows and recorded with Harvey Fuqua.
In 1960, Gaye moved to Detroit, signed with Motown's Tamla label, and worked as a session drummer and backup singer for acts like Stevie Wonder and the Supremes. His first solo hit, "Stubborn Kind of Fellow," came in 1962, followed by duets with Tammi Terrell like "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."
Gaye's 1968 smash "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" topped charts, while his 1971 album What's Going On addressed social issues like Vietnam and poverty, marking his shift to self-production. Later hits included "Let's Get It On" (1973) and "Sexual Healing" (1982), earning him two Grammys.
Married to Berry Gordy's sister Anna from 1963 to 1977, Gaye battled addiction, depression, and financial woes; he left Motown in 1982 for Columbia. On the eve of his 45th birthday, he was shot and killed by his father during a family argument.
M.P.G.
Written-By – B. Strong, J. Bradford, N. Whitfield 2:57
A2 This Magic Moment
Written-By – Pomus, Shuman 2:39
A3 That's The Way Love Is
Written-By – B. Strong, N. Whitfield 3:40
A4 The End Of Our Road
Written-By – B. Strong, N. Whitfield, R. Penzabene 2:49
A5 Seek And You Shall Find
Written-By – I. Hunter, Wm. Stevenson 3:39
A6 Memories
Written-By – A. Story, H. Gordy, L. Brown, M. Johnson
Written-By [Uncredited] – Anna Gordy Gaye 2:44
B1 Only A Lonely Man Would Know
Written-By – B. Verdi, I. Hunter 2:55
B2 It's A Bitter Pill To Swallow
Written-By – Wm. Robinson, W. Moore 3:11
B3 More Than A Heart Can Stand
Written-By – I. Hunter, Wm. Robinson 2:55
B4 Try My True Love
Written-By – H. Cosby, J. Dean, S. Wonder 2:56
B5 I Got To Get To California
Written-By – I. Hunter, S. DeMell 2:51
B6 It Don't Take Much To Keep Me
Written-By – Holland, Dozier, Holland 2:39
Label: Tamla – TS 292
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre:R&B Soul
Style: Sixties Soul, Motown
Marvin Gaye's 1969 album, M.P.G. was a significant transitional record, showcasing his shift from pure pop to funkier, more assertive soul, featuring hits like "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" and "That's the Way Love Is," becoming his first #1 Soul album and a major Pop chart success, though sometimes seen as overlooked but containing strong tracks like the funk-infused "I Got to Get to California" and emotionally rich "The End of Our Road," bridging his earlier work with the deeper themes to come.
M.P.G. sits between classic Motown hits and his later socially conscious work, blending upbeat singles with deeper, funkier grooves and emerging lyrical depth. It produced major hits such as the pop-oriented "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" and the soulful, funky "That's the Way Love Is," notes AllMusic. Songs like "I Got to Get to California," "It's a Bitter Pill to Swallow," and "The End of Our Road" are praised for their driving momentum and emotional delivery.
Producer Norman Whitfield helped craft a sound that allowed Gaye's powerful vocals and evolving artistic vision to shine. While moderately received initially, retrospective reviews, like one from Rolling Stone and AllMusic, highlight its standout tracks and Gaye's stellar vocal performance.
Overall, M.P.G. is considered a strong, enjoyable album from a pivotal moment in Gaye's career, showcasing his versatility and setting the stage for his legendary 1970s output, even if some tracks lean towards standard Motown fare.
That’s The Way Love Is
Written-By – N. Whitfield, B. Strong 3:10
A2 Yesterday
Written-By – Lennon & McCartney 3:17
A3 Groovin'
Written-By – E. Brigati, F. Cavaliere 2:56
A4 I Wish It Would Rain
Written-By – R. Penzabene, N. Whitfield, B. Strong 2:49
A5 That's The Way Love Is
Written-By – N. Whitfield, B. Strong 3:25
A6 How Can I Forget
Written-By – N. Whitfield, B. Strong 2:04
B1 Abraham, Martin And John
Written-By – D. Holler 4:30
B2 Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love
Written-By – N. Whitfield, B. Strong 2:46
B3 No Time For Tears
Written-By – E. Holland, N. Whitfield 2:26
B4 Cloud Nine
Written-By – N. Whitfield, B. Strong 3:05
B5 Don't You Miss Me A Little Bit Baby
Written-By – R. Penzabene, N. Whitfield, B. Strong 2:13
B5 So Long
Written-By – E. Holland, N. Whitfield, R. Dean Taylor 2:27
Label: Tamla – TS 299
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Sixties Soul, Motown
Marvin Gaye's That's the Way Love Is (1970) is often seen as a transitional album, showcasing his classic Motown sound with strong singles like the title track and "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby," but also hinting at the deeper themes to come. Reviews note great vocals and infectious tunes, yet some find it a pleasant but less essential collection compared to his later, groundbreaking work, with a few covers noted as weaker, but overall a solid, enjoyable listen that paved the way for What's Going On.
It's praised as a strong collection of soulful Motown singles, featuring classic Gaye delivery, but reviewers often position it as a pleasant ride before his artistic explosion with What's Going On.
Tracks like the title song, "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby," and "The End of Our Road" are highlighted as standout, radio-friendly hits. Gaye's smooth, soulful voice shines, capturing the essence of the tracks, even on some less-loved songs.
While some filler tracks are enjoyable ("More Than a Heart Can Stand"), others, like "This Magic Moment," are considered weaker or unnecessary, typical for Motown albums of the era.
Released before his socially conscious masterpiece, it shows Gaye still in the Motown system, but with hints of the depth and personal feeling that would soon define his career.
That's the Way Love Is is recommended for fans wanting more classic Marvin Gaye, offering great singles and his signature voice, though it's generally considered a step before his ultimate artistic peak.
The Soulful Moods Of Marvin Gaye
Written By – Allie Wrubel
Written-By – Herbert Magidson 5:01
2 My Funny Valentine
Written-By – Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart 3:33
3 Witchcraft
Written By – Cy Coleman
Written-By – Carolyn Leigh 2:28
4 Easy Living
Written By – Ralph Rainger
Written-By – Leo Robin 3:08
5 How Deep Is The Ocean (How High Is The Sky)
Written-By – Irving Berlin 3:12
6 Love For Sale
Written-By – Cole Porter 2:58
7 Always
Written-By – Irving Berlin 3:02
8 How High The Moon
Written By – Nancy Hamilton
Written-By – Morgan Lewis 2:33
9 Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide
Written-By – Berry Gordy 3:05
10 Never Let You Go (Sha-Lu Bop)
Written By – Anna Gordy
Written-By – Harvey Fuqua 2:45
11 You Don't Know What Love Is
Written By – Gene DePaul
Written-By – Don Raye 3:58
Label: Tamla – TM-221
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1961
Genre: R&B Soul, Jazz
Style: Sixties Soul, Motown
The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye, his 1961 Tamla debut, is a fascinating but flawed album showing a young Gaye aiming to be a jazz-pop crooner like Nat King Cole, filled with Great American Songbook standards and light jazz arrangements, offering glimpses of his talent but contrasting sharply with his later R&B/soul stardom, making it more for diehard fans than a defining work.
While pleasant and showcasing his versatile voice and occasional piano/drumming, reviewers find it somewhat uninspired "background music" with weak production and forgettable moments, though standout tracks like "Easy Living" hint at the genius to come.
Gaye wanted to be a jazz/pop vocalist, leading to an album of standards ("My Funny Valentine," "Love for Sale") rather than R&B.
Produced by Berry Gordy, it features early Motown instrumentation but lacks the signature Motown punch, with some finding the arrangements bland or the musicianship subpar.
He plays piano and drums, showing versatility, but often sounds like he's trying to fit into a difficult genre rather than defining it.
The album is not a classic but reveals potential, with tracks like "Easy Living" being highlights, while some R&B numbers (like "Stubborn Kind of Fellow") hint at his true future.
In essence, The Soulful Moods is a worthwhile listen to track Gaye's early journey, but it's not where his iconic sound was forged; that would come later with true Motown innovation.
Trouble Man
2:30
A2 "T" Plays It Cool
4:29
A3 Poor Abbey Walsh 4:11
A4 Break In (Police Shoot Big) 2:01
A5 Cleo's Apartment 2:13
A6 Trouble Man
3:48
A7 Theme From Trouble Man
2:02
B1 "T" Stands For Trouble
4:50
B2 Main Theme From Trouble Man
3:54
B3 Life Is A Gamble
2:31
B4 Deep-In-It
1:25
B5 Don't Mess With Mister "T"
3:05
B6 There Goes Mister "T"
1:37
Label: Tamla – T322L
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1972
Genre: R&B Jazz, Funk, Soul
Style: Soul-Jazz, Soul, Jazz-Funk
Trouble Man (1972) is a critically acclaimed, dark, and moody jazz-funk soundtrack by Marvin Gaye that deviates from his soul hits to showcase his prowess as a composer, producer, and arranger. While the film itself was considered average, the album is highly regarded for its atmospheric, instrumental-heavy soundscapes, featuring notable tracks like "T Plays It Cool" and the title song.
The album is often described as a, sexy, and late-night soundtrack that successfully captures the gritty mood of 1970s Blaxploitation films. Following the massive success of What’s Going On, Trouble Man marked a pivot towards instrumental, jazz-based compositions, with Gaye heavily utilizing Moog synthesizers and piano.
Gaye handled the orchestration and production, utilizing a more varied, textured palette than typical soul records of the era. Key Tracks: The title track ("Trouble Man"), "T Plays It Cool", "Cleo's Apartment", and "T Stands For Trouble" are frequently highlighted.
Often compared to other great soundtracks like Superfly or Shaft, it is considered a deeply personal and underrated work in Gaye's catalog. Reviewers often point out that the soundtrack is far superior to the movie it was written for, which quickly faded into obscurity.
The expanded edition includes the original soundtrack, plus a second disc of the full film score, which provides deeper insight into the composition process.