Customer Rating: 
Summary: One of the most prominent legends of the soul!
Comment: The irruption of the soul in the middle sixties, was the final result of a long wait. Chronological and sociologically it seems to coincide with the tragic end of Martin Luther King, but there's much to say. The black people lacked of a musical flag, a genre that conveyed their special contour. After the first generation of rock in the middle fifties, came the arousing of The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The British Rock, the summer songs and the emerging of a genius of the guitar Jimmy Hendrix. On the other hand, the Latin Jazz (Carl Tjader, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Dave Valentin) had been growing at exponential rate and the classic Jazz was tied to a far tradition that expressed those memories and unsaid livings, but this generation was over the thirties and the young generation just didn't feel represented themselves with Parker, Ellington, Bassie, Webster, Coltrane, Mingus, Montgomery, Davis, Peterson or Satchmo, faithful Ambassadors of the Post War generation. They needed the appearing of a dancing movement capable to compete with the commercial tendencies by then. Under these circumstances, the soul emerged by an almost imperative genetic that was being expected; this new musical expression became for the black people the materialization and concretion of their own urban poetry, a true fire exit - if I may - to drag and share in those friendly meetings.
The great beginnings belonged to enthusiastic and unforgettable ensembles such as the Supremes, Temptations Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Jr. Walker and The all Stars, but the second big wave began to show renowned soloists with a feeling. Steve Wonder, Wilson Picket, James Brown, Otis Reading, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick and Gladys Knight irrupted at the great stages to show the world the soul had been arrived to stay. You may realize for instance, Vietnam as thematic inspiration was practically absent until the arrival of the theme "War" in 1969 sung by Edwin Star.
Marvin Gaye was what we might label as the wonder kind in the soul genre. Even it could be said his originality was always a step ahead his musical colleagues. As a matter if fact, he always knew to impress his personal style a sort of a refined detachment, in which lyrics and music shook hands and the outcome produced curious results. Somehow he remained in the musical memory since the first time you listened him. Somehow he influenced three remarkable figures of the early seventies, Billy Ocean, Lou Rawls and Bill Whiters.
The way his brief career was interrupted certainly belongs to the annals of the unexpected universe, and would seem to suggest us the tragedy nestles like an invisible shadow behind every one of us.
Don't miss this album because Marvin Gaye is part of the legend.
Customer Rating: Summary: Life Is Ironic at Times
Comment: Isn't funny that my favorite track on cd 1, I had never heard of before?
"You" speaks to my spirit, and touches me emotionally. It is my favorite, and I even found the lyrics so I can read and sing along while listening. I play this track over and over. It makes me feel like I am in the church about to catch the spirit. It is so uplifting, Marvin's interpretation. There is a Temptation feel to this song, a David Ruffinish sound.
I feel that on cd one, Marvin was in the process of evolving into his signature sound. I feel that cd 2 is where he evolved and where he established his true voice. These songs I feel are spiritually based, in that they touch the spirit.
You
You WHOOO You, you I see in my mirror in the mornin'
Instead of seein' me
I see you, I see your face
And inside me is a growing need for your embrace
In the light of day, though our faces meet
Someone there might see so we never speak
Till the dark of night, while the moon is new
When we whisper words of love in our secret rendezvous
Though it's wrong I know, girl I love you so
Yes I need you, I need you baby
Oh you, my sweetest joy
You can't afford the best of life
I'm just a hard workin' boy
Oh you've given your love to me
Girl, I can't let you hurt yourself by being seen with me
We're worlds apart, so close yet worlds apart
So we must hide the love we're feelin' in our hearts
We meet in shadows, your friends must never know
That we are lovers, darlin'
Alhough it hurts me so, for your sake no one must see
The precious love you're givin' me
But you know, I need you baby
One day I'll make the break, my lucky star willshine.
I can tell the world that you are mine, all mine
Till then we must go on the way we have before
And never let it show we love each other so.
I'll never one-way track 'cause there's no turnin' back
Oh I need you baby
(repeat verse 1 and fade)
I highly recommend is like excellent vocals, lyrics and live instrumentation.
