Marvin Gaye: The Real Thing, In Performance 1964-1981 (1981) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)What caught my eye first was the packaging! Pictures of various promotional posters and such line the inner cover and the liner booklet is most informative and extensive! A Forward written by Otis Williams of the Temptations is Otis' fond memories of Marvin. He mentions sitting at the piano with Marvin while Marvin plays with some jazz chords, asking Otis what the root note of each one is. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall to catch that memory!
Watching Marvin's performances from the 60s to the early 80s gave me a new light on the hits! Most was lip-synched, but still just to see him on stage is a treat! There is a video of Marvin singing GRAPEVINE, playing piano at one point, and towards the end he was given a false ending, but he WORKED IT! Marvin and Tammi's duet AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH I have never seen in its entirety and just watching that chemistry was awesome!
Now as for the 70s Marvin, two videos were included: WHAT'S GOING ON/WHAT'S HAPPENING BROTHER, which were taken from the SAVE THE CHILDREN movie. You can see Earl Van Dyke, James Jamerson, and Eddie Bongo jammin'! There is also a promotional video from Motown for A FUNKY SPACE REINCARNATION...very space age! Imagine Marvin in a glitter outfit with his band, smoke and female dancers flocking all around him! There is also COME GET TO THIS/LET'S GET IT ON where he does his famous "turn of the lights" monologue. His guitarist was shown and I believe he played on the 1980 LIVE IN MONTREUX DVD as well! Then there's the EGO TRIPPIN' OUT video he did on Dinah Shore's show with yet another female dancer. The single was included on 81's IN OUR LIFETIME LP, but apparently it was being promoted in 1979 for the LOVE MAN album, which never saw the light.
1981's highlight for me was HEAVY LOVE AFFAIR on FOLLLIES, a show out of Belgium where Marvin was living at the time. I had to pull out my LP after listening to it as I had forgotten how funky this song is! HEAVY (once again talks about him and Jan) has always reminded me of Rick James, everything from the music down to the phrasing of the lyrics!
Even added treats: in between songs, Marvin spoke about his life and his music, even at one point describing seeing his daughter Nona being born! There is also an acapella section where you watch the videos while listening only to his vocal track of 7 of his 60s hits!
Still a great DVD to own, although the IMPORT version has the entire Belgium concert (why must we Americans SUFFER!?!?!?!?!?)!
Reelin' and Universal...can't wait for the Temptations DVD! And PLEASE release the Belgium concert for us!!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Marvin Gaye: The Real Thing, In Performance 1964-1981 (1981)

Click here for more information about Marvin Gaye: The Real Thing, In Performance 1964-1981 (1981)