Customer Reviews
not bad underrated marvin gaye
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.
+1/2 -- Gaye's 1981 Motown swansong restored to original vision
At the end of the '70s Gaye conceived his next release to be a party record entitled "Love Man. This 1981 album has a storied history. " The single "Ego Tripping Out" failed to connect, and while relocated to Europe (to avoid the IRS) he reconceived the album as something more spiritual. The resulting "In Our Lifetime" was an LP that Gaye believed Motown had compromised with unauthorized edits and remixes, and retitled without the trailing question mark. It spelled the end Gaye's recording association with Motown. He moved on to find further success at Columbia (particularly with "Sexual Healing"), and left his Motown swansong to founder.
Though he'd given up on the idea of a straightforward party record, his songs retained some celebratory style, with lyrics deepened by explorations of faith, sexuality and philosophy. Having gotten his first divorce (from Anna Gordy) out of his system with 1978's "Here, My Dear," and despite financial and drug problems, Gaye still sounded remarkably positive. He pondered his musical history on "Life is for Learning," teed up the subject matter of "Sexual Healing" with "Funk Me," contrasted good and evil with a biblical touch on "Love Me Now or Leave Me Later," and mumbled his way through the unfinished (by Gaye's measure) "Far Cry. "
Hip-O's deluxe 2-CD reissue tells much of album's convoluted history. The original single of "Ego Tripping Out" is included, along with the original Motown-directed line-up of "In Our Lifetime" on disc one. Also featured are an unedited version of the album track "Far Cry" and the instrumental of "Ego Tripping Out. " Disc two tells the other half of the story. Here is the track order and the mixes that Gaye intended, plus a number of tracks from the aborted "Love Man" sessions. The latter tracks fit surprisingly well with the album material, suggesting that Gaye's vision for "Love Man" wasn't all that different, at least musically, from what he eventually recorded.
The differences between the two versions of the album are both subtle and obvious. Track lengths are different, and the mixes on Gaye's album have a more buoyant vibe. "Love Party" is a good example; the album version is flat, while the original Gaye mix is bright and features a lively doubled vocal. "Funk Me" is also radically changed, with the album mixed smooth and soulful while the Gaye version is funky. Motown's version may be a good album, but you can quickly hear why Gaye felt they hadn't released the album he recorded. Now you can hear both, the album you remember, and the album Gaye intended you to hear. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2007 redtunictroll at hotmail dot com].
A True Artistic Showcase
I couldn't find one with the original artwork, though there is one combined with Marvin's "Here, My Dear" , album. I've just completed the Marvin Gaye Biography "Divided Soul" by David Ritz, and had been searching for this CD for quite sometime. I didn't want that because I'm a collector in a sense. Upon reading about Marvin and in particular this recording it came to my attention that Marvin was very displeased with Motown for altering this album before release. Marvin was stated as saying Motown had unauthorized remixes of songs, left the question mark from the title's cover art. So, was getting worried because I want what Marvin went into the studio to record, not the record label's version of what they felt it should be, come on it's Marvin Gaye.
To my surprise I come across In Our Lifetime? with the question mark here at Amazon. So I'm intrigued now. Could this be the work Marvin labored on in the studio?
To my surprise this was a double disc "Loveman" Expanded Edition. Loverman being Marvin's original vision for a party recording that eventually turned into In Our Lifetime? due to his artistic creativity having the final say.
The reason I was so excited was because it was like purchasing three CD's plus extras because the original Motown release is included on Disc 1, while Disc 2 is the recording believed to be Marvin's original intent, with tracks from the Loveman session included. Both Discs have extras while Marvin grooves to the funk. These recording are very funky. I can actually hear a few of these tracks in my head being played on the radio.
"Heavy Love Affair" should be getting airplay today, it would be great to hear over the radio airwaves. Marvin takes on an approach of funkin' up the party at the same time hitting you upside your head with conscious messages and religious undertone. Not wanting to use the name of Jesus as he did on his great previous recording, "What Going On" due to his feeling it would hurt sales, you get an indication of the struggles he was having with drugs and self consciousness and his tumultuous relationship within his family surroundings. After the success of "What's Going On" it would be easy to draw a few of these conclusions.
This is almost a documentary album in a sense. The album was totally produced by Marvin Gaye and was his final Motown recording. There is lots of greatness in having the product, you hear that voice, hear the producer which is Marvin Gaye and you get a glimpse at what was on his mind at the time.
Stand out songs are, Nuclear Juice, Heavy Love Affair, Praise, Love Party and Life Id For Learning plus others.
I personally believe the recording should have made Disc 2 the first Disc simply because it is what Marvin submitted to the record label but there are no gripes with this wonderful set of songs. Being a Marvin Gaye fan can produce some biases but I am trying to steer clear, I genuinely love this collection, have trouble getting a few tunes out of my head, not that I'm trying, but it is actually worth a listen to fans and non fans alike.
Check it out and enjoy his genius. Great CD!!.
. You can see a complete list of all Marvin Gaye discography, or go back to the Marvin Gaye tabs
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