462 - Marvin Gaye - Here, My Dear

[csberry]

There's a great story for Here, My Dear. Here it is courtesy of allmusic.com:

During the amazing success of I Want You and his stellar Live at the London Palladium album, Marvin Gaye was served with divorce papers from his then-wife Anna Gordy Gaye (sister of Motown Records founder Berry Gordy). One of the conditions of the settlement was that Gordy Gaye would receive an extensive percentage of royalties as well as a portion of the advance for his next album. Initially, Gaye was contemplating giving less than his best effort, as he wouldn't stand to receive any money, but then reconsidered at the last moment. The result is a two-disc-long confessional on the deterioration of their marriage...

Isn't that a great story? Alas, I found actually listening to the album quite disappointing. It is a pretty good album, but there are several songs that seem to me to have been created when he was going to make a lackluster effort. I'm sorry, maybe I'm not getting the joke, but "A Funky Space Reincarnation" is downright painful for me to listen to. It encapsulates some of the cheesiest and lame tendencies of disco and funk. While I loved the first version of "When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You," I didn't understand why there was another version of it in the second half (no "Part 2" or other amended title) AND there was also a reprise version that closed up the album.

Songs I knew I liked: None

Songs I didn't know but now like: "When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You" (first version), "Here, My Dear," and "Is That Enough"

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: "A Funky Space Reincarnation," "Sparrow," and "Anna's Song" really grated on my nerves.