#493 Marvin Gaye, 'Here, My Dear' (1978)

Previously #456

In 1975, Marvin Gaye’s wife, Anna Gordy Gaye, filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences (he had had a baby with a 17 year old woman on the side, and then another baby with the same woman a few years later). Due to his over the top spending, Gaye fell behind on alimony and child support. Gaye’s lawyer suggested that he pay her $600,000 – half of which would come from the advance from his next Motown record, and the other half coming from the album’s royalties. Gaye agreed immediately went to work on his “divorce” record, which became the only double record in his career, ‘Here My Dear.’

The result was a raw and emotional open latter that goes through all the emotions from nostalgia to regret to anger and of course the big questions of life – “Why do I have to pay attorney fees?” Gaye’s voice sounds amazing on this record. His signature falsetto is astounding. This record is a journey. A real unique and bizarre journey. Surely there’s no other record like it. Two other things to note – his ex-wife was the sister of Berry Gordy, the head of Motown. That would make meetings with the label awkward. And secondly, he dedicates the final track, ‘Falling In Love Again’ to his young concubine, which is both ironic and fitting as he landed up divorcing her a couple of years later.

#rs500albums