Marvin Gaye: 1939-1984 MARVIN GAYE WAS IMPORTANT not only tion. "I was profoundly affected by her," because he helped createthe Motown he said at the time. "This has been a very empire, but because he left it. Originally spiritual period of my life; it's my time to hired by president Berry Gordy as a session come out as an artist." drummer in 1961, he coauthored Dancing In the 1976 edition of The Rolling in the Streets, an enormous hit for Martha & Stone History of Rock & Roll, Joe McEwen the Vandellas;,brought out something elec- wrote, "Perhaps to cap his career, Gaye tric in Smokey Robinson, who produced followed his more political work with a both I'll Be Doggone and Ain't That Pecu- return, not to 'love,' but to pure eroticism, liar for him; and scored hits quickly and with the irresistible Let's Get It On (1973), deftly, from the gritty Hitch Hike to the gos- a huge hit with some claim to being the pel shout of Can I Get a Witness to the sexiest record Motown ever produced." sweet buoyancy of You're a Wonderful But Gaye topped himself twice after that, One. And that was only the first four years. with 1977's Got to Give It Up and 1982's This formative period culminated in the Sexual Healing. masterpiece / Heard It Through the Grape- For a man who gave so much in such a vine, a No. I hit in 1968 that's still played a short time, this discography should serve as lot in clubs and discos everywhere. a sort of tribute. After 20 years, 42 Top Ten Gaye's duets with Tammi Terrell were hits -14 of them No. I -and a change of much more than a sideline. When she died labels to Columbia, Gaye finally received in 1970 he stopped working temporarily. two Grammys for Sexual Healing. Perhaps reemerging with the self -composed and his overt politics and eroticism were just self -produced "What's Going On," re- different sides of the same person: an z garded as the first political concept album uncompromising artist who, fortunately for by a major black artist. It was also his most us, could accept success only on his own 0 introspective. Gaye himself connected terms. He will be missed. "What's Going On" with Terrell's inspira- -Georgia Christgau Selected Discography SINGLES Come Get to This. Tamla 54241; 1973. Compiled by Mildred Camacho-Castillo Distant Lover. Tamla 54253; 1974. MARVIN GAYE I Want You. Tamla 54264; 1976. ALBUMS Hitch Hike. Tamla 54075; 1963. Got to Give It Up -Part 1. Tamla 54280: MARVIN GAYE Pride and Joy. Tamla 54079; 1963. 1977. Greatest Hits. Tamla 252; 1964. Can I Get a Witness. Tamla 54087; 1963. Sexual Healing. Columbia 38-03302. How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You. Tamla You're a Wonderful One. Tamla 54093. 1982. 258; 1965. 1964. Moods of Marvin Gaye. Tamla 266; Try It Baby. Tamla 54095; 1964. With MARTHA & THE VANDELLAS 1966. Baby Don't You Do It. Tamla 54101. Stubborn Kind of Fellow. Tamla 54068: I Heard It Through the Grapevine. Tamla 1964. 1962. 285; 1968. How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You. Tamla M.P.G. Tamla 292; 1969. 54107; 1964. With MARY WELLS Superhits. Tamla 300; 1969. I'll Be Doggone. Tamla 54112; 1965. Once Upon a Time/What's the Matter with What's Going On. Tamla 310; 1971. Pretty Little Baby. Tamla 54117; 1965. You Baby. Motown 1057; 1964. Trouble Man. Tamla 322; 1973. Ain't That Peculiar. Tamla 54122; 1965. Let's Get It On. Tamla 329; 1973. One More Heartache. Tamla 54129: With KIM WESTON Marvin Gaye Live. Tamla 333; 1974. 1966. It Takes Two. Tamla 54141: 1967. Anthology. Tamla 790/1 (two discs); 1974. Take This Heart of Mine. Tamla 54132: I Want You. Tamla 342; 1976. 1966. With TAMMI TERRELL Live at the London Palladium. Tamla 353- Little Darling, I Need You. Tamla 54138: Ain't No Mountain High Enough. Tamla R2 (two discs): 1977. 1966. 5149; 1967. Here, My Dear. Tamla T 364 (two discs); Your Unchanging Love. Tamla 54153: Your Precious Love. Tamla 54156; 1967. 1978. 1967. If I Could Build My Whole World Around Midnight Love. Columbia FC 38197; You. Tamla 54160; 1968. You/If This World Were Mine. Tamla 1982. Chained. Tamla 54170; 1968. 54161; 1967. I Heard It Through the Grapevine. Tamla Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing. Tamla With MARY WELLS 54176; 1968. 54163; 1968. Together. Tamla 5260 -ML; 1964. Too Busy Thinking About My Baby. Tam - You're All I Need to Get By. Tamla 54169: la 54181; 1969. 1968. With TAMMI TERRELL That's the Way Love Is. Tamla 54185: Keep on Lovin' Me Honey. Tamla 54173: United. Tamla 277; 1967. 1969. 1968. You're All I Need to Get By. Tamla 284; How Can I Forget. Tamla 54190; 1970. Good Lovin' Ain't Easy to Come By. Tam - 1968. The End of Our Road. Tamla 54195: la 54179; 1969. Marvin Gaye & His Girls. (with Wells, 1970. What You Gave Me. Tamla 54187; 1969. Terrell,and Kim Weston). Tamla What's Going On. Tamla 54201; 1971. The Onion.Song. Tamla 54192; 1970. 293; 1969. Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology). Tamla Easy. Tamla 294; 1969. 54207; 1971. With DIANA ROSS Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Hol- You're a Special Part of Me. Motown With DIANA ROSS ler). Tamla 54209; 1971. 1280; 1973. Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye. Tamla M Trouble Man. Tamla 54228; 1972. My Mistake (Was to Love You). Motown 5124-V1. 1974. Let's Get It On. Tamla 54234; 1973. 1269; 1974. 80 HIGH FIDELITY.