This Series of Post’s concerns in my Opinion The Best Bands/Artists of all time.
About 18 Month’s before Tammi Terrell‘s Death, in August of 1968, MG Released his First Solo Studio Album in around 2 Year’s, this was because if his Duet Work with Tammi Terrell.
The Album was called “In The Groove” the Best Selling Single on the Album was “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” so after this was a Big Hit, the Album Title was Changed to “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”
April 1969 saw another Album release, called MPG, this turned out to be, MG’s Best Selling Album of the 60’s and his First Solo Album to get into the Billboard’s Top 40!
It contained 2 Million Selling Singles, “Too Busy Thinking about My Baby” and “That’s The Way Love Is”
In January 1970 Tamla Records Released Marvin Gaye‘s 10th Solo Studio Album, called “That’s The Way love Is” and was Produced by Norman Whitfield, the Title Track was taken from the previous Album release and put together with some Cover Versions of other Motown and Pop Bands of the time, i.e The Temptations, Jimmy Ruffin and The Young Rascals.
The Best 2 tracks on the Album were, a Great Cover Version of The Beatles Hit, “Yesterday” and a Song that was Never Released in US but was a Number 9 Pop Hit In the UK “Abraham, Martin & John” this Song was a Tribute to the Memory of 3 Icons of Social Change from around this period, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King and John F Kennedy!
After Tammi Terrell’s Death in March of 1970, Marvin Gaye again suffered from Depression and Stage Fright, in fact it got as Bad as cancelling Shows etc which led to Marvin Gaye being Sued by various Venues for not turning up!
It was around this period that MG Co-Wrote “What’s Going On” with Obie Benson from the Four Tops and Al Cleveland.
It took up until June 1st 1970, before MG returned to work at Motown, he was Hoping to Record the Track (“What’s Going On”) as his new Single, the Song was based on MG’s Brother’s experience’s in the Vietnam War and it also concerned Police Brutality at a Anti-War Rally in San Francisco!
But Berry Gordy refused to Release it as a Single, stating it would have harmed MG’s image with the Record buying Public, because around this time MG was Regarded as a Sex Symbol, and this was an Anti Establishment Song!
Berry Gordy if even went as far as saying the Song was Rubbish!
This caused many Violent Arguments between them and MG Refused to Record for Motown again!
The Argument went on for several Months, until Berry Gordy finally gave in and the Song was Released on January 17th 1971, over One Year after it was Written.
Marvin Gaye was proved Right with “What’s Going On” Topping the R&B Charts for 5 Weeks and it was his Biggest Selling Single (to date) with over 2 Million Copies Sold!
On the back of the single’s Success, MG Recorded and Released his first Concept Album (of the same name) it contained tracks concerning Poverty, Taxes, Pollution and Drugs, this was something Different and New from Marvin Gaye!
The Album was released on May 21st 1971, it became a Million Seller and was MG’s First Crossover Album.
All the tracks were Segued Together, MG also for the first time, did 2 things differently, He moved away from the “Motown Sound” and never used any “Motown Producers”
All 3 Single Releases were Million Seller’s, “What’s Going On” Mercy Mercy Me and Inner City Blues, MG was the First Male Artist to have 3 Top 10 Hit Singles from one Album!
Marvin Gaye Won a few Awards around this period:
Album of the Year, “Male Singer of the Year” and Trendsetter of the Year!
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