Wednesday, August 05, 2009



Marvin Gaye: Is That Enough?

So I've been getting into Here, My Dear, Marvin Gaye's album that documents the unraveling of his marriage to Anna Gordy. I love the narrative arc - narcissistic, sentimental, honest, darkly humorous, self critical - it's compulsive listening. The album art is pretty great too. Here I quote from the liner notes describing the sleeve: "On the back cover the holy temple of matrimony collapses around a mock Rodin sculpture of a couple in a passionate embrace. The man's crotch is on fire." This is going on my shortlist for wedding presents if I'm invited to any more weddings.

Also, "Somebody tell me please/why do I have to pay attorney fees?" has to go down as one of the all time great couplets. Ok, here's a bonus track, but get the album if you don't have it.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

So ignored it's painful, he was at his best on this record.

gaston monescu said...

agreed- excellent LP

MikeB in NYC said...

Yeah, anyone with any interest in this should check out the back story - this was meant to provide the basis for a payout to his wife when he was broke, that's the reason for the title. Wikipedia has some good info.