Reviews (page 3 of 9)
Still a high standard of soul with some very personal themes but you sense Marvin's vocals are not at the level of his previous work but stiil worth the listen.
9/10
Not great work music, somewhat repetitive
Previously unknown. Musically it's a good listen.
Here, My Dear (1978) is the fourteenth studio album by Marvin Gaye. The background to this album is as part of the financial settlement in Marvin’s divorce from Anna Gordy he agreed to give her 50% of the royalties from his next album. His initial plan was to churn out something quickly and move on, but then he had a change of heart and decided to write an album about the divorce. There is something very incongruous about listening to the smooth velvet tones of Gaye’s voice singing songs like ‘You Can Leave, But It’s Going To Cost You’. This is not the music of love, perhaps with the exception of ‘Falling in Love Again’. It turns out that Gaye, despite painting himself as the victim in the divorce had already moved on and was living with his soon to be second wife. This was apparently Gaye’s first foray into lyric writing. It’s hard to judge as it’s so personal but I don’t find them very engaging. His voice is lovely, but there’s not much range of tone across the songs, and although the funky soul is good, again there’s not much variation. To me, this isn’t Marvin Gaye at his best. I read that it didn’t do well on release, but after his death in 1984 it was reassessed more favourably. I’m not sure that’s deserved. Side A: 1. Here, My Dear - 2/5 2. I Met A Little Girl - 2/5 3. When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You - 2/5 4. Anger - 2/5 Side B: 1. Is That Enough - 2/5 2. Everybody Needs Love - 3/5 3. Time To Get It Together - 2/5 Side C: 1. Sparrow - 2/5 2. Anna’s Song - 2/5 3. When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You” (Instrumental) - 2/5 Side D: 1. A Funky Space Reincarnation - 2/5 2. You Can Leave, But It’s Going to Cost You - 2/5 3. Falling in Love Again - 3/5 4. When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You (Reprise) - 2/5
Can't go wrong with some Marvin Gaye. 7.2/10.
2/10
Gefällt mir besser als Madonna
I was excited for a Marvin Gaye album. And, I was intrigued to hear his sound from the late '70s, one of my favorite eras of music it turns out. But this album was such a chore. I don't know if it was the grim subject matter of a divorce, as the Wikipedia and other reviewers point out. Or if it was just a boring album regardless of what he's singing about. I didn't hate it but I was ready for it to be over. It's long, it's drawn out, it's monotonous, and it doesn't grab your attention on pretty much any track. It's still Marvin gaye, so the man can sing, but definitely not his best work, and I'm not sure why it's a must listen album.
Smooth listening, good voice, nicely produced, but musically it feels like a rehash of some of his previous work. Several songs are basically 'Let's Get It On'. I did think 'Anger' and the future/space one pretty good.
I was going to give this a three, but Marvin Gaye really has the juice. Could listen to him sing anything. Clearly a very cathartic and personal album, so even though it's not an experience I can relate to, I really felt his pain. Per Wikipedia, he and his ex-wife reconnected as friends later in life, and I think that's nice.
This album announces itself right from the start as a breakup album. Heartbreak and divorce hang over every song like a cloud of smoke. It’s a big album — over 70 minutes! — so there’s a lot to absorb. But I Marvin Gaye is such a smooth, soulful singer that I enjoyed going along for the ride even if this is an album that will reward multiple listens. I like that there’s a lot of funk in addition to soul. These sound like Stevie Wonder songs at times. This is beautiful, seductive music even while it’s melancholy and bittersweet. Also, I love that on this big concept album about divorce, Marvin Gaye still finds room for an 8-minute song about gettin’ it on in space! “A Funky Space Reincarnation” is a silly but very fun song. I like the album cover. It should be cheesy, but there’s something about it that works. It’s weird and off-kilter but distinct, and it fits the music. 4.5
Beautiful voice, beautiful music. Marvin Gaye is Marvin Great. He sounds a little extra soft and sentimental on this album, not sure if he's like this on all of his records though or I'm just focusing on it more now. For song 1, I always find this very specific sound to be kind of funny- but not in a corny way. The "spoken sexual r&b soul ballad" is just such a uniquely interesting approach to making a song, and I love that this album starts with it. The production is so nice on this entire album, I appreciate how every element is mixed so that everything has a seat at the table, and there's a distinct lack of frustrating mid frequency instruments that often take away from a standout singer on albums like these.. awesome. Hard rate for me though, I feel like I've been reserving 4/5's for records that do everything right and also have a handful of really memorable pieces, and unfortunately this album doesn't really have those. In fact, when I think of Marvin Gaye's best songs, I'm not sure if any on this record come in his top 5 or even top 10.. and for that reason it's getting a 3.4 rounded to a 3.
Enjoyable!
i quite like marvin gaye but this album kinda didn't match my expectations. i liked the back half of the album a bit but this ain't no What's Going On or Let's Get It On.
The premise behind this album adds a lot to what this album actually is. It feels like the disintegration of what I imagine his marriage would be like. Is it his best work? Likely not. It does feel a bit not polished, but it’s a concept album and it isn’t designed for the appeal that it never got.
Review - it all sounds good, it's Marvin Gaye. But no songs stood out at all, I remember no high nor low points, and I have no interest in listening again. A perfect 5/10 Rating - 5/10 Need to hear? NO
In the top 2 divorce albums
Hell yeah this was lovely as hell
very long
Not really my thing
You can leave, but it’s gonna cost you
A spiteful album but full of great songs. Sparrow is one of his best, both languid and melodic. When did you stop loving me is an argument set to record. Its a little bit long and some songs outstay their welcome, largely this is marvin making art from sorrow.
This journey has made me appreciate Marvin Gaye more than I ever thought I would. His voice is a national treasure, and he turns being horny into an art. Favorite Track: "Here My Dear".
Nothing for me. And repetitive.
So smooth, so subtly funky, such a voice. Favorite songs: Anger, Time to Get It Together, A Funky Space Reincarnation, You Can Leave, But It's Going to Cost You. "time would heal all wounds, time, time, time, time But we have to live right to get the time"
Follows the arc of a man's angst over his divorce and subsequent re-engagement with life. It was ok as an artistic exploration of emotions, but not something I really think I'd come back and listen to again.
Pretty good
Fairly standard Marvin Gaye affair. Smooth make out jams, but nothing really standout. More of a 3.5 than a 4.
It was fine.
I really like Marvin Gaye. I’m sorry to hear about his divorce.
An hour and a quarter of someone's marriage falling apart. Fun.
Jazz and funk....good times
Great rhythm section. The percussive guitar work on this album is really fun too. Overall, just a great album that I can get down with.
Kunne lide det her en del bedre end det første marvin gaye album (lets get it on) - det var virkelig rart at lytte til. Apparently er det et skilsmisse album der floppede ved udgivelse men blev senere hyldet af anmeldere efter hans død
Pretty good stuff
Je l'ai pas écouté au complet car c'est pas du bon Marvin Gaye mais l'histoire qui entoure l'album (Gaye obligé de produire un album car pas capable de payer la pension alimentaire à son ex femme) est marquante. "kin ma chouette, le vlà ton album"
Marvin gets real starkly confessional. Not a singles album.
Goddamn Marvin is really in his feels about his divorce. What a peculiar album. It’s a light funk and soulful album played at a casual tempo - somewhat lacking variety to a fault as the songs start to blend together over the over 1hr runtime. Lyrically and vocally, it’s honest, raw, and vulnerable. Almost to a point of being bizarre (singing about attorney fees). But it feels so real and you can hear it in his voice. Hard to take in all together for a rating, I guess I’ll go with 3 but I’m not set on that.
Heard of Marvin Gaye. Favorites: - No song separated itself from the pack, but I did like the front half of the album more. Thoughts: THIS MY SHIT.
Nice album. One of the best voices in music ever! I found myself actively listening to the words. A lot of angst there. For him to come up with the lyrics while in the studio recording is very impressive.
Potentially my favorite record of his I've heard so far. I tend to enjoy more of his individual songs than complete albums, but there's a surrealness to this record that intrigues me. I'm interested to keep revisiting it 3.5/5
Love it!
Spite album
Quite a depressing slog, with few highlights.
Great Marvin Gaye soul music
Love this dude but gotta get over that divorce
Vibey and flows like a river, as we expect from him! Very nice! Not a weak moment here but be open for a vibey long one. Standout is maybe is that enough, but they’re all strong so it’s hard to say. Was tempted to give it a 4 due to how long it is, but i can see its length being a boon, so i’m proud to give this my first 5 star.
Not my style but stare off good. Pretty sad. Long album and did start to get bored (again not my style) about halfway
3.5
Out of all the divorce records I've ever heard this is probably the most out and out. If I did not know the lore behind, it definitely came out in the lyrics. I can't say this is what I would consider one of Marvin Gaye's best albums, but it's really compelling because conveys pieces of story throughout the album. The big highlights emotionally were "When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You", "Everybody Needs Love", and "Anger". If there is one problem for me as far as this album is that sometimes the lyrics are too on the nose especially in "You Can Leave, But It's Going To Cost You" and "Is That Enough" (he should have listened to his friend Johnnie Taylor). One funky note on this album is when Marvin "stretches out" for "A Funky Space Reincarnation". If it obviously Marvin's voice, I would have straight up assumed this was a Bootsy song. (8.47) ★★★★
Very cool soul album. A bit too long, but still very varied. 4.5 stars
Not too high on this Marvin Gaye album. I thought it started well enough, but got kind of tedious and boring as it went on. 3 stars.
4.5
Because it’s Marvin Gaye it does have an extremely silky soul sound throughout but is a bit much at 4 sides as it does get incredibly samey. Artwork from front to back is top class - so much bitterness palpable. In terms of 1001 Albums I have to say “not herely my dear, I don’t give a damn” because I can’t call it an all-time great masterwork but maybe it should be a shoo-in for Top 1001 Divorce Albums or Top 1001 Albums From People Tragically Shot Dead By Their Own Father From The Very Same Gun That They Themselves Had Given. 3.5 stars:
good. 3.5
In the words of my husband who walked into the room while I was listening, “wow, this music is sexy!”
(46/100)
Fun album but drags a little bit at the end. You can hear some influences that lifted from this record. Solid 4
Classic album and my favourite Marvin Gaye album
I like Marvin Gaye but this was a bit of a slog to get through given how long it is. Still some good songs but nowhere near as good an album as What's Going On for example
Oftentimes, artists are at their most creative when they go thorugh hard times. You can definetly hear that Marvin Gaye is experiencing a tough divorce here but the creative spirit really didn't catch me. I understand that he wanted to express his anguish but hearing him whine for over an hour just doesn't create a joyful listening experience. In some of these songs, he seems downright vitriolic towards his former wife. I like Marvin Gaye's music, I really do, but this is not the tender singer I've come to like. Best songs are Sparrow and Funky Space Reincarnation. 4/10, he can do so much better.
It was ok
On first listen this fell a long way short of the heights of What's Going On, but after reading the story behind the album, and paying more attention to the lyrics, it hit more on the second listen through.
Definitely a bit weird, and very long. It wasn't too bad, but nothing jumped out and made me think this was anything other than an incredibly long and salty diss-album. Two stars.
Better in the last half, deserves 3.5
Enjoyed the pairing of soothing tunes with the anger of divorce but - stop me if you’ve heard this one before - it’s too long and drifts.
1. He was definitely under the influence when making this track. Good smooth soul. 2. Lyrically a story of falling in and out of love and missing someone, liked the key changes in the middle. 3. Zooming in on the worst parts of the relationship - funkier, and groovier vibe. Like the saxophone, does a few different things with his vocal compared to the first two. Like the melody for this one. Shows a lot more passion and emotion on this track, you can feel he's missing the person. 4. Like the message - the aftermath of anger makes it not worth it. Funky, liked the first half the most. The beat and the guitar riff are the best part of the song. 5. This was kinda funny, basically talking about how he wasn't the confident self-assured man he made himself out to be. Couldn't seem to handle the relationship or his partner? This is more laid back, late night, groove. Could see this being played whilst driving at night. Sax solo is 👌🏽. 6. Starting the song - this type of soul is not my preference, I find it quite boring and dull. Appreciate the lyrics. Vocals are great. 7. This is better than the last track. Lyrics??? Definitely understand the title. The rest of the album from here was not very impressive, I found it all blended into one and I was not enjoying it. Track 11 - I wanted to like, but it was actually quite dull and forgetful. He is very much a legend, but this album is not for me. Top songs: Anger Is that enough When did you stop loving me... rating - 1/5
Como aburrido
Always a great vibe. Baby making music baby!
These two things just don’t go together. Love the groove but not interested about his divorce. It just clashes for me
Marvin Gaye doesn't leave much to the imagination here. 'Here, My Dear' is essentially about his divorce from first wife, Anna Gordy Gaye, and he spends just over 70 minutes trying to work out what went wrong. The fact he was writing this as everything was transpiring too makes the songs seem as much like evolving commentary as self-reflection. Musically, 'Here, My Dear' is very much rooted in the soul/funk sound that Gaye had helped pioneer throughout the 60s and 70s, but with his divorce going on in the background, Gaye covers everything about it: hindsight ('When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You?'), anger ('Anger'), recovery ('Time to Get It Together'), painful court proceedings ('Is That Enough'), recovery ('Time To Get It Together') and moving on ('Falling In Love Again'). Apparently half the royalties from this record went to Anna at the recommendation of Gaye's lawyer too: damn, it was figuratively and literally a divorce record! The most important song on this record is 'Anna's Song', where he finally addresses Anna directly and explores their relationship in full. While Gaye rattles off a number of fond memories they shared, it's delivered with a somewhat cynical voice, as if he's trying to work out what it all was for in the end. Because he was still in the eye of the storm at this point, it's a bit difficult to take 'Anna's Song' as a true summation of his failed marriage, as you can't really reflect properly without enough of 'Father Time' backing you up, but the song is important in contextualising the meaning and purpose of the entire record. Which is why the most memorable song here is probably 'A Funky Space Reincarnation', as it's where the album finally starts to get more upbeat and positive. It shows Gaye starting to get funky again and rediscover what it is that made his music great in the first place. The influence of P-Funk is noteworthy on this song, and it's the moment where you can tell Gaye has all the malice out of his system and is ready to move on. It's a pretty brave move to write an entire 70+ minute album centred around a divorce, and the lack of variety in the subject matter is perhaps what lets it down a bit, but 'Here, My Dear' is a fine example of creative therapy and how it aids in the recovery process. It's clear Gaye wasn't setting out to make a landmark record here, rather one that could help him make sense of everything. Best songs: Anger, Is That Enough, Anna's Song, A Funky Space Reincarnation
not bad, just not good either
This might be the most boring album yet. I don't see the point. It's not very good or even innovative.
The concept of the album is definitely clear. It worked well in my opinion. I liked how detailed some of the songs got about Marvin Gaye’s divorce from Anna Gordy Gaye. I tend to enjoy double albums because they feel more like a journey, in a way. I did feel like the album dragged on a little bit at the ending, though.
Here My Dear is Marvin Gaye's goodbye to the wife that just divorced him, who was the *elder* sister of Berry Gordy and 20 years his senior. It's quite bitter in its lyrical tone as you would expect - and Marvin was no stranger to the cocaine at this point, but there are no standout hits here and a lot of it is very unarresting middle of the road soul that you would have on in the kitchen whilst doing meal prep. Which is what I did. It took the critics a few decades to appreciate this, maybe it will do the same with me.
This feels less like an album and more like being a fly on the wall during a deeply uncomfortable, private therapy session. There is something undeniably fascinating about the raw, petty honesty Marvin Gaye displays here, he manages to set lyrics about attorney fees and alimony to some of the smoothest, most intoxicating soul and funk ever recorded.
Let it out, Marvin. Let all of the complicated, messy emotions out.
I was enjoying it overall but the album really found its groove at "When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You?" and it just kept going from there. Its a fun narrative on heartbreak and the swings of emotions that immediately follow. Favorite Song: You Can Leave, But It's Going to Cost You
I mean, yes, Marvin Gaye has a beautiful voice and could sing the phone book, but this divorce/label revenge record is pretty slapdash except for possibly "Time to Get It Together" and "A Funky Space Reincarnation" which really is a better title than song.
It doesn’t take long for the ick factor to kick in, as Marvin lays it all out right from the get-go: These are pillow-talk jams hijacked by the self-serving, one-sided pity-party account of a man legally obligated to fork over money from this release to his ex-wife as part of the divorce settlement. It’s an interesting document in that way, and it’s crazy that he remained so committed to the bit, but it’s also like overhearing a couple breaking up at the table next to you. Check please! But as I kept listening, my misgivings were sanded down by the incredible sounds washing over me like a narcotic. Musically, this is fantastic: silky, hot-buttered and funky. Gaye played all the keyboards, which add richness and fascinating linkages between eras and music genres, and his voice conveys pain and regret, even if it doesn’t feel like he’s being forthright about his own role in how things fell apart. This was one of those albums that I recognized deserved more than one listen before judging, and I’m glad I did. It’s weird as hell, and you have to take Gaye’s whole narrative account with a giant grain of salt. But it somehow works as an ambitious and inspired document of the loss of love, peering over the fence at what once was and tallying the damage.
Ooof. Listening to this was like watching a particularly volatile marriage counseling session. I feel like this is the Weezer Pinkerton of R&B: no, its not as bad as it's reputation, but its not essential listening, either.
I guess it's alright but too long
3/5
Hell yeah!
I was genuinely excited to see Here, My Dear pop up this morning, but it turned out to be a real let-down. The album is long, slow and, frankly, pretty boring. I get it — Marvin is heartbroken — but he really goes on about it, to the point where it becomes a slog rather than something you connect with. This is nowhere near his best work. I normally don’t mind albums steeped in heartbreak and self-indulgence, The Boatman's Call is one of my all-time favourites but this just drags. Track after track blends into the next, circling the same emotions without ever really lifting. The one constant highlight is Marvin Gaye’s voice, which remains absolutely superb and is the album’s main saving grace. Favourite track: Is That Enough is fine, if I had to pick one. Least favourite tracks: Honestly, most of them. They all follow the same flow, story and mood, and it becomes very dull very quickly. Album artwork: A fantastic cover, bold, busy and interesting. Ironically, it’s far more engaging than the music inside.
3.8
3 out of 5. A bunch of songs I'd expect Marvin Gaye to sing so this album was at least on point. Also a very direct one too about his divorce.
Pretty weird document of a man (ok, Marvin Gaye is a bit of a musical genius, but still a man) exposing his inner turmoil, maybe using this as therapy. Not something a lot of men would do. Dude is clearly hurt. It doesn't seem like he is taking any responsibility, but maybe a closer listen would reveal otherwise. Pretty intimate. I can see how this would be off-putting when it came out, and there's a couple of things on here that don't make much sense, like the "Funky Space Reincarnation," but otherwise intriguing. It is too long, though, and a little monotonous.
4 for marvin standards. i have loved funky space reincarnation since my late teens.
Eh, not great. This album is mostly complaining about his divorce. I found it to be pretty bitter and self-victimizing. Marvin Gaye is a great singer, but this album was a bit of a slog. I had the “Let’s Get It On” album a few days ago and I liked that better.
3.75 Great voice
i cant call it bad, but its really boring
Nice. Zu lang.
Nix besonderes und nicht wirklich ein Highlight auf der Platte. Nicht gut, aber auch nicht schlecht.
Mehr Künstler*innen sollten Alben über ihre Scheidung schreiben! - Gut
Not my style really but I can't say it's not pretty good. Great vocals, catchy songs. Solid instrumentation. It is a little long.
Smoothest divorce album ever?
This was great. Loved the repeating “when did you start loving me” track.
A divorce double-album, eh? Heartbreak’ll do that to you. Marvin is smooth as ever but I’m working, distracted, and not so taken with the subject. It’s a three for me in this state.
From a musical standpoint it's nothing spectacular, but the perspective and subject are unique enough to set it apart.
There's something really great about this album, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Gaye's voice is masterful, full of soul and feeling that take you to another place and time. It's smooth and soulful. A real masterpiece of the genre. The instrumentation is so creative and such a product of the time. My favorite song ended up being "Time to Get It Together," though "Funky Space Reincarnation" is a close second.
Ihan hyvä levy jonka pitkä kestokaan ei varsinaisesti haitannut. Varsinaisia huippukohtia en ensimmäisellä kuuntelulla löytänyt vaan kokonaisuus oli todella tasainen. Varmaan useammin kuunneltuna pisteet nousisivat, mutta nyt en viitsi antaa kolmea tähteä enempää.
Absolute banger of an album Marvin is always 5⭐️
Was surprised that none of the classics were on this one. Still, easy listening!
Baby making music all morning. Def didn’t know there was other good stuff besides let’s get it on!
not my taste but i know hes a good artist. i like a few of his other songs
Oof. Trauma dump where he can’t make up his mind on how he feels about his ex. I feel bad for him. This is absolutely just a cash-grab. Anna’s Song is just awful lyrically. Granted this is better than 90% of what is on the list, but the bar for Marvin Gaye is higher than this.
"Here, My Dear" by Marvin Gaye was an album I had not heard before, even though I own several Marvin Gaye records. On first listen, it struck me as fairly standard Motown and soul from the late 70s. It is not bad by any means, but it did not feel particularly exciting to me. The album has a well-known and rather unusual backstory. It was recorded as part of Marvin Gaye's divorce settlement with his first wife, Anna Gordy Gaye, with a significant portion of the album's proceeds going to her. That personal context is often cited as a reason why some critics later reassessed the album more positively. I have to admit that I mostly disagree with that reassessment and side more with the original reaction to it as a commercial and critical failure. Musically, it sounds like very generic soul and Motown of that era, similar to many other late-70s releases. Compared to Marvin Gaye classics like "What's Going On" or "Let's Get It On", this album lacks standout moments and does not hold my attention for long. That said, I could imagine listening to it again casually, just letting it play in the background without actively engaging with it.
star wars sex in my divorcing wife album
good but dude be in his feelings about that divorce
This guy was going through something for sure. Let it all out Marvin. I really liked the mix of new and old instrumentation in this. Standout Track: Is That Enough
This felt dated at first but there were some really high points.
Very cool voice
I love the vengeance behind this album so much more than the album itself. Marvin Gaye is a genius—this album is an anomaly.
I didn’t really love the album but love Marvin Gaye and pudding is pudding, you know?
Nije lose dao bih 3.5 da moze al ono jbg
Not my sort of thing.
Beautiful album man it was such a soothing listen especially on an early morning flight. 5 stars no notes.
Too ass long
I LOVE MARVIN GAYE!!!!!! I’M SO MAD HIS DAD KILLED HIM!!!!!!!
I didn't like the other Marvin Gaye album, this one is worse.
Classic R&B.
The general concensus seems to be that this album does not meet the standards set by his earlier works such as "What's Going On". I disagree, and just like "What's Going On" I'm giving it five stars.
What to say about Marvin Gaye... This album started out a little slow. I read briefly about the concept for this album, chronicling Marvin and his wife divorcing, this sad theme and the slow start to this album made my initial impression not super positive. It felt a bit sleepy in general. Marvin Gaye's singing style is also a little bit all over, he sings outside of the melody of the song, he has an impressive range but sometimes this wild style can feel a bit much. By the middle of the album I felt a bit more of a jazz feel and a bit more lively which I did like more, but by this point I was almost too warm out by the length. Overall not the best listening experience, despite recognizing some true talent and realizing why so many people hold him in such high regard, this wasn't quite for me.
Honestly, not much to say about this one. It’s smooth funky soul music. I enjoyed listening to it, but it definitely overstayed its welcome a bit especially with the whole theme of complaining about his divorce. There were a few individual tracks I really enjoyed, but I can’t see myself returning to this one as whole in the future.
3+ Stars (9/15)
If you know anything about this album, you know the story of it. Marvin Gaye was going through a divorce with his wife, Anna Gordy. The arrangement was that Gordy would receive half of the advance and the proceeds from Gaye's next album. He initially was going record a stinker, but found that the best way to work through what he was going through was to bare his soul and make the album all about his divorce and what he was going through. But that isn't what he did. Instead, he just made an album blaming his wife for divorcing him, blaming the judge for awarding her alimony and child support, blaming Anna for calling the cops on him (for not paying alimony and child support), and blaming her for suing him for what she was awarded. Marvin more than once mentions the "obey" portion of the vows, and chastises his ex-wife for not adhering to them. I don't think those were the only vows that were said his ceremony, but I guess he forgot his own. I don't know the entire history behind their troubled marriage and divorce, but well documented were Marvin's drug problems, infidelities, and terrible management of his own finances in that he had to keep touring in order to avoid poverty, eventually exiling himself to Europe because he owed so much in back taxes that he was afraid he was going to be thrown in prison. I'm just saying, it's not surprising that someone wouldn't want to stay married to him. There are occasional moments of self reflection on the album in "Anger" and "Time To Get It Together," but they don't last, and he's back to being vicious on "Is That Enough" and "You Can Leave, But It's Going To Cost You." The last full song on the album, "Falling In Love Again" is an (admittedly, very good) song about his relationship with his new squeeze, Janis Hunter, who he had two children with during his separation from Gordy. Do you want to know how that turned out? They separated in 1979, the year after this album was released. Afterwards, Gaye threatened her with a knife and arranged for their four-year old son to be kidnapped. They divorced in 1982. True love! It's easy to say that Gaye was a horrible person. What he was, was a troubled man from an abusive home who fell into a drug addiction that affected his personal life greatly, to say nothing of being a famous black man in a world that loves to tear down famous black men. That's neither here nor there when it comes to rating this album, which is a loose, meandering collection of stream-of-consciousness R&B and funk. Musically, it's neither terrible nor great, and curiously removed of any emotional emphasis for an album that's so emotionally pointed. Angry Marvin, sad Marvin, happy Marvin, he sings everything pretty much the same. Anna and Marvin eventually became amicable towards each other and remained friendly for the rest of his life. If she can forgive him, I guess we can as well, but that doesn't mean we need to celebrate the man's low points. This album has undergone a positive critical reappraisal that it doesn't deserve. It isn't an honest album, and Marvin did not bare his soul. He aired his grievances and attempted to embarrass his ex. My favorite song on the album, "A Funky Space Reincarnation," near as I can tell has nothing to do with Anna or his divorce, but meeting a chick some time between 2073 and 2093 for space sex and smoking something from Venus that is definitely not dope! Light, goofy, fun song. If the whole album was like this, I would have liked it a lot more.
I can tell it’s good. I can also tell it’s not for me 3/5
SO GOOD! I didn't like "what's going on" that much (dont @ me) but loved this one. Pairs well with Beacon NY snow. FIVE! ! !
Not my favourite one from him but alright Will I listen to again: 8%
Lovely. I don’t think I knew any of the songs, but it was an enjoyable listen.
The ultimate breakup album. I liked it, although some of the songs dragged on a bit too long. But it's funky and good. 4/5
Not my jam. Not terrible.
I’ve never listened to this before. I had assumed it was a low effort revenge album. It’s actually pretty good! Has a nice funky groove that makes it nice background music. I was not particularly invested in any of the songs though. I put “You CanLeave, But It’s Going to Cost You” on the Generator playlist.
Man, I love Marvin but there isn't much to latch onto here
Solid
I've never cared less about someone else's divorce than when I had to hear someone sing about theirs for over 70 minutes. Goddamn.
I was aware of there being a story behind the album, but deliberately didn't read up on it, so as to judge the album musically. Though not always the most comfortable listening, the soul in symphonies of anguish like When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You is palpable and weirdly purifying. Similar funky licks to those that heralded his Let's Get It On sex opus now accompany lyrics of devastating candour, whether in the form of admissions of failings and drug problems, vicious digs or near-tearful protestations of love and the pain of betrayal.
Gaye is wounded, horny, and sincere in this album. It’s the music you chuck on after a few wines at a dinner party and it triggers your mate who got divorced just before Christmas last year who is now absolutely plastered.
We’ll start positively, first time properly listening to Marvin Gaye, bloody brilliant voice. I know he has a couple more on here so I will have some optimism when they come up. This one however, with the exception of a couple of tracks, I just found to be boring. Up until Sparrow it was getting a one star. After that it did pick up a little bit but overall it was just too long and didn’t interest me. Top Track - Sparrow
This album is proof that Marvin Gaye could sing anything and make it sound decent. I mean, it's seventy five minutes of terrible lyrics about getting divorced, and the dude sounds like a groovy 70s angel. I'm not saying it's that good; I'm just saying it's impressive what he could do with next to nothing.
An essential breakup/divorce album. I love the cover and the fact that Marvin Gaye tried to make something bad because of the alimony royalties and ended up making something pretty good. First of his albums that I have listened to all the way through also.
Another double album. And this one "A commercial and critical failure upon its release". I was pleasantly surprised; most of this works really well -- I was expecting the above to mean it would be a slog, but I thought the album had a lot of heart. Probably didn't need to be a double album though. I think "Is That Enough" was my favorite track.
Inte lika strålande som dom andra fyra stora Marvinalbumen från 70talet, främst kanske för att den blir lite för lång. Men det är fortfarande väldigt bra. Musikaliskt närbesläktat med föregångaren "I want you", slickt och snyggt men aldrig tråkigt. Har för mig att Nileskär gjort ett helt p3 soul kring det här albumet, tyvärr minns jag ytterst lite från det. Trea på övre halvan
Finns några bra soullåtar här, som Sparrow och When did you stop loving me... Men annars, inte dåligt, men nog kan han bättre än denna sängkammarfars.
Tema-album. Och dom i 99% av alla tema-album är temat skilsmässa. Plattan finns i hyllan men tror inte att jag lyssnat på den ordentligt förrän nu. Vid en första lite okoncentrerad lyssning blir omdöme svalt. Men när man ger den sin rätta uppmärksamhet växer något större fram. Ett Gayes ljuva, men också förtvivlade stämma ligger som ett duntäcke över bandets stadiga groove. Musikaliskt fortsätter han den väg han slog in med What’s going on, men här finns det en jazzigare ton. Musiken hänger samman över de dryga 70 minuterna vilket förvisso kan tyckas lite enformigt, men samtidigt blir det verkligen en helhet, ett album och inte en samling låtar. Några klatschiga hits finner vi inte, men det gör inte så mycket. Det är helheten som räknas, även om jag är speciellt förlust i Sparrow. Femma för omslaget. Skivan får en fyra.
Överlag låter både Gaye och bandet totalt oengagerade. Som om skilsmässa tagit knäcken på honom och han inte längre bryr sig om något. Ibland vaknar plattan till som i Is that enough och andra halvan av Sparrow. Bästa framförandet är den väldigt malplacerade A funky space reincarnation. Klarar med minsta möjliga marginal en trea.
Good vibes but low impact. Solid listen though!
It’s good but hard to find much that is exceptional (beyond his voice obviously)
Too many meandering melodies over some fairly standard four chord loops. Appalling synthesizer sounds frequently undermines the beauty of the playing and Gaye's voice. Whenever I listen to Marvin Gaye beyond the big soul-pop hits I start to wonder how much I'm able to enjoy his wonderful voice when it's delivering half-baked lyrics and hazy, unfocused tunes. Then he hits you with a 'When Did You Stop... ' and things start to make a bit more sense. Too much slow-tempo divorce jams on this for me to enjoy any of the good stuff.
It's just ok. Not one of my favorites.
good album, better story https://molivam42.wordpress.com/2015/10/18/the-story-behind-the-song-here-my-dear/
It's Marvin Gaye, so there is of course some fantastic singing and musicianship. That's being said, the songs themselves are not his best, but that probably stems from the subject matter.
Fine but there weren’t a lot of knockout moments for me. 3/5
Far, far too long. But I like it, I knew none of the songs, but they all have a decent to good flow, and the vocals sound sincere.
Good to chill out to.
It was a bit boring for me.
I like Marvin Gaye but this was just okay
I would have named this “Marvin Gaye’s Mixed Bag”
Not my favorite album of his.
Compared to his other work, this seems dull and over polished. The themes aren't anything new (seems to be some sort of breakup) and the tunes aren't emotive or interesting enough to warrant another listen.
Smooth as butter
Marvin Gaye is a legend. That said… I think these songs are very situationaly dependant . If it’s 8pm cooking dinner in your kitchen or drinking wine with your baby… oh yeah dr love won’t disappoint. But middles of the day… songs stretch forever and im left not know when one song is over and the next begins. Love the man, but not for today.
Such a loverboy
2,3/5
I feel like if this album wasn't as long as it is I'd be more inclined to give it a 4. Otherwise, it's quite smooth like you'd expect Marvin Gaye to be, but it's far from his best work. It just doesn't hit as hard as his other stuff
This whole album would be a 3-page long Facebook post or a 10-minute long TikTok with no context that would somehow get 10 million views anyway. You know, maybe making an album about your divorce made WHILE GOING THROUGH SAID DIVORCE isn't the best idea. If Marvin Gaye wasn't so talented, I think this album would be borderline unlistenable, I don't find it a classic by any stretch, but it's not that bad. I think the second half of the album is weaker than the first half. The first time I've ever heard singing during an instrumental track...
Too many songs on this album are him complaining about his divorce, and the rest are soul and rhythm and blues that I don't like. By the end I was so sick of it, one star is all I can award. Also these songs are all so long, like 7 or 8 minutes. They've got no business being that long, man.
The music is good and Marvin Gaye's voice is as great as ever, but this is a deeply uncomfortable album. It's very direct and unpoetic in the lyrics, which are all a repetitive mess of complaints about either his ex or their divorce. If I caught even a hint of self awareness or reflection from him, this could have been a fantastic album. As it stands, he comes off entirely as a villain trying to paint himself as the victim. Obviously it sounds good. He's Marvin Gaye. It's Motown Records. They know what they're doing. I just think it's artistically bankrupt.
I don't mind giving a messy album a high rating as long as it's interesting this isn't interesting. critics got it right the first time.
Too much of the same old stuff
I probably need to listen to this a couple more times
Really solid album. Was tapping my feet and humming the whole way through. It did get a little boring with the sound kinda just being the same throughout, but still super enjoyable.
Nej. Det är för överävligt tråkigt. Tycker inte det finns en enda låt som jag känner, "fan det här var grymt". Det är ju alltså inte egentligen dåligt. Hatar inte musiken i sig. Men jag hade svårt att lyssna, för jag kände bara en trängande tristess ta över. Kunde inte alls hitta rätt stämning. Tycker det låter rätt likt över hela albumet. Ett samma groove med lite, tråkig soul ovanpå. Helt obrydd om texterna och att det handlar om hans liv och sin fd fru. Läste lite om skivan, och den togs inte emot särskilt väl när den kom heller. Men i efterhand har sen hittat in i värmen. Tycker den hade kunnat stanna utanför i kylan (iaf inte in på denna lista. Det är inte rimligt att Marvin Gaye har tre skivor. Det gäller förstås inte bara MG).
Jaha, den här puttrar på med ett genomgående klassiskt Marvin Gayeskt sound (vilket jag förvisso som utgångspunkt gillar), men utan att ha några låtar som direkt särskiljer sig från mängden, så som på t ex What’s going on som vi lyssnat på tidigare. Det är inte dåligt, men på en så här lång skiva, som dessutom tagit en plats på denna lista, så hade jag förväntat mig fler godbitar.
more marvin gaye. mans was going through a divorce when he was recording all this material. like other works in his discography, this album is also very smooth and funky. even when he's going through it all, he still knows how to channel that emotional energy into his work. it would probably hit harder for me if i was going through some relationship troubles of my own... it's an underrated entry in gaye's album history.
Cheesy love songs with comfy music behind it. I've certainly heard worse.
Marvin Gaye music sounds like a boomer sex playlist even when singing about divorce. Can’t deny the funk even if the lyrics are whiny.
I did not vibe with it. I ain't liking the soul stuff
Marvin Gaye was 24 when he married Anna Ruby Gordy, 41, sister to Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records. Maybe mercenary, maybe naive, maybe love, probably all three. They adopted a baby. He sang “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”. They were both cheating on each other by the end of the marriage. Gaye, a self-admitted chauvinist, knocked up 16-year-old Janis Hunter in the 70s. He fought tooth and nail against paying alimony or child support to Gordy during the actual divorce proceedings. It’s just a huge, bitter, hot mess. This album is also a huge, bitter, hot mess, and in my opinion that’s what makes it remarkable. It’s deeply personal and more nuanced than I remembered. There’s still pettiness and anger, but also fear and hope and grief. You know, divorce stuff. The music itself is classic Gaye. Not as tight as his masterpieces (‘Let’s Get It On’, ‘What’s Going On’), but musically and vocally everything that made Gaye great is here. I guess I could do without the eight-minute “A Funky Space Reincarnation”, but it is kinda funny that it’s there.
It's not what's going on but still solid
Honestly a little underwhelming. I though I'd enjoy it more because it's Marvin Gaye, but it came across as whiny and was way too long. Not bad by any stretch of the imagination but far from his best
Jaahas. Semmosta huokailua. Joku kostunee- minä en
On tämäkin herra ehtinyt painaa plattaa. Hienosti vetää ja ääni on samettia. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wonderful listen! Shaky start for me, but everything sounded amazing from the second song onwards - both instrumentals and singing.
Easy listening.
Hard to work too, probably good to fuck too, but not the best version of it
Surprisingly lifeless vocal performance
in the feels!! was kind of good timing having this on for my brother who was just broken up with
En mode lover, no skip album. donne envie d'etre la statue de la cover, embrassade gravee dans la roche
Funky, sax, coole hoes
Sometimes the story behind an album really helps to make it interesting. In this case, Marvin Gaye was going through a messy divorce and agreed to let his soon-to-be ex-wife have 50% of the album's royalties. That's a strange starting point for a creative project, when personal circumstances are directly connected to the recording. Gaye apparently didn't care much at first, perhaps creating a lacklustre album out of spite. But the idea of channeling his emotions into something great for the fans must have been too tempting and suddenly the project took on a new life. It's not a simple funk album but ranges across many styles and feelings. Sometimes it's bleak, sometimes it's hopeful. "A Funky Space Reincarnation" has elements of black science fiction that you might hear from George Clinton or Sun Ra. Notably though, the album lacks many obvious singles. It's works as an album though, albeit a lengthy one. It didn't sell very well until Gaye passed away and is now considered one of his best works. I imagine it was bittersweet knowing that his artistic triumph and commercial failure wouldn't have earned much for his ex, as least while he was still alive.
the album art is fantastic. mr. gaye getting romantical on this one.
It was good. Need more listens to enjoy it more
Love his singing, but nothing on this album stood out to me as something I'd listen to again. The little bitter moments here and there were kind of funny to hear.
Immediatly very good Sooo smooooth I met a little girl, fire Dooooo you remembeeeer all of the PSUHINMEE!Yeah yeah Woah the sax solo in is that enough I might like this better than what's going on Anna's song, I love the subtle keys in that song and in general on the record, it's great! Poo pee poo pee doo Yeah it's been a minute but I like this one better than what's going on, it's great, long but great!
#770. He had the option to not do this, and he did it anyway. 2/5: don't
When break up albums go wrong. I thought I was going to enjoy this one but found it pretty boring and painfully literal (“when did I stop loving you, when did you stop loving me” followed by “anger” - hard to decode the meaning of those titles/lyrics).
1.8 pretty/depressing stuff
Definite vibes but no bangers.
3.75 he can do better, but still a vibe to listen during the holidays.
It feels like an album that I wasn't meant to hear.
Man I love Marvin Gaye but even I can admit that an hour and fifteen minutes is maybe a hair too long.
3.5 This is an interesting album that wasn’t highly regarded during its time. I however enjoyed this slightly more than “Let’s Get It On”. Obviously a very personal album for him with poetic lyrics. But again, sort of like LGIO, a lot of the songs seem to blend together and don’t offer much variety. Though, I’ll always love “Is That Enough”.
I dunno kinda boring sorry, but it'd be nice to have in the background.
I met a little girl - corny and lame. Probably would be a 4 star album if only the lyrics and topic weren’t so dull and lame. Great music and vocals though.
So boring. And way too long.
2.9 1x
I have a confession to make. I’ve never really gotten into Marvin Gaye. I’m sure he’s as talented as people say, but I’m just not into it. Over an hour of what appears to be a break up album was not my thing.
I mean it's not bad but all the somgs sound same to me, do we really need of his albums?
Could listen to Marvin Gaye make music like this for the rest of time
Bro was in his feelings huh
Not sure this is necessary listening but it is interesting
-listening to more Marvin Gaye as i try to catch up on the albums i missed here. not bad. maybe i just need to listen to him more bc a lot of his songs sound very similar to me -the silver lining to this is that none of them sound bad. he has a very nice, captivating touch. bit long for my tastes but i enjoyed the listen -Favorites: Is That Enough, Anna’s Song, You Can Leave, But It’s Going To Cost You
2 - the production was good but the material was boring
You have to give it to Marvin that he made some smooth soul music. Even songs like Anger and Is That Enough were kind of sexy. I was actually unfamiliar with every song on here. I think my favorite track was Time To Get It Together. Though A Funky Space Reincarnation was a Funkadelic-lite jam. I don’t know why this album is not better known but I enjoyed it.
Random thoughts: * Marvin Gaye even makes getting a divorce sound sexy! * I've never heard someone make this line so sultry! "Why do I have to pay attorney fees". * "A Funky Space Reincarnation" was unexpected here on his divorce album. It was fun to hear what would happen if you put a little of Funkadelic into Marvin Gaye. This song immediately jumped out at me. * Breakups do make good albums even if they are done for mostly animosity.
Here, Marvin dear, have another 5, you can truly do no wrong.
Very good, although didn't truly wow me. Although I do love Marvin Gaye, and most of this was previously unheard for me, so it was a real treat.
Inte så förtjust i soul.
3eme album de MG après 'Let's Get It On' et 'What's Going On' que j'avais peu apprécié (notés tous les deux 2/5). Celui-ci est pire que les 2 précédents réunis ! Interminable et inintéressant, je me suis ennuyé dès le premier morceau ... et je n'ai pas réussi à aller au bout. Les premiers morceaux sont très lents et beaucoup trop longs, un calvaire. =>1/5
I had mixed feelings about this. I was nervous when I saw When Did You Stop Loving Me on the track list several times, but I ended up liking the repeated motif. There were definitely some good songs, but others were too silly to enjoy.
Banger, Marvin Gaye can’t miss
This helped me get through the tragic world series. I still love you, Ernie.
-pretty good background music
Here, My Dear (1978) is unlike anything else in Marvin Gaye’s catalogue: a 73-minute, self-produced “divorce settlement” that was literally financed by the divorce itself. Court-ordered to give half of the next LP’s royalties to ex-wife Anna Gordy, Gaye turned the obligation into a sprawling, unfiltered memoir set to music. Below is a track-by-track deep dive into the lyrics, music, production, overarching themes, and the album’s slow-burn influence—followed by a concise list of its clearest strengths and weaknesses. ------------------------------------------------- 1. LYRICS – “a legal document in rhyme” ------------------------------------------------- Gaye writes as if he’s testifying in open court. There are no metaphors about rainbows—only line-items about attorney fees, alimony and who kept the photo albums. - **“Here, My Dear”** – The title track opens with a sarcastic wedding-gift dedication: *“I guess I’d give it to you, Anna, ‘cause you have made my life complete…”* The bitterness is wrapped in doo-wop nostalgia, already signalling the album’s emotional whiplash. - **“I Met a Little Girl”** – A tender origin story that quickly curdles; the same girl who “blew his mind” becomes the woman who “took my soul.” - **“When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You?”** – 6½ minutes of cross-examination. Gaye rattles off grievances (*“You didn’t have the right to use the child of mine to keep me in line”*) then immediately undercuts them with self-interrogation (*“Maybe I didn’t love you as much as I said I did…”*). - **“Is That Enough”** – The album’s most cinematic scene: Gaye in a courtroom hallway, watching his lawyer hand over a cheque while a saxophone solo wails like a siren. The lyric sheet is literally a cost-breakdown of the divorce. - **“Anna’s Song”** – Three whispered *“Anna”*s—lonely, horny, furious—delivered over a suspended 7th chord that refuses to resolve. Listeners routinely call it the most erotic non-erotic song ever recorded. - **“A Funky Space Reincarnation”** – A 8-minute P-Fantasy in which Gaye imagines reuniting with Anna on Jupiter, trading her lawyer for a silver space suit. The lyric is absurd, but it’s the only place on the record where he allows himself to win the argument. - **“Falling in Love Again”** – A closing statement addressed to new wife Janis, already sounding like he knows that marriage will collapse too (it did, less than a year after release). ------------------------------------------------- 2. MUSIC – velvet coffin ------------------------------------------------- Gaye builds the whole album on a single mid-tempo pulse—approx. 92 BPM—so songs bleed together like one long hangover. The harmonic vocabulary is basically *Let’s Get It On* turned inside out: instead of resolving, chords swirl in place, mirroring the emotional stasis of a couple who can’t quite leave each other. - **Rhythm section**: Chocolate percussion, feather-touch high-hats, and a kick drum that lands a fraction behind the beat—classic Gaye “slow-funk.” - **Guitars**: Multiple tracks wah-washed and phase-shifted until they sound like memories you can’t trust. - **Horns & reeds**: Tenor-sax solos (e.g. “Is That Enough”) are recorded hot, almost clipping, so every squeak feels like a slammed door. - **Vocals**: Layered up to 14 tracks of Marvin arguing with himself—croon, falsetto, growl, spoken aside—often panned hard left/right so the headphone listener is literally in the middle of the fight. ------------------------------------------------- 3. PRODUCTION – bedroom confessional as concept art ------------------------------------------------- Engineer Art Stewart has said Gaye would arrive with no written songs, press “record,” and compose verses in the talk-back mic while the tape rolled. This explains the album’s unpolished edges—half-finished couplets, mumbled count-offs, laughter that may or may not be performative. Yet the messiness is strategic: - **Reprise motif**: The chord progression of “When Did You Stop Loving Me…” re-appears in at least six other tracks, sometimes slowed to half-speed, sometimes disguised as a jazz turnaround. The marriage keeps coming back to haunt him. - **Synthetic colours**: Gaye was introduced to the ARP 2600 and Moog Polymoog during these sessions; he uses them for alien bleeps on “Funky Space Reincarnation” but also for sub-bass that you feel rather than hear, anchoring the bitterness underground. - **No radio singles**: Tracks average 6-8 minutes; hooks evaporate before they can be sung. Gaye literally refuses to give Motown a marketable product—part sabotage, part honesty. ------------------------------------------------- 4. THEMES – more than a divorce record ------------------------------------------------- - **Money vs. Love**: Gaye keeps translating affection into dollar amounts until both become meaningless. - **Public vs. Private**: By pressing the details onto vinyl he turns the most intimate failure of his life into public theatre—pre-dating today’s social-media overshare by four decades. - **Black male vulnerability**: In 1978 mainstream Black masculinity was still coded as either blaxploitation cool or Motown charm. Gaye presents himself as broke, horny, jealous, lost—an early crack in the armor that artists like D’Angelo, Frank Ocean and Kendrick Lamar would widen later. - **Cycle of trauma**: The reprise of “When Did You Stop Loving Me” at the very end implies no closure; the needle lifts and the argument is still happening in your living room. ------------------------------------------------- 5. INFLUENCE – from embarrassment to template ------------------------------------------------- - **Commercial reception (1978)**: Billboard peak #26, no hit singles; Anna’s lawyers reportedly tried to block release. Gaye joked he had “finally made an album nobody liked.” - **Re-appraisal (post-1994 re-issue)**: Rolling Stone 5-star review; Pitchfork 9.0; sampled by Madlib, Kanye, J Dilla, Erykah Badu, Tyler, The Creator (who called it the blueprint for *IGOR*). - **Literary recognition**: David Ritz’s biography *Divided Soul* uses the album as structural spine; poet Hanif Abdurraqib devotes an entire chapter to it in *They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us*. - **Legal lore**: Law-school courses on entertainment contracts cite the album as the moment an artist turned a royalty obligation into conceptual art—effectively monetising spite. ------------------------------------------------- 6. PROS & CONS – quick verdict ------------------------------------------------- **PROS** - Rawest, most conceptually unified album in Gaye’s catalogue—no Motown gloss, no compromise. - Sonic innovation: slow-funk template, psychedelic soul mixing, early synth textures. - Lyrical precedent for transparent R&B confessional (Ocean, The Weeknd, H.E.R.). - Emotionally exhausting but cathartic; the rare record that sounds different after your own breakup. **CONS** - **Length & repetition**: 73 min, three versions of the same motif; second half drags unless you’re in the head-space. - **Self-indulgence**: “A Funky Space Reincarnation” is 8 minutes of sci-fi pillow-talk that hasn’t aged well. - **Mono-emotional palette**: If you’re not interested in one man’s divorce, there is literally nothing else here. - **Vocal murk**: Gaye’s layered vocals occasionally bury key lines; lyric-sheet almost required on first listen. ------------------------------------------------- Bottom line ------------------------------------------------- *Here, My Dear* is not “music for candle-lit dinners”; it’s the sound of someone burning the furniture to stay warm. Flawed, overlong, occasionally ridiculous—yet the bravery of turning legal defeat into autobiographical opera makes it one of soul music’s great, unrepeatable monuments.
Pretty solid soul album, didn’t know any of these songs (or more likely just didn’t remember them). 3/5 average listening experience for me
Here, My Dear is an album i enjoyed quite a lot. It does feel a bit odd going from an album like Let's Get It On to this one for Marvin Gaye considering the lyrical themes but i guess this did come out 5 years after that album so things definitely changed for him. The music is a bit of a step back from Let's Get It On but is still pretty good and the lyrics are definitely some good lyrics about divorce without feeling overly creepy. Granted, these songs can feel very samey and do tend to blend in with each other but this is to be expected when it comes to albums that are 71 minutes long. This album may not be as good as Let's Get It On but i still enjoyed it. Best Song: Is That Enough Worst Song: Here, My Dear
Had never heard this one! It’s great!
i like long albums when they kick major ass basically
Ima on i boljih albuma, ali nije loš, daleko od toga. Ništa posebno za reći. 3/5, 5.5/10
Divorce Court: the Album
First album 3 stars. I liked it but just for a baseline i think marvin gaye is a perfect starter. Obviously good and classic!! But i have no idea what is to come
Chly z'alt für mi
De 70s run van 'What's Going On' via 'Let's Get It On' naar 'I Want You' is één van de beste ooit in de muziek - alle genres meegenomen. 'Here, My Dear' wordt daarbij zelden benoemd, ook al is het te makkelijk om te zeggen dat zijn grootse vorm hier ten einde kwam. Het is gewoon een beetje een grijze muis na al dat geweld. Zelf kende ik ook wat losse momenten zonder dat ik het album ooit in zijn geheel had geluisterd. Het is wat uitgerekter, en meer 'spacious' en psychedelisch dan de voorgaande platen, en misschien ook daardoor wat minder radiovriendelijk. Ook de hinten van jazz en de eerste tekenen van wat meer synths zijn daar, waardoor het gevoelsmatig ook wel echt een left turn is na de trilogie. Het is niet helemaal eerlijk om het met dat waanzinnige materiaal te vergelijken, maar omdat het Marvin Gaye is doe je dat toch. Dan komt hij er wat minder fraai uit, ondanks dat de wat meer funky vibe echt wel lekker valt, hier en daar. 'A Funky Space Reincarnation' is een jam. En zijn stemgeluid zorgt er altijd voor dat een album kwalitatief bovengemiddeld is. Maar toch mis ik de thematiek van een 'What's Going On', de intimiteit van 'Let's Get It On' en de grooves van 'I Want You'. Het is dat alles, bij momenten, maar dan een toontje lager. 6,5/10 Highlights: When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You A Funky Space Reincarnation
Yes! Wat houd ik van 1001 albums raten! Marvin Gaye is een legend en al jaren wil ik dieper in zijn muziek duiken. Maar soms is er wat vrees voor het onbekende en kies je daarom voor een zekerheidje, zeker in gezelschap. Met 1001 albums móet je wel, en gelukkig. Wat een heerlijk plaatje is Here, My Dear. Vanaf seconde 1 is de mellow sfeer gezet. De nummers zijn misschien wat minder funky maar ik vind juist de uitgesponnen lange nummers erg lekker. Heerlijke groove waar je minutenlang op kan meedwalen. 8/10 Highlights Is That Enough
Not an album I should listen to before I die, but an album that makes me want to die.
Kinda weird when you start listening to the lyrics, but a nice chill album overall
Very easy listening, didn't feel like it was over an hour long.
Needing the full 70 minutes is just showing off
Smooth and soulful. Lacks "Let's get it on"...
This is the two hundred twentieth album I’m rating. I've listened to a few songs, and they were pretty good. Adding to my Playlist - Here, my Dear, I Met a Little Girl, When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You, Anger, Is that Enough, Everybody Needs Love, Time to Get it Together, Sparrow, Anna's Song, A Funky Space Reincarnation, You Can Leave, but it's Going to Cost You, and Falling in Love Again. Not Adding to my Playlist - When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You (Instrumental) and When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You (Reprise). All in all I liked 12/14 songs. Marvin Gaye isn't overrated like Stevie Wonder.
стилек приятный, такой рнб мне нравится. но ужас как эти песни затянуты, и как они похожи. и это не идет в плюс релизу.
3/10 I strongly dislike this album - I am of the opinion that Mr Gaye is one of the most overrated artists ever. The songs meander with no point. And then the sax turns up.
I was made to this music.
No, not for me. Even my wife said it was getting too much.
Det er ikke så mange år siden jeg hørte What's Going On og ble blown away av hvor smooth & conscious & ikonisk den skiva er. Men når jeg først finner et sånt album, graver jeg meg som oftest veeeeeldig langsomt dypere i artistens discography, og jeg har så langt bare hørt Let's Get It On i tillegg. Tror faktisk jeg kan bo i den skiva her ass. Den har ikke bangers, men en gjennomgående kvalitet; lyden av et talent som bare gjør greia si i 74 minutter og får det til å høres helt effortless ut. Smooth, conscious, og til tider litt funky. Hvis dette er en skive jeg ender opp med å komme tilbake til igjen og igjen, kan det hende at ting plutselig sitter; at jeg tok feil om at skiva er et banger-fritt territorium; at dette er en skive man må bo & leve med for at man skal unlocke dens potensiale. Tiden vil vise.
Hørte dette for første gang for noen måneder siden. Satt ikke igjen med så mange inntrykk etter det. Hører det igjen nå, og jeg klarer ikke helt å se hvorfor akkurat dette er med i 1001. Det betyr ikke at det er dårlig, selv de svakere albumene i Gaye-katalogen er bedre enn veldig mye annet. Det er kult å høre på, og jeg kan godt høre det igjen, det bare står seg ikke like godt som de mer kjente platene hans, som jo er virkelige mesterverk og i aller høyeste grad fortjener å toppe lister. Men alt i alt fornøyelig å høre på
Marvin Gaye er jo alltid kult! Litt forglemmelig, litt for langt men absolutt bra. Vanligvis liker jeg song cycle aktige album. Men føler at det ikke funker helt her. Repitisjonene tilfører ikke noe nytt, det er kun repitisjon og blir litt kjedelig. Dette er et eksempel på et album hvor enkeltdelene er bedre enn helheten.
It's Marvin Gaye so it's beautiful obviously, but it's not his best album.
I was excited to listen to Marvin Gaye, but I found this album boring. I know he has a lot more to bring to the table, but this one is a miss.
This is pretty solid, but there weren't any real standout songs on this double album. Marvin Gaye is a talented vocalist but I don't think this is his best album.
Good with some great moments, but you can feel the hostility in it and it doesn’t quite work. Knowing the history makes this more interesting, but musically it was something I enjoyed but won’t go back to
So good, first time listen
It's fine but not as good as his other stuff it does get a little funky though so yeah not bad
What a weird one. Something real strange must have been going on in Marvin Gaye's life when he recorded this one. I mean, if there is any indication from the cover alone something was definitely up.
Cool, bust wasn’t in the mindset to be seduced.
This album feels like you're overhearing a domestic argument while out in public, uncomfortable in many ways but really interesting listening
goodness me, marvin.
Marvin with modern tech (at least at that time). The synth used on this are super fun and to here them amongst Soul roots. FUN FUN FUN
Some of you have never been divorced and it shows. Idk why all the negative comments. This album as groovy, soulful and understated. Anger is a dope track. The rest feels like it could sit comfortably in the background during a dinner party but no complaints. I like feelings
My first Motown album in this exercise so I am delighted. Marvin Gaye's divorce album (plus an outer space sex jam for good measure), some heavy stuff lyrically and always tasty musically, excellent all around
This was pretty great, although, predictably, I feel it would be improved by being a tad shorter. I liked A Funky Space Reincarnation.
That was great. What a fantastic man!
It is a solid album. But nothing really stands out, especially compared to What's Going On.
Sexayyyy!
Every song on this one sounded just like the last; just like every other MG tune that’s ever been released. And it was far too long. I had to split it across multiple listening sessions because I got too bored. I didn’t like it at all.
Someone owes this man some answers. Is it Anna?
Marvin Gaye is a 5 star everyday of the week. Great album
Got slightly better as it went on but didn’t find it anything particularly special or attention grabbing and overall rather dull.
Very easy to listen to and nothing to get offended by. At times I thought it would veer into 70s nonsense but it never did. It went on too long and no tracks standout but a good effort.
Dull soppy bollox.
One of the few times where the songs sounding the same actually works out. The chill vibe throughout sorta puts you into a trance when you listen, in the best way.
What a confusing album to review. The back story is unreal, was expecting a FU divorce album, but a self pitying and self serving recording that through it’s art becomes more a courageous self introspection. Going to be listening to this. 4 Stars on 1st day list.
Solid soul album but some of the lost love stuff is too much. The keyboard/saxophone moments are great.
Sounds like an album recorded after a divorce. One of the songs mentioned having to pay attorney fees or something.
This is a fascinating album. There have and always will be songs about breakups. There will always be whole albums dedicated to a breakup. But this album takes it to a whole other level. An hour and some change dedicated to your divorce and admonishing your ex-wife is top tier pettiness. On the surface, it's a beautiful album. Marvin Gaye is in peak form. It's full of soul and plays with all the experimental vocal layering he became known for. But dig in a little deeper and the lyrics are stuffed with bitterness. The whole album can be reduced to: -"Why don't you love me anymore?" -"Since you don't love me, you broke our vows and that makes you a liar." -"I have anger management issues but you make me angry so it's your fault." -"Why do you get my money in the divorce settlement?" Oh, and then there's a sci-fi song about falling in love in space. Wild. I'd find this enjoyable if there was a more nuanced approach and some more self reflection and accountability. But I mean, Gaye goes into some weird details about the divorce settlement with lawyers. It's bitter, folks. Gaye is a legend but I think I'll stick with What's Goin' On.
it just wasn't for me. I didn't like the monologuing, and the vocals weren't hitting for me. I KNOW Marvin Gaye that I fuck with. this just wasn't that. and that's ok! I see why people DO like it.
Good stuff. Not a lot of his famous songs but still a lot of quality on here.
VERY sexy album.
This guy certainly went all in on a breakup album. Taylor who? The lyrics are strikingly overt and many of which discuss Anna and their divorce. I struggle to sympathise that much if he cheated on her, left her for a 16 year old and spent too much money on drugs, meaning he had to make this weird agreement to release an album and give her 50% of the advance. As for the actual music it's ok, it's not an album that's immediately catchy and packed with soul hits. There's some groovy tunes and Gaye's typically great vocals but I can't see myself returning to this given the combination of bloated inaccessibility and negative vibes
i don't think marvin gaye can make bad music
I respect Marvin, but I find it tough to listen to a whole album of his and this isn't even his best album.
Lovely vocals but general vibe is too soft funk for me - too much sax.
Here, My Dear Taken individually, there are some excellent tracks on here. More overtly late 70s than, say, What’s Going On, with disco and funk elements added to the string laden soul, creating a very smooth overall sound. And his vocals, as you would expect, really are superb - sweet and mellifluous, but with a hint of bite (and a large dollop of self pity) that reflects the subject matter and circumstances of the album. But taken as a whole, the lack of real variation in tempo, melodic style and instrumentation, does make it kind of merge into one sound, especially as there are a couple of repeating tracks and motifs, and then the fact that it's also 14 songs pretty much moping on about the same thing over and over makes it feel like harder work than it should. A little bit conflicted in how to rate it. I do like it musically, but I would prefer some variance, the overall sound is smooth and sweet, and his voice never disappoints, there are some excellent harmonies and doo-wop monents, but it is long and quite one note melodically and thematically. I think I’ll settle for a solid 3. 🗿🗿🗿 Playlist submission: When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You
This album highlights that Marv should stick to singing. His spoken stuff is feeble, a bit like Michael Jackson's speaking voice. His singing timbre and falsetto is sublime. The album is way too long at well over an hour. Such is the nature of the meandering, jazzy jams that a long album is inevitable. This feels an album where good ideas pop up sporadically and then disappear as soon as they arrived. 'A Funky Space Reincarnation' is fantastic though. 'Time to Get it Together' and 'You Can Leave' are other superlative tracks, anchored by sumptuous guitar licks.
Oh. So this is Marvin Gaye’s breakup album. Hope his next marriage with Phil Ochs will turn out well. (For people who don’t know it’s a They Might Be Giants reference: in one of their songs they sang about the scenario in a mad-lib type way.) 2/5
Dull, not for me
It's not a bad album. It's an album full of heartbreak. Marvin didn't really set out to do much else other than deal with his divorce through song it seems. It comes through. There aren't really any hits, just feelings. This definitely isn't for everyone
Solid work! Grew up listening to this album with my mom! Not Marvin’s greatest work but great nonetheless!
More impressive once you realize Gaye produced the album himself, and provided almost all instrument tracks. Hints of classic R&B, disco, funk and soul. Generally, very easy listening. This is sometimes 'disturbed' by erratic saxophone playing, which reflects the emotions and thoughts of the album much more than the lyrics do. Can be a bit monotonous, but no song is the same.
This album is nice, but not as captivating as I thought Marvin Gaye would be.
If you were going through a messy divorce, and one of the requirements of the settlement was that you had to release an album and give your ex the royalties, you'd probably want to demonstrate your hurt and pain and release material cursing them and the rest of the world out. Marvin chose a slightly different path. He's hurt all right, he's angry, he's vocal, he's wounded and raw, but he channels it supremely well into a series of groovy, soulful tunes, but which leave you thinking, oh man how much did she hurt him? Maybe there was something on both sides? Judging by this, maybe, but we know squarely where Marvin thinks the blame lies. Very listenable, not too uncomfortable if you choose to focus on the lyrics - he rants at times, but it's well disguised by the melody. I'd give it a go again for sure (this record, not divorce).
Too long. Probably listened at the wrong time. But this is just not for me.
“I Met A Little Girl?” Fucking weird… It sounds nice but now I’m scared. Dad come pick me up. I did like the song. I just am questioning the language here. I do like “When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You” and “You Can Leave, But It’s Going To Cost You”.
Loved the combination of the lyrical diary approach, and the free form musical compositions.
Thoughts before listening: I am not familiar with this Marvin Gaye album. In general, I know his early Motown hits and then of course Whats Goin On, but otherwise I have not listened to much of his work. I expect smooth 70s r&b with Marvin's strong vocals. Review: So apparently this is a divorce album, and you can certainly see this in the song titles: "Anger", "When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You", "You Can Leave, But Its Going to Cost You, etc. The sound here is slow burn, 70s funk and its fairly enjoyable, despite the heavy subject matter. This is essentially "Slow Jam the News" but the news is just Marvin Gaye's divorce. 3-stars for me.
No private session used for Spotify. Second Marvin Gaye album this site had me listen to. Gaye has a good voice, but I can't get into it. I could see putting this on when trying to set the mode for a romantic entanglement, maybe that is how I should be listening to it, but 1 hour 13 minutes is about 1 hour longer than I need.