Leon Ware is a very talented songwriter/producer who did alot of work on Marvin Gaye's 1976 album 'I Want You'.Originally, many of the tunes on that album were supposed to be for his own album,but at the request of Berry Gordy,he gave the tracks to Marvin.So Ware went back into the studio and recorded his own album,titled 'Musical Massage'.It was released later in 1976,but it wasn't very successful.Reportedly,when Gordy heard 'Musical Massage',he once again asked Ware if he could give this project to Gaye as a follow-up to 'I Want You'.This time,Ware said "no way"...lol...


I'm curious about this album.Has anyone heard it? It recently made it's CD debut and there are even a few bonus tracks.Is it worth buying? I've heard some people say that this is a "lost classic" that never got the recognition it deserved.
[Edited 12/13/04 6:21am]

whoa,i didnt evenknow Leon had put a album out in 76 lol..shit, imean im deep and esoteric,. but shit, thats a deeep one,..hmmmmm

TheRealFiness said:

and you're supposed to be the 70s music expert on this site?

btw,did you see the album cover?? VERY Ohio-Players-influenced (lol)

I have the original album and the Cd reissue! I like it, but I have to say it was kind of a disappointment(IMO)compared to "I Want You"(though it does have a similar sound), but it's probably not fair to compare him to Marvin, anyway...I love his music, but I think his songs always sound better when other people do them: Marvin doing his "I Want You" suite, Minnie Riperton singing, "Inside my Love", Quincy Jones (and Average White Band's)versions of "If I Ever Lose this Heaven" (Quincy's ftrng. Leon, Minnie and Al Jarreau), Donnie Hathaway's version of "I know It's You" , etc...

Incidentally, Marvin does backing vocals on two of the tracks on " Musical Massage"...that alone makes it a collector's item...Cool album...but I kinda wish that Leon had let Gordy give this one to Marvin , too. He had a way of taking other people music and reshaping it into something extra special...




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[Edited 12/13/04 8:19am]

DavidEye said:

aww shit, man.. im allowed to miss a few

This album is definitely worth it.

What I really like about this cd reissue is that
the bonus tracks include songs that ended up on
"I want you" but in Leon Wares versions.
It's intresting hearing the original versions of
"I wanna be where you are" & "Come live with me angel".
/peace Manki

Buy this album. If you like good quality soul music then you won't regret it.
Highly recommended

paligap said:

Hey thanks for the info.I'm definitley gonna pick this up! And thanks for posting the album cover

And thanks to Manki,chickengrease and funkymf