On April 2, iconic singer/songwriter Marvin Pentz Gaye would have turned 80 years old. For his legion of fans, there is good news concerning his catalog of music. In celebration of his birthday, Motown is preparing to premiere an unreleased album by Marvin Gaye that’s well over 40 years old entitled You’re the Man. The official release is March 29th.
Recorded in a similar vein of his socially conscious/political magnum opus What’s Goin On, Gaye eventually decided to shelve the project because of the lack of response to the album’s first single “You’re The Man.” Also, his constant clashing with his brother-in-law and head of Motown Berry Gordy over creative control and the overall direction of the LP were major factors as to why it has never been released. Gordy wanted Marvin to focus on being a successful R&B/Pop star.
The remastered You’re the Man album features 17-tracks with remixes from Salaam Remi, including the album’s first single, “My Last Chance. Although not a new song from Gaye, it was originally recorded as a demo for the What’s Going On sessions. The song would appear on the Best of Marvin Gaye compilation album in 2001.
Some songs from You’re the Man will be familiar to hardcore Marvin Gaye fans who have heard some of the tracks on various compilations that have been released since Gaye’s death in 1982. But it’s the first time that the collection of tracks have been released as a cohesive, full-length project.
According, to NPR, other tracks on the LP include a never released 1972 Christmas single and an unreleased mix of its instrumental B-side, as well as several remixes by writer-producer Salaam Remi of “Symphony,” “I’d Give My Life For You” and the aforementioned “My Last Chance,” the last of which is now available for streaming.
David Ritz, Gaye’s biographer, wrote a new essay commemorating the new release and gives insight into the mind of the “Prince of Motown” during the recording process.
Listen to “My Last Chance“ by Marvin Gaye here.