Album of the week-Here, My Dear
A man from Chicago once said "Fuck Bob Dylan" but even he would have a hard time making a solid argument that Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan isnt one of the best angry break up albums of all time. It finds Dylan throwing intellectual shrouds over his real feelings to cover them up while they shine right through.
Recently I found an album just as good. In 1978 it was released as part of the divorce settlement. Its earnings were to go to Anna Gordy the ex-wife to Marvin Gaye to pay her off. The very first line is "I guess i'll have to say this album is dedicated to you although perhaps I may not be happy, this is what you want so I've conceded." There might not be an album as raw as this one, the first song contains the same passive agressive seething insecurity that the rest of the album does. Marvin Gaye is at points smart enough to stand back and ask her to appreciate the good times but ultimately he can't get away from the hard truth and so he lashes out.
Some of the song titles should be an indicator, the first is Here, my dear the second I MET A LITTLE GIRL third WHEN DID YOU STOP LOVING ME, WHEN DID I STOP LOVING YOU fourth up ANGER fifth IS THAT ENOUGH? There is a song on here called You can leave but its going to cost you! Unlike Dylan he doesn't take the time out to throw up fictional scenarios and mix them in with his story to water down the concentrate. This is more raw then anything Eminem will ever do, this is all for her.
The majority of the songs on this album are more then five minutes why is that?
Too long for general radio rotation to ensure the album won't be a hit and Anna won't get too much. The album is a long slow swear word to Anna sung beautifully.
The sonics of this album continue the legacy of Marvin that ability to create songs that flow into each other effortlessly and create a mood, a tone that is his and his alone. He can create a song so smooth that you forget he is singing you the question how can I pay my lawyer fees?
Of course the album failed, it was his lowest selling album of the seventies and critics panned it...called it weird. Oddly enough over the years of all these desperate music publications putting together lists of their favorite this and that the album rose in popularity. It landed on Rolling Stones top 500 albums of all time list but honestly that list is less valuable to me then a not of hot steamy sex with Paul Giamatti. Its not the best at anything, if you only can buy one Marvin Gaye album its not this one but if you like soul you have to love this. It has enough to last anyone a long time.
He wanted to pull it and I'm sure if you could talk to the spirit of Marvin Gaye he would hate this album. It captures that moment when your cool friend comes over drunk and tells you a bunch of wild personal shit you couldn't have even made up. You both feel bad hearing it but those conversations define us, only a handful of artists are willing to have that conversation with the audience through their music.
Check it out.
Recently I found an album just as good. In 1978 it was released as part of the divorce settlement. Its earnings were to go to Anna Gordy the ex-wife to Marvin Gaye to pay her off. The very first line is "I guess i'll have to say this album is dedicated to you although perhaps I may not be happy, this is what you want so I've conceded." There might not be an album as raw as this one, the first song contains the same passive agressive seething insecurity that the rest of the album does. Marvin Gaye is at points smart enough to stand back and ask her to appreciate the good times but ultimately he can't get away from the hard truth and so he lashes out.
Some of the song titles should be an indicator, the first is Here, my dear the second I MET A LITTLE GIRL third WHEN DID YOU STOP LOVING ME, WHEN DID I STOP LOVING YOU fourth up ANGER fifth IS THAT ENOUGH? There is a song on here called You can leave but its going to cost you! Unlike Dylan he doesn't take the time out to throw up fictional scenarios and mix them in with his story to water down the concentrate. This is more raw then anything Eminem will ever do, this is all for her.
The majority of the songs on this album are more then five minutes why is that?
Too long for general radio rotation to ensure the album won't be a hit and Anna won't get too much. The album is a long slow swear word to Anna sung beautifully.
The sonics of this album continue the legacy of Marvin that ability to create songs that flow into each other effortlessly and create a mood, a tone that is his and his alone. He can create a song so smooth that you forget he is singing you the question how can I pay my lawyer fees?
Of course the album failed, it was his lowest selling album of the seventies and critics panned it...called it weird. Oddly enough over the years of all these desperate music publications putting together lists of their favorite this and that the album rose in popularity. It landed on Rolling Stones top 500 albums of all time list but honestly that list is less valuable to me then a not of hot steamy sex with Paul Giamatti. Its not the best at anything, if you only can buy one Marvin Gaye album its not this one but if you like soul you have to love this. It has enough to last anyone a long time.
He wanted to pull it and I'm sure if you could talk to the spirit of Marvin Gaye he would hate this album. It captures that moment when your cool friend comes over drunk and tells you a bunch of wild personal shit you couldn't have even made up. You both feel bad hearing it but those conversations define us, only a handful of artists are willing to have that conversation with the audience through their music.
Check it out.
posted by veritas2 at
3:39 PM
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