Customer Reviews

Here, My Dear (Expanded Edition)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It is intimidating indeed reviewing Marvin Gaye's most personal musical statement and having anything new or original to add to what hasn't already been commented on over the years. I will confine my comments on the expanded edition of this reissued masterpiece to the presentation. The packaging is superb, complete with a mini gatefold cover opening to reveal the game board graphic, just like the original vinyl edition. There are bonus instrumental tracks including, A Funky Space Reincarnation, plus an entire bonus disc of "old-school" style remixes of the original Here My Dear sessions from 1976-78 by some of today's hottest young blood producers that are subtle, sensitive to the originals, and utilizing no overdubs or sampling. As well, this expanded set features two enlightening essays, one of which written by longtime Gaye biographer, David Ritz. Full lyrics and some fascinating background notes on how the cover art came about and some of the roadblocks Motown executives threw up at the time prior to its release, round off this reissued project.
Hip-o Select has really gone all out for this release and it is fully worth the cost. It's hard to imagine there are any more unreleased Marvin Gaye tracks left in the legendary Motown vaults, but here's hoping there are some extra Trouble Man sessions left and an expanded edition of that classic is in the works. This expanded edition of Here My Dear is a must have for any Marvin Gaye fan!

This is the best Marvin Gaye album ever. I discovered this cd 15 years ago and it is the prize of my collection. Over the years I have introduced so many people to ths cd and EVERYONE has loved it. Marvin trully shows his genious. And the true story behind this cd is that Marvin was going through a divorce with his 1st wife.. sister of Berry Gordy. And all of the proceeds would go to her as a settlement. Because Marvin did not want his ex-wife to get any money, his first inclination was to just do a crappy album so it wouldn't make in money. However, as he sat down to compose, he began to think about their relationship and all that they went through and decided that it was worth giving his best effort. The result is "Here, My Dear'. The album tells the story of their relationship from their 1st meeting to their final goodbye. Here, My Dear was before it's time and therefore was misunderstood. Mr. Gordy decided to shelve it. After Marvin died all the vultures came out to make money off of his name and talent. So they released it and it became a big hit. Any TRUE Marvin Gaye fan.. knows this story and knows that this is if not the best that Marvin ever released it is certainly in the top 3.

This is Marvin's best album...musically, lyrically(a. Expressing deep personal emotion or observations)and truthfully...anyone thats had a stormy romance will find alot to relate to on this album..anyone that thinks otherwise...either never suffered in a relationship or just got no SOUL !

This is his BEST album ever! He cohesively put all of his emotions about Anna and Janis into this record. While it is pretty evident that he was angry, sad, and frustated as a result of the divorce from Anna, he clearly maintained a positive outlook about his new found love with Janis- he even composed two tracks about her! The album takes you through his journey and the musicianship is mind-blowing. The alternate versions of a few tracks are BETTER than their original versions! This man was a true genius, and is without a doubt the King of R&B.

Marvin Gaye originally planned to make "Here, My Dear" as a poison pen letter to his soon to be ex-wife, Anna Gordy Gaye, who is also Berry Gordy's sister, so you can imagine that was a very interesting relationship between all 3 people, to say the least!! Despite the anger he felt towards Anna Gaye, he decided to make a quality album, which would show all the joys, sorrows, and pain he felt during his marriage to her. What emerges is something that is intense, awkward for all the honesty that he puts on the record, and touching, because despite the anger he felt towards Anna Gaye, he still loved her, but it was time to move on. Ironically, the person he got married to after divorcing Anna Gaye would soon divorce him within a few years afterwards.
And, everyone knows the awful fate that Marvin Gaye had when he was killed by his own Father on April 1, 1984.
The expanded edition of the album has other features that isn't on the original album, and actually adds more depth to and amazing piece of art and music. Worth the purchase to own.

You could categorize this as a 'tough' listen because the theme is heartbreak. But that doesn't take away from the fact that this is an amazing listen, especially the alternate version. I'm not going to get into the theme since it has been so adequately described in so many of the other reviews.

Gaye had this ability to take events happening to him and around him and shape them into classic soul songs and Here, My Dear is no exception. The music is downbeat but there is a general groove running the length of the album. And once you put it on it's really hard to turn it off.

What I'm trying to say is this is just as great as 'I Want You', Let's Get It On', and 'What's Going On'. So, if you have everything else you owe it to yourself to check this out.

A must for the fans. Peeling back the tracks to expose the harmonies is great. I don't have much to add that the other reviews haven't said, but I'll hit some high points:

The minimal, extended version of 'You can leave' is SOLID. Seriously. I think that the clarity of the drum track, complete with more cowbell, really brings the point home.

The way the drum track is introduced in the intro track is powerful, I was very happy with it and was also pleased to hear vocal nuances that cannot be heard in the final mix.

I'm sure that every person who is a fanatic for this album, much as I am, snapped it right up. I really want to suggest this album to newcomers of Marvin, not for his shallow ditties but for his soul and layered melodies.

This would be the "response" review for the single 1-star review this album has been given thus-far. I have *not* been a huge Marvin Gaye fan over the years. I acknowledge that several of his popular hits were good songs, but I've never owned an album. Until now. I heard "You can leave" on the radio last night (the DJ also indulged the audience with a brief description of the Gordy/Gaye separation and the circumstances surrounding this album). Needless to say, I downloaded it from amazon, and it is SUCH A SOLID ALBUM. Period. I am blown away by it, the lyrics, emotion, arrangements. It has been years since I've heard anything so tight. Both discs are worth the $.

Like anyone with half decent hearing I liked (and I say that as Luke warm as I possibly can) Marvin Gaye and his list of Top 100 hits known throughout this planet but I never actually took the time out to dig for his hidden gems as a "TRUE" fan would. I'm glad Motown or whomever put this Edition out. I had no idea Marvin ever made something so personal and timeless and I say timeless because his lyrics are so beautiful and current to what many people go through today when it comes to life and relationships... As for the remixed version I actually like some of the originals better and vice versa. At any rate the remixes did no harm. To make a long story short I went from liking Marvin to being absolutely in love with him. and I'm a man. Because of hearing this I now have to own everything Marvin has EVER recorded going all the way back to the Marquees.

PS- I love EVERY SINGLE track from top to bottom. It's a shame we can't keep talent like that here for forever...

I remember some of the words Marvin used to describe this set, and they weren't very poetic, nor were they accurate about the quality and caliber of material. I must say that however bitter he was when saying those words didn't reflect in the production whatsoever. This is one very personal, emotional streaming of beautiful, heartfelt outtake on the ballad of life at its darkest moment reflecting on things past, but forging a path toward a bright tomorrow.
I do highly recommend this 2-disc set, mainly because the greatest work (in my opinion) is in those rare, previously unheard tracks which finally get a chance to touch hearts and reignite dying flames.
One word of precaution to sellers of this set, and then to all discs not in hard plastic cases: Please, put extra protection in the packaging. The postal services don't always recognize the fragility of the cases, and discs can be damaged if something heavy is placed on top of them for an extended amount of time.