Search - Marvin Gaye :: Early Classics

Too much of a good thing! Seek out individual albums!!

Mendicant Pigeon | pdx, or United States | 12/26/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Perhaps it is a peculiar problem to have, but the problem with this compilation is that it is way too much of a good thing. Granted, there are only 18 tracks on it, but they all sound the same. I hate to say it, but after a while the repetition of format, sound, & composition causes one song to blend into the next until it jangles one's nerves and causes him to change to another album reaching the end. I bought this with the expectation that it would be like another compilation of Mr. Gaye's early songs that I own, only with more tracks. On this latter there were, I suppose what a reviewer below would characterize as 'the usual suspects.' In my mind this is a good thing because the present album suffers for not including the beauty of the beautiful tracks that made Mr. Gaye a soul music superstar. More importantly they showcase the broad range of sound and musical finesse that this fine singer had. As I write this I have one of Al Green's early compilations playing in the background and it is a beautiful experience because the producers chose to mix it up and give us a broad spectrum of that vocal genius's musical oevre. I give Mr. Gaye's 'Early Classics' album just two stars because it is going to be great only for hardcore fans. For those of us who like his music but want to experience more than a unidimensional artist, I recommend buying other albums that showcase his work. Sorry."

Serviceable sampler

Laurence Upton | Wilts, UK | 03/28/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"With the Motown catalogue in disarray for many years, it was only through budget compilations such as the Early Classics series that many underrated gems were in catalogue. The purpose of the series was to present B-sides and early album tracks in the context of the more familiar singles.



With most of Marvin Gaye's early albums back in catalogue, this now serves as a useful low-priced sampler, with five single A-sides (including Can I Get A Witness? from 1963, which wasn't on an album, with the Supremes clearly audible in the background); 8 album tracks from That Stubborn Kinda' Fella, How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You and Moods Of Marvin Gaye; 1 oddity and 4 B-sides.



The oddity is the fabulous Lucky Lucky Me, recorded in January 1965 but unreleased in his lifetime. Instead, a fine instrumental version using the same backing track was released featuring Earl Van Dyke on Hammond organ, with the new title All For You. Marvin's original version was first released in 1994, along with new remixes and an alternative version recorded in 1966, and has since appeared on other CD collections, notably Lost And Found - Love Starved Heart. Lost And Found is recommended as it consists entirely of good quality material, only released posthumously and not duplicated on his re-issued albums.



As for the four B-sides, one (You've Been A Long Time Coming) can be easily found on Moods Of Marvin Gaye, but the other three are not so readily available. I'll Take Care Of You is the B-side of Your Unchanging Love and She's Got To Be Real is on the other side of Ain't That Peculiar. Neither are to be found on the albums that those A-sides come from, or as bonus tracks on the recent re-issues. Never Let You Go (Sha-Lu-Bop), with its rock and rolling piano and doo wop harmonies, was the B-side of 1961's Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide, also found on the currently unavailable album The Soulful Moods Of Marvin Gaye. These three tracks are therefore now the most valuable items on the CD, until a collection comes out that mops up the stray A-sides and B-sides left out of the re-issue packages.



Ten of the tracks are stereo, the exceptions being all the tracks from That Stubborn Kinda' Fella and earlier, and the B-sides I'll Take Care Of You and She's Got To Be Real."