At His Best Live - Marvin Gaye

Advantages: All of his most enthralling work are captured on these disc
Disadvantages: Would have liked to have seen a few more rarities added on

...Marvin Gayes' untimely death in 1984 left a big void in music. Marvin Gaye had become one of the most influential singer and songwriters in soul music history. His diligent work had tremendous depth, making profound political statements and social commentary as well as having a poignant and spiritual edge. Marvin Gayes' recording career spans back to the dawn of the swinging sixties when Motown Records was beginning to make its mark in the world by becoming commonly known as "the sound of young America". The fantastic Stubborn Kind Of Fellow was one of his very best early hits. The formulaic though enduring Motown sound is fully at work on this classic with Gayes' distinctive vocals seamlessly surfboarding along the somwhat complex musical arrangements. Hitch Hike, Can I Get A Witness? and Too Busy Thinking About My Baby also... Read review

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Advantages: A great soul album from one of Motown’s best.
Disadvantages: There is controversy about which hits are the greatest.

...for minor bad behaviour. Marvin rebelled against his father, and this shows in some of his music. After leaving school and a brief spell in the Air Force, Martin started his music career. When Motown Records started up, he wanted to be part of it. He married the founders’ sister and started recording for them. In 1984 Marvin Gaye physically attacked his father for verbally abusing his mother, so his father shot him dead, with a gun that Marvin had given him. THE MUSIC When researching into the current price of “The Very Best of Marvin Gaye”, I found that there are at least four albums with this title, with different track listings. This made me re-think how I was going to write this review. I suspect not only will you be expecting to learn about the music, but would also want me to give an opinion on the best of the four different... Read review

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Advantages: Relaxing and always makes me feel better
Disadvantages: Goes down hill a bit towards the end

...reason to do so and indeed there was such a reason - The Soul Survivors. These lads when at their best in the mid 90s were and probably still are The Midland's finest soul tribute band - playing classics ranging from Otis Redding to Sam & Dave with a production and performance tighter than a page 3 girl's black crop top. Ever since I saw these guys, I had become bitten by the soul bug - time after time I will go and see them and other bands such as The Commandments but it was at a night in the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton a few years ago that I discovered Marvin Gaye properly. Unfortunately I'm way too young to have had an opportunity to see the master live in concert as he died in 1984, but I did get the chance to see Edwin Star and Mary Wilson (formerly of The Supremes) in a production of "The Motown Story", where Edwin and Mary belted... Read review

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