Marvin Gaye, The #34 Artist of the Rock Era, Part Two

 

(Continued from Part One)

 

In 1969, Gaye released the album M.P.G.  He scored the #4 hit with a song the Temptations recorded three years before.  This is "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby".

 

Gaye also released the album That's The Way Love Is, with the title song jumping to #2 R&B and #7 Popular.  Originally by the Isley Brothers, Gaye delivered another great emotional performance.

Marvin and Terrell combined for the album Easy later in the year.  

But the female vocal on "The Onion Song" is co-writer Valerie Simpson.  Terrell was dying of a brain tumor and although Simpson was uneasy about pretending to be the singer, she was convinced to do so after being told that royalties would go towards Terrell's medical expenses. 

Gaye co-wrote and produced "Baby I'm For Real" and "The Bells" for the Originals.  He released the album That's the Way Love Is early in 1970.

Terrell died of brain cancer on March 16, 1970 and Marvin went into a period of depression.  Gaye was inspired to try out for a spot on the Detroit Lions, but eventually, he was not allowed to try out for fear of hurting his musical career.

 

After Renaldo "Obie" Benson of the Four Tops witnessed police brutality at an anti-war rally in Berkeley, California, Gaye was inspired to record "What's Going On".  Gordy felt the song was "too political" for radio and refused to release it.  But when Gaye went on strike from recording, Gordy was compelled to release it.  It of course is a seminal song in the Rock Era, #1 R&B and #2 overall.

 

This really began Gaye's most creative (and successful) period of his career.  Gaye's first album in which he had full creative control became his first million-selling album and first Top 10 album (#6).  Decades before global warming became the consequential threat it is today, Gaye wrote the song about concern for the environment.  The great song "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" peaked at #1 on the R&B chart and #4 overall.

 

Gaye addressed the poverty, hopelessness and social injustice of the ghettos in this monumental song.  "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna' Holler)" gave Marvin three consecutive #1's on the R&B chart and a #9 Popular hit.

 

Gaye said his album was written by God through him.  Listening to the iconic tracks 60 years later, and seeing the relevance today, that seems "Right On".

 "Flying High (In The Friendly Skies)" is Marvin's song about heroin and addiction.  The words are driven by Gaye's emotional delivery.  He makes you feel the addiction. 

  Words of wisdom, truth and understanding..."Wholly Holy".

 Marvin started the recording session for this song with only a rough draft with the melody co-written with Sandra Greene and wrote additional lyrics for it while recording.  He pleads with his "Distant Lover" in both amazing tenor and falsetto.

 

Here is another great song from this masterpiece written about black servicemen serving their country thousands of miles from home--"What's Happening Brother".

  

Marvin mixed spoken and sung lyrics on "Save The Children".

 

"Sad Tomorrows" is another fantastic track.  The group the Originals sang backing vocals on this cry for help.

Join us for Part Three of Marvin Gaye!