Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell: Easy - 1969

This history of this album, released about seven months before Terrells death, is a confusing one. Marvin Gaye claimed the female vocals parts were sung by Valerie Simpson, something Simpson has always strenuously denied. I guess we'll never know, will we?

Why was it Motown insisted on these dubious quality watercolour covers? The Four Tops were particular victims of this - Reach Out, Yesterday's Dreams - surely a photo of Marvin and Tammi, of which there were many, would have been preferable?

Anyway, Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson were writing most of the songs for Marvin and Tammi - whether Valerie sang on them or not - and Good Lovin' Ain't Easy To Come By is one of the best of them to begin the album with. The songwriting pair's output was always top quality, as indeed was Marvin and Tammi's - they merged so well together, vocally. Tammi's tragically premature death was so sad. 

California Soul is just a great song - also covered by The Undisputed Truth. Marvin and Tammi tear it up once again here and the song just bristles and drips with a hot, summery, atmospheric soul sound. It is just so early/mid-seventies. When I hear it, it always brings to mind gritty cop shows or movies from the era. 

Love Woke Me Up This Morning is a slow, Burt Bacharach-influenced ballad. This is one of the songs that just may have been Simpson, but the accent is very Tammi. This Poor Heart Of Mine is catchy, melodic and typically Marvin and Tammi, for sure, and could easily have been a big hit single. It's a good one. 

I am more familiar with I'm Your Puppet from James and Bobby Purify's mid-seventies hit. Marvin and Tammi's version has one beautiful bassline and their voices are sweet in their combination. The song suits them down to the ground, but I'm just so used to the one I've known for all these years. 

The Onion Song is lyrically goofy, even faintly ludicrous, but Marvin and Tammi attack it with such verve and energy that it's pretty much irresistible. I've heard it so many times, though, that it is like an old piece of furniture. The world is just a great big onion, indeed.

What You Gave Me is a nicely, swinging, beautifully catchy number with the two voices sounding particularly soulful. To me, Tammi sounds just like Tammi, not anyone else. It's sure it's her. It just is. Her accent, her nuances, everything.

Baby I Need Your Loving is a cover of The Four Tops first big hit. Now, on this one, Tammi's accent is most pronounced. Could this have been Valerie trying too hard? Possibly. Either way, the cover is solid enough. This pair (whichever pair) could sing the telephone book and it would sound good. 

I Can't Believe You Love Me, with its bassline straight out of The Temptations' My Girl, was a 1965 single for Tammi in her own right. The duet version is superior. 

How You Gonna Keep It (After You Get It) is a sensual, soulful slower number that chugs along solidly. Once more the vocal "knitting" together is close to perfection. It has a lovely, deep and warm bassline too. More, More, More is a slightly dated-sound ballad, with and early sixties feel to it. 

Finally, just get a load of that booming bassline on the industrial strength soul of Satisfied Feelin'.

Good album. It's simply quality throughout. A genuine hidden gem of a Motown album. I would say that, though, as a confirmed Marvin and Tammi fan.