The Best of Marvin Gaye (Motown Anthology Series) [IMPORT] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED]

Marvin Gaye

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 3, 1996)
• Original Release Date: August 22, 1995
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import, Original recording reissued
• Label: Universal Int'l
• ASIN: B000001A9C
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #34,020 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
Balancing raw power with shades of vulnerability, Gaye rose to the top of Motown's roster without the benefit of a supporting vocal group. Whether singing love songs or social commentary, Gaye's voice displays an earnestness and sincerity that are a soul singer's most potent weapons. Among these 47 hits are his memorable duets with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, and Tammi Terrell along with Motown staples such as "Can I Get a Witness," "How Sweet It Is," "Ain't That Peculiar," and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." This 2 CD set also covers socially conscious 1970s originals such as "What's Going On," "Mercy, Mercy Me," and "Inner City Blues." Only his last hit, "Sexual Healing," is left out. --Marc Greilsamer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Few did it as well, August 3, 1999

By	M. Salvati (Neshanic, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

With the exception of Frank Sinatra, Marvin Gaye is probably the greatest male singer of the 20th century. His greatest hits collected here can still charm a listener's ear. From soulful love ballads to socially conscious protest songs, Marvin always had the sweetest voice and the tightest harmonies. He could seduce with the best of them, but he never stopped evolving as an artist as this collection proves. There are great love songs like "How Sweet It Is", great protest songs "What's Going On", great spiritual songs "God Is Love", sexual come-ons "Let's Get It On" and "I Want You", and even a disco-funk number "Got To Give It Up", all displaying MArvin's wide range of talents. It's so sad that his life was cut short so tragically when he was on a comeback. We will never get to hear the wonderful music that he would have made. Every male r&b singer owes a debt to this great artist.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous Marvin, February 28, 2001

By	Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This Anthology of Marvin Gaye is a great retrospective of a brilliant career. The two disks are broken up in a way we hear the two distinct eras of his career. Disk one contains all his work from the 1960's including the amazing "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (his first number one hit) and other hits including "Stubborn Kind Of Fellow", "Pride & Joy", "Hitch Hike" and "Can I Get A Witness", his duets with Kim Weston and the late Tammi Terrill including "It Takes Two", "Your Precious Love" and "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You" and some lesser known gems like "Little Darlin'". During his time at Motown in the 60's, he was a typical Motown artist, recording the songs that were given to him and had no real creative control. In the 1970's he rebelled against this system and took control over his music with tremendous results. Disk two covers the 70's songs including the number songs "Let's Get It On" and "Got To Give It Up (Part 1)" and other classics like "What's Going On", "Inner City Blues", "Trouble Man" & "I Want You".

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nobody does it better, June 15, 2000

By A Customer

What can I say about this man? Although there are a lot of people who forgot what Marvin Gaye did, I found out last year and I listened to the box set all the time. I am 16 years old , mind you. Classic oldies, protest songs,sensual, and disco. Marvin could do everything. U can't compare him.

The way he lived, and everything that happened to him, should have brought him down, but eh got up and made wonderful music, that is still great.

The greatest songs here include: Pride and Joy, How sweet it is, it takes 2, ain't no mountain high enough, your precious love, ain't nothin' like the real thing, i heard it throught the grapevine.

on the 2nd set, what's going on, you're the man, let's get it on, come get to this, got to give it up. I've never heard of When did u stop loving me, and ego trippin' out, but I LOVED them. They were awesome.

It was a disappointment not to put Sexual Healing, but I think that is becuase it's Columbia, not Motown.