“Here, My Dear” is the opening song to (and title track of) the album I consider to be Marvin Gaye’s greatest. This isn’t the popular opinion. Hell, there are a lot of folks who don’t even know Here, My Dear exists. After all, it sold poorly upon release and generated no hit singles despite following… Read More “Here, My Dear” by Marvin Gaye (1978)
OK, I’m going to say this now and not bring it up again. The lawsuit the Gaye family brought (and won) against Pharrell and Robin Thicke for “Blurred Lines” is ridiculous. Yes, “Blurred Lines” was clearly inspired by “Got To Give It Up”. But the two songs aren’t the same. The melody lines are different,… Read More “Got To Give It Up (Pt. 1)” by Marvin Gaye (1977)
Another great song that has two definitive versions, IMO. Also, here are the first two entities that have two songs each on this list. “Real Thing” has been bastardized a bit by being overused in commercials. It’s a testament to Nick, Val, Marvin and Tammi that the overexposure hasn’t lessened its classic status. To me,… Read More “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1968), The Jackson Five (1972)
Motown was well known for having several of its artists record the same songs, often in dramatically different versions. Ashford and Simpson’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” was the beneficiary of superlative treatments by both Berry’s queen and his dashing prince (joined in song by a tragic princess.) Miss Ross was omnipresent at the start of the… Read More “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1967)/Diana Ross (1970)
Marvin Gaye was a master of seduction. “After The Dance” sounds like the smoothest come-on ever. Add in Leon Ware’s sumptuous groove and Marvin’s typically sublime background vocal arrangement (wall to wall Marvins!) and the result is one of the standouts on 1976′s I Want You album. The entire album describes Marvin’s courtship of Janis Hunter, who… Read More “After The Dance” by Marvin Gaye (1976)
Five Star Jamz 