Marvin Gaye always dreamed of being a smooth crooner, "sitting on a stool, possibly behind a piano," delivering velvety songs like Nat King Cole. But Motown had other plans. Pushed between raw R&B and polished pop, Gaye fought to find his own voice, eventually rising to become one of the greatest soul singers in history.
Motown Records released the first Marvin Gaye record in 1961 "(I'm Afraid) The Masquerade Is Over", a single intended for (radio) promotion from the singer's debut album. This was followed up by the officially released "Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide" a week later. Gaye scored his first real hit with "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" in 1962, which he had co-written himself, joking about his alleged stubbornness. He found his own unique style with the single released at the end of the year: "Hitch Hike".
Track Listing
Disc 1
1. (I'm Afraid) the Masquerade Is Over
2. Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide
3. Hitch Hike
4. Pride and Joy
5. Can I Get a Witness
6. Once Upon a Time (With Mary Wells)
7. Stubborn Kind of Fellow
8. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
9. It Takes Two (With Kim Weston)
10. I'll Be Doggone
11. Ain't That Peculiar
12. Ain't No Mountain High Enough (With Tammi Terrell)
13. I Heard It Through the Grapevine
14. Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing (With Tammi Terrell)
15. You're All I Need to Get By (With Tammi Terrell)
16. Too Busy Thinking About My Baby
Disc 2
1. What's Going on
2. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
3. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
4. Trouble Man
5. Let's Get It on
6. You Are Everything (With Diana Ross)
7. Distant Lover
8. I Want You
9. Got to Give It Up
10. Heavy Love Affair
11. Sexual Healing
12. Sanctified Lady
