Customer Reviews
Marv is Marvelous! - By: M. Gibson, 23 Feb 2008 
I know that some people don't like 'greatest hits' albums for one reason or another. However this particular one is superb, it's a must have. All his best hits cramed onto two discs accompanied with some bonus live tracks & previously unrealeased recordings. For example 'Where are we Going' is execllent & speaks on so many different levels. 'The Very Best of Marvin Gaye' is perfect for any newcomers to his music, aswell as those who just wish to add to their Marvin Gaye collection.
Definately The Very Best! - By: RUEBEN AMOS RUNACRE, 21 Jul 2007 This is probably the most comprehensive Marvin Gaye collection you can buy. Definately warrants it's title!
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm??????????????????????? - By: G. Richardson, 20 May 2007 Well I honestly wasn't 100% sure if i'd like this one, the only Marvin Gaye song I actually knew was I heard it through the grapevine & not much else, but having deciding to give some soul music a try after hearing Stevie Wonder for the first time properly & being more than pleasantly surprised I decidedin my wisdom to try a bit of Marvin Gaye & once again I was very pleasantly surprised, if you're unsure of the music of Marvin Gaye then buy this greatest hits package, i've since bought a few more of his albums after listening to this, of all the greatest hits albums of Marvin's I think this is by far the best one, it's 2 discs & it includes un-released songs .... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH ... JUST BUY IT ................. NOW
A great place to start - By: Spider Monkey, 09 Jul 2006 This is a brilliant album covering Gaye's Motown & more soul periods. It has some live tracks & an amazing version of 'His eye is on the sparrow'. It has two discs of such great music that you are engaged right to the end & you're left feeling every song nearly as much as Gaye did when he sung them! Highly recommended as a starting place to Gaye's music.
The Definitive Marvin Gaye - By: Ian Phillips, 14 Mar 2006 Marvin Gayes' untimely deathin 1984 left a big voidin music. Marvin Gaye had become one of the most influential singer & songwritersin soul music history. His diligent work had tremendous depth, making profound political statements & social commentary as well as having a poignant & spiritual edge.
Marvin Gayes' recording career spans back to the dawn of the swinging sixties when Motown Records was beginning to make its markin the world by becoming commonly known as "the sound of young America". The fantastic Stubborn Kind Of Fellow was one of his very best early hits. The formulaic though enduring Motown sound is fully at work on this classic with Gayes' distinctive vocals seamlessly surfboarding along the somwhat complex musical arrangements.
Hitch Hike, Can I Get A Witness? & Too Busy Thinking About My Baby also encapsulates that familiar & distinct Motown sound of its golden erain the 1960's & all three are instantly contagious from the musical arrangements to gayes rocketing vocal performances that wasin a class & style of its own.
During Motowns golden era of the 1960's, Gaye worked with many of the labels most talented female singers. His phenomenal duet with the underated Kim Weston on the sparse, It Takes Two, sounds just as fresh & as vibrant as it was back then. But it was the divine Tammi Terrell (who was married to David Ruffin, one-time lead singer of The Temptations) that he found his perfect duet partner.
Gaye & Terrell cut many albums & succesful hit singles together with their diverse blend of harmonies gelling neatly into the sexually sizzling productions. Some of their greatest duets include You're All I Need To Get By, Ain't No Mountain High Enough ( the latter being a total contrast to the more famous version Diana Ross took to the top of the chartsin 1970), You Ain't Livin Till Your Lovin' & The Onion Song.
Gayes recording workin the late 60's vastly matured growing much more unique & phenomenal. He really hits his stride on the masterpiece, chart-topping mega-classic, I Hear It Through The Grapevine. The compelling opening interlude leads into a rocking & sparse production with Gayes stirring, soulful delivery complimenting the startling arrangements. Gaye really carries off I Heard It Through The Grapevine with style & finesse & this was but a mere taste of things to come.
Whilst his recording work progressed the sound of his music became more refined & stylized. He delivered what was possibly his greatest ever albumin 1971 with What's Going On. That album neraly didn't happen as Motown boss Berry Gordy was unsure as to how his buying public might react to Gayes new, creative force. Well, if anything, this merely fuelled Gayes record sales & critics alike joinedin to praise the genius. What's Going On completely shook off his more familiar sound of the 60's, exploring relevant environmental issues that also made some form of political comment as well as profound social commentary.
Gaye is put morein touch with his spiritual side on the timeless & poignant Mercy,Mercy Me which, with its rolling arrangements that has a really sharp, soulful edge, conveys Gayes vocal power which was simply going from strength to strength.
In 1973 he recorded a successful album of duets with the queen of Motown, Diana Ross. The highlight of this project was the breathtaking, You Are Everything. From that magical, exotic opening intro to the fittingly refined vocal delivery of Ross to Gayes more forceful, aggressive delivery, You Are Everything is THE ultimate love duet!
The evocative Lets Get It On taken from the excellent album of the same name, is one of my own personal favourite tracks. Gaye isin full romantic mood here with his exuberant delivery sounding highly sexually charged. This merley coats the smooth arrangements that features glorious saxophone interludes played at various points on the recording.
Gaye moved into funkier terriotryin the late 70's & reached its pinnacle on tracks such as the startlingly effective Got To Give It Up. With its multi-layered musical arrangements, dubbed crowd noises that sounds as though it was recorded livein a nightclub to Gayes impeccable delivery, it perfectly demenonstrated Gayes wonderful craft of versatlity.
One of Gayes last signature tunes had to be the timeless, sensual & utterly divine Sexual Healing. Gayes raw, earthy delivery rides along the state-of-the-art production & this was featured on his last studio album, Midnight Love which was his first (and last) for CBS Records following his departure from Motown records.
This two Cd collection collects together all of these classics that are all compelling musically & really give you an understanding as to why his work has remained unparralled & such an inspiration to todays new generation of wannabe soul/r&b singers. ESSENTIAL!
Ian Phillips
