Marvin Gaye: That's The Way Love Is - 1970
An increasingly-disillusioned Marvin Gaye somehow managed to cobble together an album here, despite his gripes with Motown's hierarchy and also with many things going on in the world (enough to make him ask what indeed was going on a year later).
The album was mainly a collection of covers of songs previously recorded by other Motown artists (something that was quite common at Motown was song-sharing) and, Heaven help us all - a Beatles cover (something that was also common on Motown albums). The problem is for Marvin on this album is that, although his versions are ok, it is the originals that mainly win out, for me.
Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got is his version of the song made a hit by Jimmy Ruffin. It is much, much slower than Ruffin's and, for me, much the inferior. It still has an appeal, but when you are so familiar with another version, you tend to stick with that one. Well I do, anyway.
Oh dear. A cover of Yesterday. Completely unnecessary. That said, Marvin's interpretation of it is a fine, soulful one. Groovin' was another cover, this time of a Young Rascals number. It has an immaculately (and suitably) groovy backing that actually improves on the original, considerably. It's a great cover and Marvin's voice is top notch.
Could Marvin outdo David Ruffin on I Wish It Would Rain, the Temptations classic? well, the song gets the buzzy psychedelic soul treatment, which gives the song a different feel, but in making it a grinding growler, much of the song's intrinsic soul gets lost. So, it's David all the way for me.
That's The Way Love Is had been covered by both The Isley Brothers and Gladys Knight & The Pips, but it is Marvin's version that is the definitive version, being a masterpiece of rhythmic soul-funk. It had also appeared on the previous album, M. P. G. I'm not sure why it was re-cycled on here. How Can I Forget is an early funker for Marvin Gaye. The song, like I Wish It Would Rain, has strong hints of psychedelic soul in the guitar work.
Abraham, Martin & John had been originally done, in somewhat perplexing uptempo fashion for such a moving song, by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. It was not released as a single in the US, for some reason, but was a big hit in the UK. I have always loved it. It is an emotive tribute to Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy, of course.
Gonna Keep On Tryin' Till I Win Your Love had been done by Edwin Starr and Jimmy Ruffin. Although Marvin's version is solid, once again I prefer Jimmy's. No Time For Tears was an old Marvelettes tune.
Cloud Nine is another fuzzy, psychedelic take on a Temptations song. The song has kept its initial intoxicating rhythm. Marvin's version certainly is strong, but the original is still the greatest. It is sort of done just a bit too fast, losing some of the had-hitting nature of the lyrics. Don't You Miss Me A Little Bit Baby was yet another Jimmy Ruffin number. and it makes for a hat trick of "Jimmy's version is better" declarations from me. So Long is one of the album's original numbers and a good one it is too - a bass and drum-driven solidly upbeat offering that ends the album in fine, lively style.
Look, this album is undoubtedly a good listen, and an enjoyable one, with a great bassy stereo sound, but it is mainly an album of covers of dongs better-known by others, something that always hangs over it somewhat.
