Amazon.com: Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye: 0793321505742: CDs & Vinyl (original) (raw)

An interesting album for Marvin Gaye diehard fans. Gaye's first album for Tamla, it shows him as a would-be ballad singer, along the lines of Nat King Cole or Billy Eckstine. As such, it includes mostly standards from the Great American Songbook: "My Funny Valentine," "Love For Sale," "How High The Moon," etc. Gaye himself is the drummer and pianist for the session, playing a very out-of-tune piano. (The guitarist is unknown, and seems to not understand how to play in a jazzy rhythm section.) The slower ballads are better than the up-tempo numbers. "Easy Living" is probably the highlight. The album also includes a few bonus tracks from Gaye's even earlier days performing with Harvey Fuqua and the Moonglows.

All in all, it's not a great album, but interesting to hear a very young Gaye as a fledgling ballad singer. He later got his wish, performing Great American Songbook songs on later albums like "When I'm Alone I Cry" and "A Tribute To The Great Nat King Cole," which are much better produced (Gaye was an established R&B star by this point).