Search - Marvin Gaye :: In Our Lifetime: Expanded Love Man Edition

In This Lifetime

Star light | U.S.A | 03/08/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A little disappointed because disc 2 repeated several tunes that was on disc 1. I gave the extra star for whomever decided to make this available for us since this was the last music available that he has ever done,even though it had never been released through his approval prior to his passing."

Not bad underrated marvin gaye

Sherance Brothers | Jasper Ala | 09/06/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"not my favorite album by gaye but if you're a serious fan you'll find some serious bangers in heavy love affair, funk me, and in our lifetime the cover grabbed me back in the early 80's daz dillinger copied the artwork on his first album in 98."

The Lost Chapter

J. Miller | Greenfield, MA USA | 06/25/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After researching Marvin's discography, I realized I hadn't actually heard anything on IOL. The story of the album's creation was unknown to me at the time, and I was intrigued.



Out of print and high priced, I took the plunge and splurged on a shiny copy of the expanded version. I decided I had to hear the Motown version and Marvin's to make up my mind.



This is Marvin's ultimate duality album. Every song is funky and danceable, yet the lyrics are heavy and introspective, often dealing with good/evil, love/lust, virtue/sin, etc. The tortured balladeer, philosophizing and crooning his way through turmoil.



The main musical voices for the entire outing are Marvin's voice(obviously), and Frank Blair's bass. Harmonized, triple-tracked, left-right-center, mantra after mantra of bassliciousness. This is really a duet album, the other voice just happens to be a bass guitar. Marvin representing the spiritual, and the bass representing the physical, they yin and yang from beginning to end.



To bring the whole duality aspect of IOL to another level, there are two complete versions of the album. In Our Lifetime(disc 1), and In Our Lifetime?(disc 2).



Disc 1 is the version that was sent by Frank Blair to Motown and released in '81. Apparently Marvin neither heard nor approved this version and thus became the crux of his split with Motown.



The mixes sound unfinished, and they even included Far Cry which was only in demo form at the time! Gone are the little touches and interludes which are key to IOL.



Also included on Disc 1 are the tracks that were cut to fit it onto one album( Nuclear Juice-instrumental, Ego Tripping Out-

LP mix, Far Cry-unedited), and the original Ego Tripping Out single.





Finished by Marvin and engineer Nick Patrick, Disc 2 represents the beautiful, polished album that IOL should have been when it was released. Complete with musical and spoken interludes, Disc 2 FEELS like a cohesive piece.



-The mixes are MILES beyond the somewhat disjointed, unfinished-sounding mixes from Disc 1.



-Great soundstaging, and the overall presence of the instruments is fantastic.



-The overall sound quality and warmth of the recording is finally present.



-Backing vox are fully fleshed out and hypnotic.



Also included on Disc 2 are the tapes from the unfinished "Love Man" project which became the impetus for IOL. Hearing Marvin at work is a real treat, and many of the IOL grooves began life here.



The booklet is big(28 pgs.) and the various aspects of IOL are presented in a series of short essays. Essential insights for understanding and appreciating IOL.



The cons:



-It's out of print-cha ching!



-After you listen to Disc 2, IOL on Disc 1 becomes inessential.



-It might take a few listens to adjust to the production sound of the early 80's.



If your a Marvin fan, it is definitely worth it. An exeptional remastering job was achieved, and the overall package is awesome. It's a crime that IOL was not released properly in 81, and it's a crime that this is out of print now.



Also around the same time of IOL, Marvin finished his collection of classic ballads entitled "Vulnerable" which went unreleased until 1997. It too is out of print but going for less than IOL. There is a bittersweet story behind this project as well. I suggest you pick this up too for even more insight and amazing music from a tumultuous period in Marvin's lifetime.



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