Search - Marvin Gaye :: The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye + That Stubborn Kinda Fellow + 3 Bonus Tracks

Known throughout the mid- and late '60s as ''The Prince of Motown'', Marvin Gaye (Marvin Pentz Gay, April 2, 1939 - April 1, 1984) won the hearts of countless fans for his soulful crooning. One of the reasons he became the top-selling male vocalist for Tamla/Motown Records was his insistence on having things done exactly the way he wanted. Blessed with a mellifluous tenor and a three-octave vocal range, Gaye was one of the most consistent and enigmatic of the Motown hitmakers. This collector's edition contains Gaye's long unavailable and magnificent debut album for the Tamla label, The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye (1961). This masterpiece features more jazz than soul, and has a much different sound than Gaye's subsequent albums. The LP was recorded over two weeks and was issued on June 8, 1961. Before the release of his first single, the Berry Gordy ballad ''Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide'', Marvin added an extra ''e'' to his last name, to look ''more professional.'' In addition to Marvin Gaye's debut album, this release includes the singer's second LP, That Stubborn Kinda Fellow, which was released in 1962 by Tamla Records (a subsidiary of Motown Records). The songs contained on this album constitute the first hits of Gaye's career and helped establish him as one of the most important artists of the legendary Detroit record label. Three further songs have been added as bonus tracks: ''Mr. Sandman'' (which was first issued as a single in 1962), and two rare tracks which were cut during Gaye's time as a member of R&B groups like Harvey & The Moonglows (under the direction of Harvey Fuqua) and The Marquees (also featuring Bo Diddley).