Here, My Dear

I put listening to this album off for a day because I was in the middle of finals. I'm glad I did put it off it is just what I needed to relax and wind down after two stressful weeks of projects, papers, and exams. It is not my favorite Marvin Gaye album, but it was a lovely way to spend my evening. It'll be a 4 for me today, but when a edit feature comes around it might get bumped up to a 5 on a second listen.

It was good music and I like Marvin Gaye. But this album just didn’t reach out to me like his other songs

Whew, hello, Marvin! I was wondering when you'd show up on this list and here you are. Even though this album doesn't include "Heard it Through the Grapevine," it's still pretty great, and still deserves to be on this list. "I Met a Little Girl" would be a classic wedding song, and "A Funky Space Reincarnation" is really weird. This album really showcases Marvin Gaye's versatility as an artist. Fave track: I Met a Little Girl. It's sappy but great.

Wonderful flow to this album going through the elation of a new relationship, falling in love and heartbreak. Then getting back on the horse. Great stuff.

I feel like I was transported to an elevator; a sexy, sexy elevator.

really good, up with his best and the rare "concept" album that isn't embarrassing in parts despite the content

Pretty damn fantastic. Basically a concept album. Really interesting vibe

solid 3 or 4. its smooth but a little forgettable. i'm in a pretty low stress place though.

La musica e il sound sono belli e intriganti, la voce molto suadente, calda e bella. Manca qualcosa però.

Nice Marvin!

Not bad. Interesting backstory, but less interesting music.

Not the best of Marvin but enjoyed it!

Not his best work

this was so boring

ha! gaye!

Really enjoyed it.

probably a 1.5 just wasnt for me

I did not know of this album before. It is something. Sometimes you hear a work is "intensely personal" but this is more like "uncomfortably personal" or even "embarrassingly personal." It was hard to get over the shock at first. All I could hear was a Troy McClure-type voice announcing, "Including such divorce classics as, 'When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You?' 'Anger' and 'You Can Leave, But It's Going to Cost You.'" Could this be real? Has the word "please" ever been rhymed with "attorney fees" in any other song? And let's throw in a sci-fi love song in the middle there for good measure. It's funny, though, that when I had it playing a second time and wasn't paying attention to the lyrics about violating marriage vows, weaponizing child custody, and such, I found that I liked a lot of the music and found it pretty engaging. I liked "When Did You Stop Loving Me" (the instrumental is nice), "Anger," "Is That Enough," "Time to Get it Together"...and well, "A Funky Space Reincarnation" is a pretty amazing piece of work all the way around. That's a pretty good chunk of the album where I really liked the music. I definitely understand why this was an album to hear, and I've gone through a few stages in my appreciation of it (or fascination with it). Whatever rating I end up giving it isn't going to feel quite right.

I didn't really connect to this album. The music was listenable, and there was a theme running through giving a focused experience. Nonetheless, it was easy for me to detach during the listen because the theme was not appealing to me, I guess.

This is a thing. Lots of feelings here, most of them unpleasant: heartbreak, longing, regret, despair, bitterness (though he doth protest), and a track literally called Anger. But there's also genuine love, contrition, hope, and redemption, not to mention a Funky Space Reincarnation. There are worse ways to process a break-up than making your art. It's obviously completely one-sided --- it made me really want to hear her side of the story. It's very interesting how literal some of the lyrics are. ("Why do I have to pay attorney fees?") It's like listening to someone else in therapy. Lyrics aside, this kind of R&B isn't my favorite and I do better with it in small doses. I doubt that I will ever want to hear the whole thing again, but I can appreciate its place in the history of American music. Fascinating.

I haven’t ever listened to a Marvin Gaye album, so to get the one that was “a critical and commercial failure” on its release as my first - and the one that was inspired by and recorded in the midst of a very nasty divorce - would probably not have been my personal choice for my first Marvin Gaye album. As soon as I hit play this promised to be a smooth and lovely ride no matter what the subject matter. But very quickly one couldn’t help but notice the lyrics… The pain of breakup and divorce is front and center in the lyrics. These songs don’t hide behind any allegories or metaphors. Marvin’s working things out front and center. How can such raw emotions sound so smooth?! I can see how one could be put off by six minute song that works through a lot of relationship shit (“When Did You Stop Loving Me?”). I started to feel a little uncomfortable, like Marvin Gaye pulled up a barstool and started confiding in me way too personally about his life. But I’m transfixed and staying put… “barkeep - another round please!” “A Funky Space Reincarnation” was a bit of an odd inclusion - some kind of space fantasy tangent thrown in the midst - but I did like the song. How about the title?! “Here, My Dear.” The PERIOD is in the title. Like he was gonna drop this off on her doorstep and leave without saying a word. A TWO ALBUM set of songs rehashing everything. “Here, My Dear.” I wonder if she ever listened to this? This is one really unique album. Anger, resentment, love, sadness, bitterness, regret, desperation, hope… it’s a wild roller coaster ride of emotions set to great arrangements with great musical performances. It’s definitely a one-sided view of divorce. What a way to work through a breakup!

This one was interesting. Definitely benefits a lot from the context of the album and surrounding circumstances.

Great, solid. Filled my ears with sweet soul for 75 minutes.

Meh

The jazzy instruments on this album go so insanely hard. Marvin Gaye's voice is legendary and beautiful. Sparrow is a standout for me - the guy on the sax is absolutely popping off. If I didn't already know I was bi this album might have me thinkin. I thought the song where he complained about attorney fees was a little bit out of touch.

nije mi ovo njegovo najbolje izdanje

Kuhanje juhe sa noklicama, vani puše jebački vjetar, g točka vino fino izloženo na kuhinjskom stolu. Taman za ovaj album, samo je problem kaj sam sam. 3.5. Is That Enough je jebena stvar.

Another incredible album by Marvin Gaye. This album takes us through his divorce and the wide ranging emotions that come with that. He oscillates from expressing anger, reconciliation, sadness, defensiveness and finally acceptance. His vocals are tortured and magnificent. I loved the use of thematic grounding around the phrase ‘When did you stop loving me, when did I stop loving you.’ It’s gives the album a sense of unity to persist through the roller coaster of sheer emotion

loved it, his voice is superb!

Have long known the story behind the album. Knew less about the post-script but it's nice that they eventually got along. It's a lot better than I had been led to believe, even as it leans slightly into being a more 1980s sounding soul album. I was under the assumption that it was a much-panned album but looks like has been re-appraised in recent years. Too long though, and the songs are generally too long as well. Would have been better as a single rather than a double.

Just take the L, man. Christ.

Not his best work, obviously.

3/5 for me, this one. Leans pretty heavily into the breakup theme, gets a little wearing after an hour and a quarter. Irritated me that he had three versions of the same song, too. But, it's beautiful, soulful singing with a shitload of emotion. A pleasant listen that is gentle from a pure musical perspective, but harder work from an emotional perspective. I think we'll have better Marvin Gaye albums to come.

Sleepy. Not slow, background, "love" music. Just downright sleepy. Let me throw in meandering and underwhelming. And boring. Can't forget to add that the lyrics are just fucking depressing as hell. Pathetic. D-

Es un album triste. No tiene los éxitos que acostumbro a escuchar de MG, pero lo compensa con temas de una producción impresionante y una voz potente y desgarradora.

Soul. Se me ha hecho bola. Pero bueno, ni fu ni fa.

I can feel the pathos so deeply here. Funky album, too. I never knew this existed.

Meh, not as good as other gaye albums

Already listened to it

It’s like eating chocolate in a Cialis commercial.

Me ha gustado, dibujando mientras lo escuchaba y me ha dado muy buenas vibras.

Seems meandering on the first listen

"Let's turn the saxophone up to 10 and put an echo effect on all the vocals!" I know Marvin Gaye is a legend but this was not a good album.

Smooth

The concept is better than the execution of the album. The songs are tragic and heartbreaking at times, but I struggled to stay invested in the story throughout the whole album. Perhaps it simply needs more listens, and I definitely see myself coming back to this album because it was still a pretty nice listen. 6/10

Nice enough for my first Gaye album. The sort of thing my wife and I could probably listen to together.

Slick. Great voice. 7/10

need to relisten

This is painful. Right from the title, which is what Gaye said to his wife when turning over the agreed upon 50% of the royalties of this album which was negotiated to end the divorce proceedings she brought against him. He'd fallen behind on child support and his spending habits and the long legal proceedings left him broke. Oh yeah, that wife was also the sister of Motown / TAMLA records executive Berry Gordy. Marvin Gaye is a tough listen, his vocal range is spot on. The smooth R&B sound he evolved into from his earlier Northern Soul fame lost some fans as well. Combining the hard R&B and the personal lyrics make this a heart rendingly good album. 3.5/5.

S'écoute tout seul, parfaite ambiance, son de Marvin Gaye comme on le connait.

Songs were okay but nothing special for me an average album

Super smooth and mellow vibe. A bit protracted to get full marks though.

Jamais écouter, je connais seulement lets get it on pis what going on de cover. C'etait bon, je devrais essayer d'écouter plus de musique de ce genre

Bro was IN HIS FEELINGS about that divorce, huh?

Very weird

Decent background music. Smooth jazz

Already listened to it

Smooth. My top pick is the semi-instrumental of 'When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You' - some great sax

Hermosisim disco para ser el primero que escucho de él

Is that enough really grooves

Beautiful album, great voice

strange album. Lovely vocals. I like it.

Break up albums are usually a massive red flag for me. Only a 'being famous is weally weally hard' album is more of a warning. However, this album does something new with the form (I'd previously thought the Weeknd had started this trend, but was 35 years late!) It is icy, spooky soul music. Rather than comforting, it creeps you out. It's not perfect, without any real hooks, it is a disconcerting experience, and I got tired towards the end of it. But it was a new one on me, and one that tried something new, fairly effectively.

One of the worst album covers ever it has to be said. This definitely feels like Marvin was trying to stick it to the corporate guys and put out an album that contained absolutely zero potential chart hits. It was OK to listen to in the background.

If you are a millennial like me, you either 1.) know that Marvin Gaye's music is synonymous with sexy times, or 2.) know someone who was conceived to said music. This album, 'Here, My Dear', does little to break the stereotype. From start to finish, the album features gentle soul/funk to make love to. Not fuck. Not chains-and-whips and edible undies type sex. No. We're talking sweet, sweet slow missionary style boom chikka wow wows. The instrumentations, from the gentle snare-and-high-hat drums to the gentle percussive guitars, lays the groundwork for Mr Gaye's reproduction-encouraging vocal stylings. Punctuated by the occasional sax lines, the music tends to be a bit one-note (says the guy who would listen to a Ramones album end to end). Overall, this album was not one I enjoyed. Not to say that it is bad. Maybe one day, I will meet a nice lady at my retirement home on Mars, and we will make out to the timeless sexy sounds of Marvin Gaye. But for now, I will just leave the record here, my dear.

Didn’t speak to me

The music and the vocals are pretty good, but the album is too long, so it gets repetitive.

Kolejny album pana Marvina, tym razem z roku 78 i o wiele potezniejszy woljumowo, bo az 73 minuty muzyki na 14 trakach, gatunkowo jest to nadal funkowy soul, ale odczucia po przesluchaniu plyty sa zupelnie inne niz po lets get it on i jego sexualowym healingiem, tak tutaj jest zupelnie inny nastroj, bo tez okolicznosci nagrywania inne, bo na poczatku kariery jego muza byla zona Anna, ale z biegiem lat i zostaniu symbolem sexualnego healingu ich relacje zaczely podupadac, kto by pomyslal, az musialo dojsc do rozwodu i majatkowych wojen, na dzieciaka oczywiscie, w takiej atmosferze pan Gaye stworzyl album na ktorym wylal z siebie wszystko na temat tego rozwodu, a raczej historii tego malzenstwa, wiec jest to koncept album opowiadajacy cala historie pary, od szalenczej milosci do szalenczej zazdrosci przepelnionej chciwoscia, a jak przystalo na utalentowanego liryka opowiesc jest przedstawiona w sposob ciekawy, choc oczywiscie dosc jednostronny, nie brak tutaj sarkastycznego chylenia czola przez glowna antagonistka krazka, czy wywolywania jej po imienu jak na traku annas song, o ile poprzednia plyta emanuje stworzona persona sex mastera, tak tutaj wydaje mi sie, ze pokazuje sie prawdziwy pan Marvin, zmarnowany zyciem, bo co z bycia sex masterem, jak musi sie ciagac po sadach, bedac przy tym publiczna atrakcja, bo medialnie rowniez musialo mu sie dostac, jak przystalo na hameryke, no i kolejny raz wychodzi na to, ze im material bardziej osobisty tym lepszy jakosciowo, muzycznie nadal tworzy podobnie, wiec w nagrania zangazowana byla masa sesyjnych muzykow ktorzy tworza midtempowe funkowe beaty skomponowane przez Marvina, roznica jest takze w tym, ze ma on swoje udzialy w instrumentalach, a nie jedynie wokalnie, wiec gra on klawisze, basa, synthy, najlepiej jak wiki mowi o tym, ze nie chcial nagrac on nic dlugiego, dobrego, ciezkiego, bo przeciez baba i tak wezmie kase za album na dzieciaka, a wyszedl tak dlugi, ciezki, jakosciowy material, jak dla mnie magnum opus Gayeowy, bo nie slyszalem wczesniej kompletnej opowiesci zwiazku opowiedzianej w tak funkowy sposob, na plejke leci i met a little girl oraz is that enough

3.6 + Good but kind of a slog. It’s definitely ballsy for Marvin Gaye to have themed an album around his divorce - don’t know of other artists who’ve done that. The same sumptuous arrangements and buttery vocals are here. Songs like “Anger” give a window into his complex emotional state. Despite these strengths, this record is too far deep into his discography for my taste.

This was awful. If the 70s had porn in the 'popular with women' category, this would be the soundtrack.

More sad than horny

Classic Marvin Gaye album - it is the Marvin Gaye album I probably listen to the most - it is perfect - not much more to say.

Overall, this album (and Marvin Gaye's music in general) sounds a bit too sleazy for my taste. I did enjoy the more funky tracks, though.

Amazing album from an icon of R&B

I'm don't have much to say about this album. It's fun, but this "romantic funky" R&B is not exactly a style that I love. The Wikipedia page about the album is worth it because the album's background is pretty more interesting than the album itself.

Let's feel each other's ass and razzmatazz 😉

Good sexy music, album too long too monotonous

Really couldn't finish this one. I found it so grating and I can't stand the spoken bits.

Brilliant.

Wow, this was raw. Powerful stuff. Best track: A Funky Space Reincarnation

A bizarre album: Gaye is chewing the scenery, it seems, but utterly sincere. The lyrics are obviously painful, while the instrumentals swirl and sparkle, glittering as their genre expects them to. It's long, but I had no problems sticking with it; Of its time, but I sensed no datedness.

Hmm this could be a 5

2 1/2

Smoooth

Classic ‘70’s shagging music!

5/10

Fine. Not great.

Nice vibes, rlly chill. Not my style, but I could vibe to this anyday for sure.

Classic smooth sound

Groovy. Makes you think about the magnificent work we've lost from so many artists who died too young.

Smooth as silk crème. Top tracks: when did I stop loving you, when did you stop loving me, Here, my dear,

Mellow music with undercurrent of anger. MG is always smooth, but goddamn his music is just the definition of same-ness.

It's a long bitter road, but one worth driving down.

Smooth, sexy and soulful. I enjoyed this album a lot more than I thought I would. Is that enough was my favorite track

Funky

Udmærket. Kunne jeg godt finde på at høre igen.

Meget livsnydelse igen ;)

Some good late 70's soul from Mr Gaye, a break up album on a par with "Rumours" in my honest opinion. Lovely stuff, favourite song, "When Did you stop loving me, When Did I Stop Loving You."

Fløde. Lidt ensidigt. Lange numre. Meget uh, yeah, ah, baby

du er en kæmpe champ marvin

Ren fløde, rnb, vild vokal og sangskrivning

6/10

Not my favorite MG wax but is ok.

Slower, mood music. Time and place for it. Let's "Marvin Gaye and get it on" as the kids say

I've suggested a few times that Dua Lipa is the Marvin Gaye of our times. This needed a little more of that half melted chocolate ooze.

Boring

Personal rating--found it pretty repetitive and uncaptivating. Lyrics are solid and raw. Just wasn't grabbing me.

same jam over and over

Did you also feel like touching your penis?

mehhh soo slow and boring

Another classic

I think my biggest qualm with this album is the production - Gaye’s vocals are great as always and the melodic instrumentation is layered wonderfully behind a small ocean of filters, but there’s not enough umph in the rhythm section to grab onto. I get this is an R&B album, but without any kind of strong rhythmic presence these tracks just flop around like a blob fish without much sense of direction (which doesn’t help the fact that some of the melodies sound similar to one another)

Sense estar a l'alçada dels seus millors moments, 'Here, My Dear', un altre d'aquells discos de separació històrics, sobreviu millor el temps del que la seva fama presuposa. Soul suau, punyent, melangiós, taciturn en ocasions, suggestiu en unes altres. Molt llarg i s'ha d'estar en disposició adequada a la seva escolta, però si tot conflueix, resulta en una estona memorable

It was aite, some of the songs dragged on

first listen. It's ok. 2/5

Pretty groovy album, interesting to hear the themed topic of divorce layered on top of the classically romantic music

I normally associate Marvin Gaye with soulful, baby-making music, even though his best song is a political anthem about hardship and strife. This album turns that notion on its head with a lot of anger and vitriol towards the ending of a relationship. As far as break up albums go though, it’s unbelievably classy. Horn work is phenomenal and Gaye’s voice is still as comforting as ever even when he’s spitting out his feelings. Fave tracks: “You can leave but it’s going to cost you” “Sparrow” “Time To Get It Together”

i feel like if i were to describe romance as a sound, the start of this album would come close. some songs on it are more jazz/ funky but they arent executed as well

Actually garbage

not as smooth as his previous albums

good tunes

I get that it is full of sorrow and heartbreak, but it is musically uninspiring.

It’s a decent album. Funky.

I liked it. Thought it was great sound. Background music that you dont need to pay too much attention to in order to understand. Liked the added funk of it all.

Enjoyable, but probably needs another listen to get full appreciation. Many songs seemed very similar. Really enjoyed “A Funky Space Reincarnstion”.

I like MG but in the main this was self pitying, tuneless rubbish

The Album was a concept about his failed marriage. Sorry about that... (5/10) FT: When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You

really groovy baby

So, this wasn't what I expected. I had read about this great "divorce settlement" album, that was supposedly a lost masterpiece. Often, I find that wreaks of hipster-obscurantism (cf. the Beach Boys's Vegetables), where "unrecognised masterpiece" often equates to self-indulgent, un-edited piffle from a flailing artiste. So, my expectations for Marvin Gaye's double album commercial and (contemporaneously) critical flop, meditating on his divorce would be flabby, self-indulgent and painful. But, surprisingly, while it has aspects of all those attributes, it does stand up. It is a largely mid-tempo funk/soul album, with touches of disco (unsurprisingly for the era). It is unhurried, with extended soloing (including some, ahem, marginally competent keyboard solos from Mr Gaye himself), but well recorded, with some great playing from his backing band (uncredited. Who ARE they? LA based Motown regulars?). It is certainly not a phoned-in contractual obligation album (Van Morrison could learn a lesson from this). I could see myself listening to this again. It's not 'What's going on?', but a pretty solid album from a great artist. For once, the hipster revisionism has, actually, winnowed some grain from the chaff. (The one song that is really out of place was the single, 'A Funky Space Reincarnation', which is delightfully bonkers.)

The creep factor here is really off the charts. The choice here is between one and two frankly

i don't care how good the music is, it's fucking sad for you if you're out here writing love songs about your now-ended marriage, to fulfill a contractual obligation to your ex-wife, while you're already remarried. holy shit dude call a shrink or something, i'm gonna listen to one of the other 15 marvin gaye albums

Marvin Gaye can’t get lower than a 4

this is for bask for i robbed him of his review

Well that must have been one interesting marriage ...

Bold move zo een bekende naam maar 2 geven maar ik voelde het niet

Ja goed maar niet wow

Classic

It's 1978, and Marvin Gaye is BACK! After the thoughtful "What's Going On?" and the sexual "Let's Get It On", Gaye gives us the buttersweet "Here, My Dear". It's a divorce album. Funny side note, we're having a bit of a year for divorce albums. Country star Kacey Musgraves, R&B megahit Adele, uh....Kanye West went through a divorce. But he never went made Donda a divorce album. It doesn't matter, the point is that there's a wide array of emotions to explore on a divorce album. Definitively different from a mere breakup album because they're more "adult" for a lack of better words. There's legality involved! There's lawyers for this sort of thing! It's serious stuff. Marvin Gaye is doing the thing he does best on this album: reflection. He wants to explore every emotion, every moment, every facet of his divorce to delivery a truly multi-dimensional album. It's also a double album, so you're getting many dimensions whether you like it or not. It's a pretty mellow album. You get some funky danceable stuff in there, but a lot of it is musing on a topic for about 5 minutes at a time, which might overstay it's welcome a bit. When Marvin Gaye muses, he really stays musing for a while. Specifically the song "When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You", already 6 minutes long, gets an instrumental reprise (that's not really all that instrumental) to close out side 3 and then pops up again as a reprise (though only 40 seconds long) to close the album. Man up a lot of stock into that song, huh? It's good. It's not his best, but it's certainly never bad. Of the double albums on this list though, I think this might be one of the weaker ones (but nothing will ever be worse than Space Ritual).

Grate album easy to listen to

Smooth as gravy, awesome

Marvin Gaye's voice is smooth and flowing. Also boring for my tastes and at 73 minutes long a real struggle to get through. I also noticed that this album was a "commercial and critical failure" upon release. I am not a fan of albums that are dug back up and later revered. 2 at best. 2

Mellow smoochathon

The sound of pain, but also potential recovery. Very interesting album.

First thought - that is a terrible cover! The ego he must have had at this point! This is apparently a bitter divorce album. It's basically a concept album on the subject. But nothing here is particularly deep - just feels like a bitter, very self involved man ranting. It's not a good look and it seems like he doesn't realize it - which is maybe even worse (again, that cover...). There are a few decent funky tracks (A Funky Space Reincarnation for example) but this is largely pretty cringe-worthy and not worth the time.

Few ones

good but not so much my thing I think

Fine background music for the bedroom, but not very inspiring beyond that

1978, соул. Пятнадцатый(!) альбом. Посвящен разводу с женой.

Thought this would be better.

Pretty good

ehhhhh. ZZZZzzzzzzz. ehhhhh 2.6. I enjoy a little more upbeat Marvin

-Really not my kind of music -Lyrics are kinda too lovey-dovey and cheesy -Some songs are really groovy -Overall a very slow album but also very calming tunes -Favourite song Time To Get It Together

I've known the story behind this album for quite a while but never actually sat down to listen to it. It's very, very bitter. Still maintains a solid groove, and once you get past the first two songs and understand what you're in for, it's really a great album. Favorite tracks: "Anger", "Is That Enough", "You Can Leave, But It's Going to Cost You"

There are some really good tracks here but too much weird stuff for me.

Not my usual listen pleasure but quite enjoyable and very relaxing

Chill. Style. Funk.

Not for me.

Like a companion piece to What's going on - perhaps a bit dated for 1978? Pleasant musically, painful lyrically. A small number of "essential" tracks. A low 3 out of 5

Not my cup of tea, but didn't hate it. Found it pretty amusing to read the background re his divorce, and the blatant lyrics about alimony and judges. Stay classy Marvin.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this album Marvin Gaye is sooo freaking talented. He could sing the phone book make it compelling. More Marvin please. 4 🌟

Just boring…. Easy listening…. But boring!

Soulful and smoother than smooth. Perhaps too smooth at times? Anyhow, this is excellent, quiet storm, late night music.

soulful and funky. good stuff

couldn't finish

SMOOOTTTTHHHH

6/10. A good listen, good vibes, though the songs sound the same and gets a bit repetitive

My favorite smooth talker

It’s no what’s goin on but Marvin gayes harmonious singing and the funky jazz instrumentals make this a good listen. A more love/divorce centered album. 7.7/10

Pretty Erskine fare.

Excellent afternoon listening - very relaxing feel-good album

Refreshing country music...worth a listen

I haven’t heard a lot of Marvin other than “What’s Going On” but this is another great album. I am more likely to listen to more of his stuff. I really like the sax and keys through this album.

Marvin's vocal chops are undeniable and the other artists pull their weight as well. I especially enjoy the percussion throughout this album. However, there's too much filler on this and it sludges along at points. Funky break-up albums should mirror breakups in general; keep it short and sweet babyyy 🌟🌟

Other than the 4 kids I conceived in the last 24 hours listening to this album I could go the rest of my life and not listen to Marvin Gaye again

Good

smooth af

It was okay…kinda of depressing

Jazzigt album, gött sväng. Typisk Marvin Gaye

Meh

Smooth, sounds like what you expect from Marvin Gaye, 7/10

Yeah fine. Couple of nice moments

I like Marvin Gaye but I'm not a fan of this album.

I'm sure it's fine, but RnB/soul has never appealed to me.

Not really my thing. Good for late evening, winding down, drinking scotch. It's def got its place.

I was not familiar with any of the songs, but I don't have any kids so that makes sense.

it was okay. kind of boring and weird ?

I rather enjoyed this album, but it's definitely for boning down. I lit some candles to set the mood.

Liked it, quite sad with wedding vows broken and falling out of love

I like to read about an album and its history especially if I'm hearing it for the first time; for this one specifically I wanted to understand *why* it's considered a top 1001 album because to me ... it's dull. I love a good Marvin Gaye song and definitely am a fan of a lot of 70s soul music, but this seems an hour-long compilation of ...meh. Mid-tempo songs that sort of blend with one another - lukewarm vocals without a ton of passion (oddly, considering the topic)... there's absolutely nothing terrible here but it feels more like something I'd hear playing in the background of a slow-moving old street drama starring a young Gene Hackman. Additionally, the "reason" this is now a highly-regarded album is in fact largely *because of* the awkwardness of the lyrics and subject matter. Essentially the album is a document about MG's divorce, starting from the weird and not-convincing opening track of "Here My Dear" where he is almost literally giving us the verbal version of a final "I'm sorry this happened to us" letter. Even as someone who often ignores lyrics, I can't help but notice these and not in a good way. One highlight I will note is "Anger" which would probably stand out more on a more varied album. "Is That Enough" shows great promise with a slow funky groove but unfortunately just drags on a bit too long. Hard pass on this one, I'll give it a disappointed 2 and move to other/better Marvin.

C'était ultra sexuel, de souvenir.

Interesting album by Marvin Gaye. An acrimonious divorce leads to some soulful and painfully honest songs.

sexy

Liquid smooth. Some real low stakes stuff from Marvin here. Takes care of his business at walking pace. At once admirable but just didn’t get me up outta my seat. Doesn’t hit the lofty heights of What’s Going On for my milky dollar. This album probably deserves a more thoughtful response. What can I say? 1001albums, you’ve created a monster. And that monster is me.

false

eh

Alright Marvin, let’s see what you’ve got. Oh wow, this is smooth. It all just sounds so easy, riding those grooves. Then listening to it with the above info (that this was recorded in the wake of a messy divorce) you can actually hear the heartbreak, the questions, the reflections in the lyrics. I liked it. Not so convinced by the artwork, though.

In the past, me and Marv have not got along (barring a very obvious song or two) but this may have turned the tables. Maybe it's the bit of knowledge I have about the album's creation myth*, maybe it's just that it's beautifully lazy in the kind of way that makes it sound like Gaye's guard is really down. Either way, I boogied. *As I understand it, Gaye was getting divorced and his wife was due a lot of future album royalties, so he set out to make the worst album he could, preparing next to nothing, in the hope the album would flop. However, when he got into the studio he couldn't stop himself making great music. Moral of the story no one needed: by and large, great musicians are A-holes.

fabuleux quel dommage que monsieur se soit cru plus malin que tout le monde a faire un album de 37h

музика для секса с парнем

Nope

You are made of/for love. Bill Withers-y. Wholesome.

I’ve never heard this album or any of its songs before today. Being a Marvin Gaye album, and one that I knew was well regarded, I had high expectations. It met them. I can tell that this is an album I will need to hear at least a few times to fully appreciate it, but it’s very good. Alternates between more classic RnB and disco/funk w/ ease. I like this. So this is getting 4 stars, but it’s really 4.5, maybe even upwards of 4.8. It only gets 4 stars in relation to the other Marvin Gaye albums that I know are going to be on this list

Liked this album…. Another easy listening

Did not enjoy - skipped on before completing

Very smooth and light. A lot of "Romance/Flirt" vibes going on, but mainly it has a quite nice groove of a "low pace" funk that you can relax to. The voice blends well with the band style with some extra "talking lyrics" every now and again, which adds to the vibe. Clearly worth 5 stars but not something I really listen too much, hence 4 stars for me.

I've been enjoying the soul music on the list, It's not a genre I'd heard much before. This one isn't as good as the Isaac Hayes though

As with everyone, definitely looked forward to this. As this is only the 3rd full album that I'm reviewing on here, I'm starting to see how hard it is to rate fairly with only 24 hours. As always, those sexy vibes flow through this album, wah wahing away in the first and title track. I like the vibe of this album (as with most Marvin) but I'm going to have to give a middle 3 here as I haven't listened to it enough really. Feel like I'll regret this in the future but this is the harsh reality of the daily ratings.

Loved it

Fine background music. Not more than that for me.

Lite mysigt

false

Everything I wanted from a Marvin Gaye album. It was like listening to silk.

A go to for me if I'm in the mood for some hows your father.....Marvin never fails to get my My better half hot in the loins!

I think this is objectively excellent but not to my tastes so it's gotta be a four star rating for me. It's soothing, and it's like Marvin is making love to my ears, but I think what I prefer is music that is more energetic or bouncy. Marvin's voice is great and relaxing, but it feels more like it's background music, and he's a fly-on-the-wall singing over it. Although it has loads of complexity to it (and the bass lines are bouncy to be fair) it still manages to feel a little samey to me across the album so not sure I can listen to it properly a second time without losing interest. Shout out to "A Funky Space Reincarnation", real cool.

Not his best, but its great nontheless.

Production: 7/20 Songwriting: 5/20 Innovation: 9/20 Presence of pure bangers: 5/20 Emotional response: 2/20 = 29 Yeah not a fan of this one sorry Marvin.

It grew on me as I listened to it (3 times).

Very enjoyable but not as good as ‘what’s going on’

Good without being great.

Smooth Marv, Smooth. Love those bass lines. Album was unndecessarily long though, could have done with an edit ** A funky space incarnation **

Grand

Definitely the best of R&B . But wished the album was one with a few of his greatest hits🎼 “What’s Going On, Sexual Healing, I heard it through the 🍇” and about 10 more. Album generator missed the mark again. Marvin Gaye lives on through his words of love and living! “Ain’t nothing Like the Real Thing!”

Rubbish

Not one I've heard before and I enjoyed it. Not a patch on What's Going On but then, what is?

Not bad, forgot it was on at times but not bad.

i liked the sound of this a lot and the lyrics were rough but also really raw and emotional. this is another tusk situation where if they had pared it down to a really good single album, i might give it a 10, but as it is there are a lot of tracks that felt like filler. 8

It's not often that I rlly want to listen to a 73 minute album about divorce. Sounded okay but got pretty repetitive. 5/10

This is my first time listening to this album.The late 70's is such an interesting time for music. The big legacy acts were putting out their most unusual and experimental albums. Either due to their ability to flex creativity control, their bordom with their old style or in this case, Marvin needed to finalize his divorce and he was gonna make just the album he felt like. Fuck you bitch is a simple concept but effective at bringing something out of Marvin. Marvin's funk is a light funk and I dig it. It feels slow and gentile comparied to the heavy funk or Parliament or James Brown. Like every good concept album, this album is meant to be enjoyed as a whole. It would be perfect to own on vinyl and enjoy on a lazy afternoon. The first two tracks start things off slowly. Lacking much of a hook or a resolution to the melody, its sounds like they are asking you to chill. But from there it builds, getting funking and faster but still remaining gentile with Marvin's sweet voice leading the way. I'd let Marvin slow funk me again anytime. Especially if its leads to "Time to get together" and "A Funky Space Reincarnation".

It was a solid album, but I feel like as his 15th studio album, it wasn't as innovative as some of his older stuff. I also found the song "I Met a Little Girl" problematic.

Long in a positive and negative way, Gaye is always listenable and compelling but this doesn’t have the ease that I relate with him

Obvi a great musician, but this album was very monotone and super long!

I'm guessing this isn't one his better albums. I found this quite boring and forgettable

I dunno, 7? Pretty long

Boring

Buena voz de artista americano. Cierto toque blues. Para los muy entusiastas del género. He notado un estilo muy definido, pero un tanto monótono. No es mi estilo

Pure pleasure to my ears. A while back I had listened to "What's Going On" since it topped Rolling Stones chart and I really enjoyed it but never dove into his other albums. This one was awesome. I'll be exploring this one again to find some favorites but When Did you Stop Loving Me is an early stand out, as is a lot of the album. Very glad this came on a Friday especially with the week we've had with bad albums. Incredible album cover too. Is Rome/Greece burning down because of his love? Who knows but I'm here for it.

7

De éste disco no conocía ninguna canción.

Very long and a tough listen because of its subject matter, but I love the sound and the emotion. 9

Fein

sex music sex music very funky tho

Entretenido. No es mi estilo de música pero suena muy bien y como melodia de fondo es genial.

Good boning music.

Only liked some songs

pretty groovy, however was kinda depressing

Easy listening and good love songs

I've been patiently waiting for some Marvin Gaye, particularly What's Going On. I actually just heard about this album a couple days ago, but hadn't heard it. It's really, really great. Marvin has such a soulful voice, there's a lot of life and pain in there, but it's still groovy. Interesting that he gave up promoting this album after it was deemed "too commercial." So many tracks on here that I loved immediately. Ironically, though, the one song I've heard before ("When Did You Stop Loving Me") I don't like. That song is featured on the "blonded" radio station in GTA and it's one of the few that I will tune away from. It just doesn't do anything for me, and yet I had to hear it three different ways on one album. Despite that, I loved this. I recognize the classic status. Favorite tracks: I Met a Little Girl (amazing track), Everybody Needs Love, Anger, Here My Dear. Album art: Never even seen this before, but I really dig it. Marvin immortalizing himself as a statue looks pretty funny, but it's a very cool art style. 4.5/5

I expected this album to impregnate my computer... but instead it kind of made my computer depressed about Marvin Gaye's divorce. I got halfway through and it's the same song on repeat. An ok song. But the same fucking song.

3 düdelt wsl immer noch vor sich hin

Erster track, ich fühle mich dominiert. Dominiert von einem starken Südland Alpha der mir seine sexy-funky-Soul Stimme ins Ohr summt während er eindringt... Was soll ich sagen es ist einfach Fickmusik. Aber ich fühle mich eher gefickt als, dass ich selber den Drang verspüre, wem mit der Fleischpeitsche eins überzubraten. Insgesamt lässt mich das Album sowieso überaus schlaff zurück. mMn zu viele Tracks die sich zT auch noch wiederholen. Wie beim Figgn gilt: wiederhole nur was Spaß macht. Das macht mir das Album allerdings nicht wirklich. Daher ehr medium das ganze.

Hier stehe ich wieder vor dem selben Problem: ich steh nicht auf Soul. Eigentlich sprechen mich wenige Genres an, die nicht ein leichtes Bluten im Gehörgang auslösen. Nichtsdestotrotz war ich natürlich so happy, dieses Album anzuhören. Ein Album, das man nicht nebenzu hören kann, da es keinerlei Unterschied zwischen den Songs gibt. Immer dieselbe rauchige Stimmung. Wäre ich Vanilla, wärs sicherlich was für sexy times, aber leider nein. Trotzdem sicherlich ein solides Album. Höre ich mir trotzdem nicht mehr an.

Habs nicht angehört, Marvin Gaye ist Hausfrauen-Musik für ewiggestrige, sexuell frustrierte Buchhaltungs-Petras. BAH.

Dayum this was so good! I absolutely loved how long and repetitive some of these songs were. Had a few problems with some of his whining about women, and that's kind of all he's got. Some were more positive.. but overall. Enjoyed - put me in such a good mood

Pretty good, not his best though.

Me and the 5 other people that hear this record. I have a question for god WHY?

good background music

Really love this album!

Très bon album du son classique de Marvin Gaye, glisse très bien d'un bout à l'autre, mais un tantinet monotone.

It was okay. Better than most of the other albums we’ve heard.

Absolutely wonderful. Jazzy, melodic, soulful. Funny enough I heard a song that sounded like a Justin Timberlake song in there so it must have been influential. I’m giving it a 5/5 because it was so pleasant to listen to and I had barely any anxiety listening to it.

It's a good album, not my favorite type of music, but quality stuff for sure. 3 stars.

Love Motown Marvin and I understand this album is a reflection of the era being the late 70's. His vocals are amazing as always and there are a couple of decent tracks but all in all not my favorite sound of his.

Brutally honest lyrics and packaging that leaves little confusion about *exactly* what this album is about. I have no doubt repeated listens would draw out more details, but a double-album worth of mid-tempo R&B started to overstay its welcome for me.

This is an experience. Wow.

Wow. Just wow.

An okay album, just not to my taste.

It was aight, not my style, but appreciate the music.

Nice. I’m into it!

No song really grabbed me, but it was nice and smooth

My man Marvin needs to sort out his love life, the first half of the album felt like he was just whinging about marriage. Second half was more fun and sax filled, loved the Funky Space Reincarnation. Album cover is pretty suspect too

Enjoyed parts, music is good but an hour and half of Marvin complaining about his ex wife was just too much

6

Funky Marvin Gaye. All new songs to me. Not my favorite, though.

For an album to be created for the purpose it was to be as good as this one, is amazing.

just not for me

The man can sing, that’s not news to anyone.

Many songs feel generic. Favorite song "Sparrow"

It was fine. It's Marvin Gaye, so it's always enjoyable. Interesting to read that he was going through a divorce at the time. The music is more dark because of it. But it was certainly good.

Die Verarbeitung von biografischen Ereignissen in Songs führt eher selten zu Glanztaten wenn, wie hier, die Texte keine Chiffrierebene haben. Musikalisch passiert leider auch nur wenig. Nix gegen Marvin Gaye, aber warum ausgerechnet dieses Album?

he's got a great voice but wanted some more funk or drums in there. got bored quickly.

hard from start to finish

At first I wasn't that bothered by this, but it got better.

Liked this one, soul music I always find so relaxing

Another album I wanted to like but right from the start it's him complaining about his ex wife via song? Not very interesting or refined in any way. First half of the album I did not like at all, 2nd half not much better some decent grooves but I was happy when it was over

Lovely

false

'Everybody Needs Love' is incredible. Great album overall, would listen again

This album was alright. It didn't resonate with me as strongly as some of his other work, unfortunately. I'm not sure I'd recognize it if I heard it on the jukebox, and I probably wouldn't reach for it otherwise. 2 stars.

Nope. Not a fan. I like the songs of his that I already know, but apparently not this album.

erinnert mich an Debbie Mama sagt live klingt es vermutlich besser

fan vad tråkigt

Needs another listen

Ihan kunneltavaa kamaa ja ukko osaa laulaa

Currently my fav Marvin Gaye album

Sexy time.

Pretty funky

Klart är att Marvin Gaye förtjänar sin plats på denna listan.

I am Gay for Gaye

Smooth and sexy, but not terribly remarkable. Might go back.

Not my thing