I got this in the mail yesterday, Marvin's 1978 "divorce album". I've always loved this album. I consider it the equal to his masterpieces - What's Going On, Let's Get It On and I Want You.

The album has been reissued by Universal/Hip-O-Select as a double CD. It features a remastered version of the original album, with another CD of outtakes, instrumentals and alternative takes.

It's an absolutely essential purchase, I reckon,not only for Marvin fans, but also for all of you out there who are into soul music.

I got into Marvin after my mother took me to see him at the Royal Albert Hall in 1981. That was a great gig. I watched my mother - a church-going, normally quite reserved Jamaican lady - turn back the years and behave exactly like a teeny bopper. At one point she screamed out "I love you Marvin!". He heard her and said "I love you too, baby". She fainted! I kid you not.

Anyway, it took me a few years to find Here, My Dear on vinyl in the 1980s. It had been deleted. It had flopped upon initial release. This wasn't the Marvin people wanted - airing his dirty laundry in public, kissing and telling, naming names. It was so intimate, so personal, it was uncomfortable. Sure, you could dance to it, but then the highly personal lyrics would take your feet away. It was shoegazer soul, if you will. Soul for Joy Division fans.

I finally bought a copy second hand in 1987. The guy who sold it to me told me it was a masterpiece. and he was right.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008-01-25 13:06 by Nikolai.

Have all his albums he s one of the best

Yeah, great album. It's dark soul though as you point out. Almost like listening to a confession from a patient on the psychiatrist's couch - only the patient happens to be one of the greatest soul singers of all time.

''Anger'' is my fav song of that album

Marvin with Dutch girlfriend

nikolai wrote
I got into Marvin after my mother took me to see him at the Royal Albert Hall in 1981. That was a great gig. I watched my mother - a church-going, normally quite reserved Jamaican lady - turn back the years and behave exactly like a teeny bopper. At one point she screamed out "I love you Marvin!". He heard her and said "I love you too, baby". She fainted! I kid you not.

good for you and your mom too!

thanks for the tip - Hip O Select is one of the better series out there in addition to the Rhino catalog. I got the Robbie Robertson double disc - very nice job.

link to the Marvin cd
[www.hip-oselect.com]

Loved the story about your mum. LOL...Marvin was the guv'nor. No soul singer has come close since.

I also think it's one of Marvin's best albums. Unaware it had been given the expanded treatment, but I'll have to get it

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rooster

Trouble Man's good, but the best one is David Ritz's Divided Soul. Marvin authorised that warts and all portrait before his death and gave numerous interviews to Ritz for the book.

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john r
I also think it's one of Marvin's best albums. Unaware it had been given the expanded treatment, but I'll have to get it

The extra material is very interesting. The outtakes and alternative versions have been remixed by the likes of Bootsy Collins, Easy Mo Nee, Prince Paul and ?uestlove of The Roots, BUTthere are no overdubs or samples, they've basically cleaned up the existing tapes. So, don't worry, you won't hear Jay Z or Beyonce duetting with Marvin on here a la those last two Sinatra albums. Thank Christ!

The stand-outs here an expanded mix of Time To Get It Together (sample lyric: Blowin' coke all up my nose/Gettin' in and out of my clothes/Foolin' round with midnight ho's), which reveals it as the dancefloor stomper it always was and a great extended mix of A Funky pace Reincarnation.

Yeah Nikolai i really wanna read divided soul...great thread!

ROCKMAN

Thanks Rockman! great!

Don't mention it man....It's a breeze....



ROCKMAN

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rooster
Yeah Nikolai i really wanna read divided soul...great thread!

Fantastic book. It's a good read even if you're NOT a fan. Absolutely essential if you are.

I will read that book!! Btw this is a fav album of mine..i still cant believe how good and wonderfull ...it is to me a lament ,a sensation..it aged very well...this deluxe version is even more special...it has the only''whats going on'' live performance!! go get it today!

Marvin on the far right

Great photos, Rooster and Rockman.

Rooster have you noticed any substantial differences in the original Detroit Mix of What's Going On? Apart from the switched intro, from beginning to end of the opening song, and the slightly "dryer" feel of the original mix. I prefer the familiar version.

Secondly, in that Berry Gordy/Motown special, Marvin was coked out of his gourd. That's why he wore dark glasses.

And thirdly, want to know where those boots Elton John wore in the Pinball Wizard sequence of Tommy came from ....





Cocaine's a helluva drug.

The coolest motown artist by far