Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye - Diana & Marvin
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CD Details
Artist: Diana Ross, Marvin GayeEdition: Music CD
Format: Extra tracks, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2001-01-09
Music Label: Motown
Soundtracks:
- You Are Everything
- Love Twins
- Don't Knock My Love
- You're A Special Part Of Me
- Pledging My Love
- Just Say, Just Say
- Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)
- I'm Falling In Love With You
- My Mistake (Was To Love You)
- Include Me In Your Life
- Alone
- The Things I Will Not Miss
- I've Come To Love You So Much
- I'll Keep My Light In My Window
Music reviews of Diana & Marvin
Music Review: Two Soul Music Greats Captured Together
Rating: 3 Stars
Marvin Gaye vowed he would never record with another female singer after the tragic and untimely death of his one time singing partner, Tammi Terrell (who had tragically died of a brain tumour in 1970 and who incidentally was married to David Ruffin, one-time lead singer of The Temptations).
Marvin Gaye had also recorded with other of Motowns female singers during the 1960's such as Mary Wells and Kim Weston (on the classic It Takes Two). When Motown boss Berry Gordy suggested an album of duets with the queen of Motown, Diana Ross, he literally laughed at the idea and to say the least was reluctant to proceed. Gaye felt a certain amount of resentment towards Ross (as did most other Motown stars) as he (rightly) believed his own career had been put on the sideline in favour of hers by Berry Gordy. Gordy relentlessly pursued Gaye for the project with Ross, especially as Ross was so keen and eager to work with Gaye. Hesitantly, Gaye finally agreed on the condition he would have his name billed first on the album - he should have known better. There was no way in the world that Ross who was now settling down as a professional diva would allow her name to go second and without much persuasion, Gordy informed Gaye that the recordings would be billed under Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye.
The recording sessions for the Diana And Marvin album began in early 1973. Both of these fine talents were doing incredibly well that year. Diana Ross enjoyed a chart topper that year with the divine classic Touch Me In The Morning as well as enjoying cross-Atlantic Top 10 success with the following album of the same name. That year she was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her devastating, critically acclaimed performance as the tortured Jazz legend Billie Holiday in Lady Sings The Blues.
Meanwhile Marvin Gayes' recording career was simply going from strength to strength. Gaye had progressed from the formulaic sounds of Motown and had began writing and producing his own material that often offered profound political statements, exploring relevant social issues of the time as well as having a poignant, spiritual edge to much of his music. His album What's Going On (1971) was a pure masterpiece and no serious Soul music collection is complete without this! If anything, recording an album of light weight love duets was a mere side step for Gaye even though it was a big coup for Ross who had apparently expressed a keen desire to record with Gaye for some time.
Marvin Gaye may have been progressing with his wordly wise music but personally he was on a slippery slope having been caught up in the whirlwind of drugs. He had a regular cocaine habit at the time and heavily drank and smoked dope leading to him often suffering from acute paranoid delusions. Diana Ross was much more straight and so it was inevitable that these two diverse talents would clash during the recording sessions for the album.
During the sessions, Ross was pregnant with her second child and was naturally infuriated by Gaye excessivley smoking weed during the sessions. Gaye refused to budge! He saw Ross as being difficult and tempremental and if anything seemed to be amused by Ross being so aggriavated by him. Eventually the two stars recorded many of their vocals seperately, though you really can't detect that when you hear the magic of there two harmonies blending so fantastically together.
Diana And Marvin (1973) hosted a string of singles in the U.S the first being the dazzling, You're A Special Part Of Me. Both singers sound so perfectly compatable putting in solid, assertive performances. You're A Special Part Of Me, written by Gregory Wright and Harold Johnson and produced by Motown boss Berry Gordy, sailed into the U.S Top 20 Charts, stopping at No.12.
Another American single to be swiped from the album was the mid-tempo My Mistake Was To Love You. Contagious within its musical arrangements, the track also boasted strong performances from Ross and Gaye with Ross' refined vocal delivery blending wonderfully with Gayes' more aggressive and forceful performance. Produced by Hal Davis and written by Pam Sawyer and Gloria Jones, this aching ballad again cracked the American Top 20, peaking at No.19.
Their swinging, soft-Funk version of Wilson Picketts' Don't Knock My Love was the only real upbeat number on the album so it's a much welcome offering as there is a slight over-crowding of too many slushy ballads. Ross' upbeat voice gels well with Gayes' raw, earthy delivery. Produced by Hal Davis, Don't Knock My Love all the more surprisingly faltered within the U.S Top 50 stalling at No.46.
Pledging my Love was eventually issued as a single in the U.S in 1975. This way too syrupy number is a laborious and familiar ballad, written by Dan D. Robey and Fats Washington. Produced by Bob Gaudio, Pledging My Love failed to crack the Top 100 which was most likely down to a lack of promotion or quite possibly simply because of its almost banal medicrity.
For the British market two of the best tracks were lifted as singles that were both incidentally cover versions of songs origanally recorded by The Stylistics.
The first was the mesmerising You Are Everything. Now this is what you call an ultimate love duet that really hits the mark. From that glorious, exotic opening intro to the sexually charged performances from Ross and Gaye this timeless classic produced by Hal Davis raced flew into the Top 10 charts, landing at No.5.
The other U.K single Stop! Look! Listen, To Your Heart was less successful commercially, stopping at No.25. Still, it's a top notch ballad with two super fine performances from its stars as well as being aided by the excellent production skills of Hal Davis.
The remainder of the album is variable. Love Twins, a mid beat number, manages to stay afloat with easy-going performances from both stars. Surprisingly more lacklustre is the Ashford and Simpson produced Just say, Just Say. A slick, soulless number that doesn't quite reach its potential is all the more surprising by the fact that it was produced by the usually genius Ashford and Simpson who had made some of Diana Ross' most remarkable solo recordings (including the blockbuster, Ain't No Mountain High Enough).
Falling In Love With You is smacked with false sentiment and both performances are not ignited enough but far more compelling musically was the excellent, stirring soul ballad, Include Me In Your Life, which would have made an ideal choice for release as a single. This exalting ballad is enhanced by a nice, breathy, seamless performance from Ross who oozes soul against Gayes usual gritty vocal style.
Many cynics suggested that the album cover suggested an unamicable association with Ross and Gaye sitting back to back. An afro-wearing Ross has a beaming smile on her face in comparison to Gayes' more self-satisfied, dream-like expression on his face (probably as he was either stoned or high on coke).
When released in mid 1973, Diana and Marvin became a big seller and a classic. It glided into the American album charts at No.26 whilst it propelled in to the U.k Top 10, bouncing to No.6 and spending an impressive 43 weeks on the chart.
Ian Phillips
Description of Diana & Marvin
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