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Question For Marvin Gaye Fans and Scholars-- ...
 
Got a conundrum here - Motown's now-deleted box set, "The Marvin Gaye Story" featured a selection of orchestral and big band standards Marvin had been working with off and on for more than a decade...after this box set was deleted, the suite of songs was later released as the single CD, "Vunerable" --problem is, some of the mixes are completely different from the ones in that box set release. The earlier box set versions had two completely different sets of Marvin's vocals-- Marvin's doing a sort of call and response with himself, using different vocal lines... The Vunerable mixes feature a more uniform set of vocals--he harmonizes with himself, but for most of the song, he doubles the same vocal. David Ritz did the liner notes for both, and in each, he claimed the same thing, that the vocals featured were the way Marvin had originally intended it- I was just wondering if there was a preferred version, since they're so different... was there ever an official Marvin-approved take ? As an example, I ripped my box set version of "Wish I Didn't Love You So" (I nicknamed it the 'alternate' version) to Youtube, to compare it with the version on 'Vunerable"--does anybody have a preference? Although I kinda like the box set version better, I'm wondering if those versions possibly got deleted because they used the wrong takes--I guess that's a question for somebody working the Motown vaults, 
Wish I Didn't Love You So - Box Set version Wish I Didn't Love You So - "Vulnerable" version ... [Edited 1/8/10 8:22am] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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moderatorHey pali...
That is a good question. I think Marvin did so many takes of songs especially the standards (there's like FOUR different versions of his 1979 take of "The Shadow of Your Smile"). I think Marvin never had chance to approve of what came because he was concerned fans wouldn't like the standards he was recording especially following his success in the '70s (and the tepid initial response of Here, My Dear). I would think if Marvin's family had any control, they probably allowed it because Marvin was always freestyling with his vocals (as you could hear in the alternate cuts of "Wish I Didn't Love You So" and "I Won't Cry Anymore"). But see this is what I love about Marvin because in the alternate cuts, he put his own biographical spin on it. He practically REWROTE "Wish I Didn't Love You So" and "I Won't Cry Anymore" to fit his own personal struggles. That's what you call a GENIUS! | |
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Timmy84 said: Hey pali...
That is a good question. I think Marvin did so many takes of songs especially the standards (there's like FOUR different versions of his 1979 take of "The Shadow of Your Smile"). I think Marvin never had chance to approve of what came because he was concerned fans wouldn't like the standards he was recording especially following his success in the '70s (and the tepid initial response of Here, My Dear). I would think if Marvin's family had any control, they probably allowed it because Marvin was always freestyling with his vocals (as you could hear in the alternate cuts of "Wish I Didn't Love You So" and "I Won't Cry Anymore"). But see this is what I love about Marvin because in the alternate cuts, he put his own biographical spin on it. He practically REWROTE "Wish I Didn't Love You So" and "I Won't Cry Anymore" to fit his own personal struggles. That's what you call a GENIUS! Yeah , I think that 's why I love the box set take--I can't think of anybody else who would've done something quite like that, certainly not with a standard.... ... " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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paligap said: Timmy84 said: Hey pali...
That is a good question. I think Marvin did so many takes of songs especially the standards (there's like FOUR different versions of his 1979 take of "The Shadow of Your Smile"). I think Marvin never had chance to approve of what came because he was concerned fans wouldn't like the standards he was recording especially following his success in the '70s (and the tepid initial response of Here, My Dear). I would think if Marvin's family had any control, they probably allowed it because Marvin was always freestyling with his vocals (as you could hear in the alternate cuts of "Wish I Didn't Love You So" and "I Won't Cry Anymore"). But see this is what I love about Marvin because in the alternate cuts, he put his own biographical spin on it. He practically REWROTE "Wish I Didn't Love You So" and "I Won't Cry Anymore" to fit his own personal struggles. That's what you call a GENIUS! Yeah , I think that 's why I love the box set take--I can't think of anybody else who would've done something quite like that, certainly not with a standard.... ... I agree. He turned the songs inside out. I was so shocked when he did "I Won't Cry Anymore" because he totally sung his lyrics!!! I was shocked and amazed at how he did that. Same with the demo to "Distant Lover".  | |
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paligap said: ...
Got a conundrum here - Motown's now-deleted box set, "The Marvin Gaye Story" featured a selection of orchestral and big band standards Marvin had been working with off and on for more than a decade...after this box set was deleted, the suite of songs was later released as the single CD, "Vunerable" --problem is, some of the mixes are completely different from the ones in that box set release. The earlier box set versions had two completely different sets of Marvin's vocals-- Marvin's doing a sort of call and response with himself, using different vocal lines... The Vunerable mixes feature a more uniform set of vocals--he harmonizes with himself, but for most of the song, he doubles the same vocal. David Ritz did the liner notes for both, and in each, he claimed the same thing, that the vocals featured were the way Marvin had originally intended it- I was just wondering if there was a preferred version, since they're so different... was there ever an official Marvin-approved take ? Wish I Didn't Love You So - Box Set version Wish I Didn't Love You So - "Vulnerable" version ... I don't have any secret inside info but i'm wondering if some label honcho decided to release a "cleaned up" version of these tracks. Personally, after a few listens, i'd prefer the "Box" version with a better vocal mix. More interesting things going with the additional vocals. The second version ends up sounding like the Muzak version of the first. This secondary/tertiary counterpoint vocal approach Marvin had going on was definitely taken to heart in one Lewis Taylor imo. Music for adventurous listeners tA  Tribal Records"Ya see, we're not interested in what you know...but what you are willing to learn. C'mon y'all." | |
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theAudience said: This secondary/tertiary counterpoint vocal approach Marvin had going on was definitely taken to heart in one Lewis Taylor imo.  Good point! Damn, I miss that dude!!! ( well, both, actually....)
... " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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Thanks for the trip. [Edited 1/8/10 19:05pm] | |
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