Search - Marvin Gaye :: Midnight Love & Sexual Healing Sessions

Midnight Love Revisited

G. YEO | Singapore | 03/28/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Marvin Gaye fans rejoice - this new version of Midnight Love reveals again the man's genius, inspiration and musical virtuousity with a bonus disc, and liner notes by Gaye's biographer and co-writer of Sexual Healing, David Ritz.



Although Midnight Love yielded Marvin's final classic hit - it wasn't his greatest work. The 8-track release has four strong tracks from Midnight Lady to 'Til Tomorrow and then lapses into somewhat filler material, with Marvin's voice knocked into the background by an incessant drum machine and heavily compressed in the last four tracks.



Nonetheless, this bonus disc makes the release more complete with "The Sexual Healing Sessions." Tracks include the Rick James influenced jam "Clique Games" which is the forerunner of Rocking After Midnight; sketch versions of Sexual Healing - which is great to hear in any form, along with other tracks. Notably, Marvin's naked vocals make the songs more apparent and appealing. Some studio banter would have been interesting to hear and maybe the studios will be brave and creative enough to put that out some day.



Like the late Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye is one of the few artists of his ilk that have been reissued with considerable extra material - all of which give small but nice detours into his musical nuances. Essential or not, it's nice to hear stripped down versions of the songs. And in a strange way, they bring the artist to life in a more intimate manner. Collectors may consider adding this to their collection."