“This album changed my outlook on musicians and expressiveness. Marvin needed the tragic circumstances in his personal life, in order to give us Marvin.”

One of the main “albums that made me” is none other than Brother Marvin Pentz Gaye’s “Here, My Dear.” Aside from it being friggin’ genius (mainly because it was one of the albums he claimed to have just “thrown together” in order to make payments for his ex-wife’s divorce settlements), it was the history behind the making of this album that fascinated me so much…in tandem with the musical genius that Marvin was truly oblivious to.

A close friend of mine introduced me to this album back in high school (I think, maybe early college). I remember hearing of Marvin’s “assassination” by his father back in 1984, and that news really disturbed me for months, though I was but a kid. The thought of your own father choosing to do such an act totally baffled me, and hurt my feelings, deep! Anyway, I’d heard songs by Marvin over the years, but never indulged in his catalogue. As I got older, and started really enjoying his vocal choices, range, abilities, music, and then his history, I was hooked!

Then this album came along, and my friend shared the history of the album, which again is still so fascinating to me. As you listen to the tracks, there is no way someone could just “go in the studio and sing” without written thoughts, lyrics, ideas, and create such a masterpiece as this! Maybe geniuses can and do!

Oh, Them Songs…

This album...ohhhhhh, this here album! I love it because it is one of those albums that tells a story, in order, from beginning to end, track by track. Marvin so gently explains in the title/intro track who he’s creating this album for, how he felt about it, and why:

“I guess I’ll have to say this album is...dedicated to you...although, perhaps, I may not be happy. This is what you want, so I’ve conceded. I hope it makes you happy. There’s a lot of truth in it, baby.”

I mean, c’mon! And the way he kinda drags his words a little over the music, very nonchalant and in a “You win, I lose” manner. Then he finishes with, “Here, my dear, here it is.” Almost sarcastically, calling her “dear” throughout. It’s so Marvin!

The song “Here, My Dear” then goes directly into the next track, “I Met a Little Girl,” which is the first line of the song, as well as its title. He commences to explain the whole story between the two of them. Such a beautifully musical autobiography!

Then, the following tracks and their titles: “When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You,” “Anger,” followed by “Is That Enough,” “Time to Get It Together,” and many more. There’s even a track titled after his first wife’s name…“Anna’s Song.”

Tragically Genius…

By the end of this album, you don’t know whether to laugh, cry, dance, groove, repeat a track to hear exactly what he's saying, close your eyes and picture the scenes he sings, feel sorry for the both of them…or what! Emotions run rampant and all over the place throughout the duration of this album right here! And it’s beautiful, and so Marvin. However, it’s not your commonly known “Sexual Healing” or “I Want You”…mannish Marvin. It’s all about the human-side, the struggling, internally tortured, relationship turmoiled, everyday, similar to a close relative of your own, Marvin. And it’s beautifully beautiful. 😍

I fell into the “I LOVE MARVIN” hole after the introduction of this album. I wanted…no, needed…to hear more, know more, feel more, explore more of Marvin himself, as well as his music. He left too soon, in my youthful eyes. And I didn’t know he'd done so much more than what the radio stations aired. His gamut of styles, music, skills, abilities, genres, co-workers, even instruments he played! (Did you know he wanted to be a professional drummer…and was fantastically great at it? He was even a fantastic basketball player (like our beloved Genius, PRINCE!)

Marvin really was genius, yet human, internally tortured. (With early beginnings of torture being mentally, physically, emotionally, verbally, and psychologically imposed upon him by the very man who took his life!) I may be just as fascinated with the man as I am with his music, which he created through one of his best methods for releasing inexplicable emotions and expressing his gifted genius.

The Art That Life Creates…

Soooooo...this “Here, My Dear” album also changed my outlook on musicians as a whole. It opened my eyes to KNOW that we all have a separate, personal side from what the world sees—but it is that personal side that helps us create and express ourselves, through music, art, etc. Marvin may have needed such circumstances in order to give us Marvin. (Just as Mike Tyson needed his upbringing in order to give the world “Iron Mike.” Just as Richard Pryor needed to grow up in a brothel in order to be “Richard the Comedian.”)

Delving deeper into the history and autobiography of artists, entertainers, musicians, and even family and friends can help us (or me, at the least) be more OPEN, SENSITIVE, and GIVING to others, including Marvin. It makes “loving someone” easier, maybe...

This album came to me at a time when I needed it most. It helped shape my humanhood, youthfulness, and growth. It helped make me...ME! 😬

Thanks, Brother Marvin! Your music lives on....

A Little Something Extra…

Wanna hear more rare Marvin? Romantically Yours—released in 1985, one year after Marvin’s untimely death—is a truly beautiful album on which he lends his soulful stylings to traditional pop and vocal jazz tunes. Here, the lush arrangements are similar to the style of a Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, or Johnny Mathis.

(Maybe we’ll get a proper review of this album in The Lounge. For now, just go check it out on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube…you’ll not be disappointed!)

Marvin’s musical talents, tastes, and aspirations were truly diverse. He wanted to do more classical, jazzy-style songs and albums, such as this one. But his producers “needed” him to “remain true” to his R&B roots and fans. Romantically Yours is a collection of songs Marvin had recorded in the ’60s and ’70s, but were never released while he was alive. Who knows what other great music we’d have been blessed with had Marvin’s prodigious talent been given the opportunity to fully spread its wings.

“Sing, little sparrow, sing…”

(From the song “Sparrow,” on the album Here, My Dear)