Got To Give It Up (The Funk Collection) - Marvin Gaye

Advantages: One of the greatest posthmous releases of all time
Disadvantages: a little too stringy

...skill and yet another example of Marvin Gaye's massive talent. It starts out with a moping question "Why Did I Choose You?" It stews in moodiness and threatens self-pity as Marvin bemoans fresh heartbreak. But just as it is about to go overboard, his choir of heavenly multi-tracked voices serve as those higher angels, snapping himself out of his self-pitying funk, giving him the courage to see his relationship's beauty as a whole and not just as a sum of its ending. And when he comes to "and when I lost my heart so many years ago, I lost it lovingly and willingly to you. And if I had to choose again I would still choose you" you see Marvin the pure romantic. With his heart in his throat, Marvin doesn't blend love and heartbreak as much as he comes to the understanding that they exist on the same emotional plane... Read review

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Advantages: Classical Motown for almost every (love) occassion!
Disadvantages: Perhaps been done before.

...I had been contemplating buying this "Very Best Of" collection for a while. I alredy had a few recordings such as "What's Going On", which is easily his best album. The attraction to this Very Best Of collection is probably for listeners who love Marvin Gaye but also wanted to pad out there collections. The Music: The Music as is typical of Gaye is excellent. The guy at my local store told me that they had been flying of the shelves with Valentines day the last weekend. Honey Drizzlers all over the country had been again turning to Marvin to "set the mood" on Saturday night! Who can blame them with tracks such as "Sexual Healing" and "How Sweet It Is". A disapointing exemption is that of "Music" which is very difficult to track down but excellent "Get Down" music. Sampled by Eric Sermon (if you have heard of him) for his song... Read review

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Advantages: The timeless Sexual Healing
Disadvantages: None!

...remained refreshingly timeless. The cool, breezy musical arrangements are given startling ignition by Marvins surprisingly sensual, vibrant vocal delivery that blends fantastically well into the state-of-the-art soul production. Sexual Healing became one of his last hits before his untimely and tragic death. Continuing in vastly the same mood is the sexually charged, Rockin' After Midnight which opens up with a slow, sultry beat that hastily leads into a striking late night, grooving and lush R&B number that is broken up by a glorious saxophone interlude which indeed proves to be a phenomenal instrument on each of these recordings, capturing the intended move perfectly. Til' Tomorrow, begins with a sluggish drum beat and steers into a tidal wave of musical arrangements, which are enhanced further by Marvins smooth, erotic sounding vocal... Read review

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