The first of three sets that compile
Marvin Gaye
's albums originally released on
Tamla
and
Motown
,
Volume One: 1961-1965
offers the singer's initial seven full-length recordings:
The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye
(1961),
That Stubborn Kinda' Fellow
(1962),
When I'm Alone I Cry
(1964),
Together
Hello Broadway
How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You
(1965), and
A Tribute to the Great Nat King Cole
(1965). During the era covered here,
Gaye
modeled himself after
Cole
, as a crooning balladeer, and conceded to label boss
Berry Gordy, Jr.
as a crossover R&B artist. The latter approach won out in decisive fashion, as
regularly entered the Top Ten of the R&B chart during this period, with "Pride and Joy," "Try It Baby," and a pair of
Wells
duets among the biggest early hits found on this anthology. (Additional 1963-1964 hits "Can I Get a Witness" and "You're a Wonderful One," originally included on
Greatest Hits
[1964], must be sought elsewhere.) Not one of the albums here is great enough to appeal to anyone other than a serious collector, but the set is handy and attractive, made with
/
UMe
's typical high level of care. The compact disc edition, packaged in a small box with each disc in an LP-replica sleeve, was sensibly priced upon release. (The 180-gram vinyl edition was much more expensive.) ~ Andy Kellman