JayCrawford said:

Now as we all know throughout the 1960s - 1970s Marvin Gaye was dominating the world of music with successful singles and albums. Especially the 70s his peak but he had his own demons unfortunately. Throughout the early 80s he was somewhat in his "comeback" phase. Sexual healing was a successful single, Midnight Love album was a success, he was nominated for a few Grammy's for that album, he performed at the National Anthem, performed at Motown 25, throughout the early 80s he was doing well. Now my question is this. How do you think his career would have turned out if he didn't die in 84?

Well, it's hard to say since his demons (depression, drugs) were back in his life even though he had the comeback. If he could keep it together he would have released two more albums similar to "Midnight Love" as per his contract. I also think it's likely he would have done a duets album and another album of Sinatra-like stuff. I don't think he would have needed another comeback and would settle into an album every three years mode. Surely, he would have created more classics

Its hard to say with anyone that was taken would they would have done. Like its been said MARVIN had a lot of other things going on when he was killed. So would he have hit bottom and cleaned up and done something like Lionel Richie was doing, would him and Diana have done some more duets? Would him and MJ done something, but also its interesting when we take their death out of the equations how a lot of the future does not happen.

I think he died at his peak. "Sexual Healing" sounded so modern and became a template for soul music, IMO.

I also think he could have recorded some persuasively political music throughout the eighties.

He could have squeezed out some dance hits. Most of those Motown artists still sounded great in the 1990s but were less active.

RJOrion said:

I think his career would have faded out with time, just like everyone else who ages with the years.

We don't know. He died.

TrivialPursuit said:

alphastreet said:

JayCrawford said:

alphastreet said:

Uh, he had a HUGE hit with Sexual Healing right before he died... If he had been able to stay off drugs, no doubt he would have continued with his career renaissance as Tina Turner did.

paisleypark4 said:

JayCrawford said:

RODSERLING said:

He would have been produced by Prince.

I don't think so, didn't Prince treat his daughter kind of crappy?

RODSERLING said:

He would have been produced by Prince.

nah, maybe Rick James since they shared Jan Gaye's coochie .... Prince wouldnt have gone for all that weed smokin and crack smokin at Paisley Park...but Rick wouldve had no problems with that...at all...plus Rick LOVED them detroit Motown cats...ask the Temptations

paisleypark4 said:

purplethunder3121 said:

Uh, he had a HUGE hit with Sexual Healing right before he died...

Sanctified Lady was a R&B hit. I still hear it occasionally on the local soul oldies station

MickyDolenz said:

Gladys and Stevie still scored hits... I don't think it is such a stretch to say Marvin would have thrived. I love his later stuff.

Cinny said:

JayCrawford said:

Cinny said:

Gladys and Stevie still scored hits... I don't think it is such a stretch to say Marvin would have thrived. I love his later stuff.

True but Stevie's best work are mostly from the 70s though

That's more if you prefer 70s R&B to 80s R&B. I think Marvin showed with "Sexual Healing" that he had not only adapted but made the blueprint for the 80s R&B sound. He could have worked that all kinds of ways.

Man oh man there is just no telling. What a life. What a tortured soul. He hit some astounding highs and lows. I can't help thinking about his Sexual Healing Tour, when he had a hotel suite, with the dope man on one side and the preacher on the other. It's reported he would do a hit of the blow, then go back and forth seeking redemption, salvation.

Someone would've had to drag him out of his parents' house and forced him to clean up. The amount of drugs he was doing would've done him in eventually. That said, I think he could've put out a lot more great stuff in the Midnight Love vibe. "Sanctified Pussy" would've been a great followup/lead in to his next album. Divided Soul, much like the book of the same name, would've been a great possible album title as well. Maybe, just maybe The Ballads would have come out in the 1980s as well. Such possibilities...