Of course I know who Marvin Gaye is … one of my compatriots is a big Marvin fan.
Generally I do not lean to 60s soul as I said back in "What Frank is listening to #60": "I am not big soul music aficionado. I do have a few greatest hits compilations and other albums that tickle my fancy. 70s soul was of course inevitably funky or disco-y. There was a time when I was listening to a lot of the O'Jays music which was alternatively funk or disco but always very socially relevant like a lot of Philly soul. Berry Gordy of course is second only to Phil Spector in dictatorial habits ( and not as talented IMHO) with his artists at Tamla Motown. As I have said to some of you in the past … the sheer volume of Tamla hits speak for themselves … but so does the volume of non-hits. His "hitmaking style" was getting his roster of artists to put out a "soul" album in every genre and seeing what hits ( seriously they all, just about, put out straight soul, R&B, standards, Christmas, psychedelic, duet, live, and even country albums). On top of that Gordy had his artists cover the same songs over and over. Still, he did have good writers (including himself), session men and talented acts but a lot of it was very "cookie cutter" like"
That is still the case.
In true prolific Motown fashion this is Marvin's seventh album in five years. There are a couple of surprises on this album but I preface that by saying that Marvin's strength was always the purity of his voice. Stevie Wonder may have been been more creative, Smokey Robinson may have had more vision, James Brown may have been more funkier, and the Four Tops or Temptations may have been more toe tapping but Marvin probably had the best voice of the lot – he can sing with the angels. In soul there are fewer better singers … perhaps Sam Cooke ( who was Marvin's hero btw) or Jackie Wilson. Though his voice is lower, if the great Nat King Cole had of sung soul in the 60s he would have sounded something like Marvin. (Cole was another of Marvin's heroes).
But what about this album? Well, the musicians are spot on, the production is good (Smokey Robinson produced some of it) and Marvin sings great but it is still a little "cookie cutter" like. Marvin's artistic triumph and pinnacle of his disillusionment with Motown "What's Going On" was still five years off and Marvin's previous two albums, a tribute to Broadway in 1964, and an album of Nat King Cole songs in 1965 were less distinctive even though I like Broadway and Nat King Cole … yes, I have heard them. Marvin, either wanted to or was pushed by Gordy into being an all round entertainer – he even made some films (with less than spectacular results – I have seen them and yes, Elvis is much better, though Marvin is probably better than Bowie 🙂 ). On this album Marvin sticks to what he knows, though the second side is heavy on "soul torch songs" if there is such a thing (he even does the Sinatra tune "One for My Baby (and one more for the road)"). The album is schizophrenic between the mid-tempo soul on side one and MOR pop on side two – aaahh nothing like Berry Gordy hedging his bets yet again … and I mean that in a good way. So, it is pleasant whilst on the turntable but (with a couple of exceptions) not memorable. This album is certainly no worse or better than the best of Motown's product in 1966 …
Best Tracks
- Take This Heart of Mine – totally infectious.
- Aint That Peculiar – a good soul song – nothing more nothing less.
- Night Life – a beautiful soulful reading of the Willie Nelson written classic. A hit in 1963 for Ray Price and one of the most covered of all country songs.
- Your Unchanging Love – a slightly cynical soul song written by the great Holland-Dozier-Holland sung perfectly by Marvin.
And …
I'll tape a few tracks and give this away … are there any Marvin Gaye fans out there?
Chart Action
The punters loved it:
US Charts
Singles:
1965 Ain't That Peculiar Black Singles 1
1965 Ain't That Peculiar Pop Singles 8
1965 I'll Be Doggone Black Singles 1
1965 I'll Be Doggone Pop Singles 8
1966 Little Darling, I Need You Pop Singles 47
1966 One More Heartache Black Singles 4
1966 One More Heartache Pop Singles 29
1966 Take This Heart Of Mine Black Singles 16
1966 Take This Heart Of Mine Pop Singles 44
1965 Ain't That Peculiar Pop Singles 8
1965 I'll Be Doggone Black Singles 1
1965 I'll Be Doggone Pop Singles 8
1966 Little Darling, I Need You Pop Singles 47
1966 One More Heartache Black Singles 4
1966 One More Heartache Pop Singles 29
1966 Take This Heart Of Mine Black Singles 16
1966 Take This Heart Of Mine Pop Singles 44
The album
1966 Moods Of Marvin Gaye Black Albums 8
1966 Moods Of Marvin Gaye Pop Albums 118
1966 Moods Of Marvin Gaye Pop Albums 118
Sounds
I'll Be Doggone
Little Darling (I Need You)
One More Heartache
Aint That Peculiar
Aint That Peculiar – live
Night Life
Your unchanging Love
Review
Bio
Website
(Originally posted: 24/10/2009)
