Trouble Man

Recognizing Marvin Gaye

by j. brotherlove

If you’re privileged enough to know me (and yes, I consider knowing me a privilege - hope you feel the same about yourself), then you know that Marvin Gaye is one of my favorite artists. Considering how much music I listen to and own, that speaks volumes. Strangely, I don’t remember the first Marvin Gaye song I heard. But I do remember being drawn to him at a young age. So much so that by 1984, I was just as shocked as my elders to lose him.

Gaye is often summed up by popular albums What’s Going On or Let’s Get It On. This is a great disservice to his mastery of music. Would you like to be summed up by one of your PowerPoint presentations? Marvin was more than a singer. He was a natural songwriter, musician and producer.

Marvin deserves accolades for his complex body of work. From the sexiness of I Want You and Let’s Get It On to the perversion of Dream Of A Lifetime; from the politics of What’s Going On and clever complexities of Here, My Dear; to the cool of Trouble Man and the beauty of Vulnerable, genius runs throughout.

That genius came at a cost. As an artist at Motown, he frequently struggled to express himself. In many way, Marvin was the antithesis of Motown’s philosophy. He resisted the record company’s pre-packaged technique for its artists. He was stubborn and enjoyed experimenting. His talent for improvising in the studio, collaborating with the best musicians and layering vocals (his trademark) contributed to him becoming Motown’s best selling artist.

Gaye lived his art through his music, documenting the the pains and pleasures along the way. Although, my inner control freak has shielded me from drugs, I relate heavily to Gaye’s struggle with spirituality, expression, elation, sexuality, respect, depression, fear of commitment and success.

Unfortunately for Gaye, his caldron of demons proved too difficult to overcome. Eventually, his compounding drug use, money problems and womanizing were trumped when, during an argument, he was shot by his father on April Fools day in 1984, one day before his 45th birthday.

Damn, I miss that man.

Today, on the 22nd anniversary of his death, I have collected 22 of my favorite Marvin Gaye songs in radio.blog format. Enjoy: brotherlounge vol v - trouble man.

Have you read Micheal Eric Dyson’s book on Gaye? Now that it’s out in paperback, I was thinking about getting it. I really like Gaye’s concert CD’s.

Thanks for mentioning Dyson’s critical analysis, Bakari. I had intended to use a quote from Mercy, Mercy Me: The Art, Loves and Demons of Marvin Gaye but my room is in such a mess, I can’t locate it at the moment.

Marvin Gaye was one of the most versatile and gifted musicians of all-time. His death remains one of music’s greatest losses. Thank you for this Radio Blog.