This Care Of Cell 44 analog is maybe not a lost classic, but it's an indicator of Marvin Gaye's quality that it's not considered a lost classic. If that makes any sense, which I doubt it does.
Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got is the opening track from "That's The Way Love Is," released at the beginning of 1970. It's mostly covers, very conservative arrangements, and tasteful performances from Marvin. Yet it's a fascinating album, because it was recorded and released in the middle of tremendous personal turmoil (Tammi Terrell would finally die in March of that year from brain cancer, and professional turmoil (this was the last album released before "What's Going On," a project he had already begun at this point). So "That's The Way Love Is" marks the end of an era. Yet songs like Gonna Give Her evince no apparent tension or strife. Like I said, fascinating.
Photo: Fishermen below Overholser (1).
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
GONNA GIVE HER ALL THE LOVE I'VE GOT
Monday, November 19, 2007
IF THIS WORLD WERE MINE
If This World Were Mine is from 1967's "United," Marvin Gaye's first duet album with Tammi Terrell. Originally released as a B-Side to If I Could Build My Whole World Around You, it has since become something of a standard. Unusually, it was written and produced by Marvin himself, and it has to rate with his best original compositions.
And a great performance too. One thing to note is how restrained the two singers are. There's no trading vocal chops or dueling melismas, just a complete focus on the chemistry between Marvin and Tammi. This is Motown discipline at its finest.
If This World Were Mine is one of those songs you half expect to hear in some schlocky arrangement on American Idol or John Legend Unplugged, but that's not to say there aren't any good covers. In fact, for years my preferred take on the song has been Tyrone Evans's uptempo, urgent arrangement I got from the Trojan Singles box set. But that's for another day isn't it? Until then, enjoy your Monday!
Photo: Fishermen below Overholser (1).
