eMusic Review 0
Over the course of Marvin Gaye’s career, he recorded stunning albums with an esteemed circle of leading ladies: Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross. In a perverse way, this baffling 1978 double-album works similarly, though instead of pantomimed affections, its engine was Gaye’s acrimonious divorce from Anna Gordy. Having lapsed on a series of alimony and child support payments, Gaye agreed to give Gordy half the proceeds of Here, My Dear—thus the title. Gaye toyed with the idea of sabotaging the album, as a way of spiting Gordy. Instead, he relived their break-up in excruciating, at times uncomfortable, detail. “This is what you wanted,” he seems to mock on the title track, its harmonies and strings feeling hollow and ironic beneath Gaye’s sarcastic accusations. He sings at half-strength, bitterly accusing Gordy of using their son as a way of keeping him “in line.” Even for an artist like Gaye, who had no problem wearing his emotions on his sleeve, Here, My Dear is wrenchingly personal. He describes the bounds of his frustration on the funky “Anger,” his words clashing with the smooth, controlled sound of his voice. “A Funky Space Reincarnation” is a masterpiece of cosmic funk, as… read more »
