Marvin Gaye's Vulnerable is the work of a genius adrift--a lavishly arranged, never-completed album of standards about unrequited love that the great singer tinkered with from 1967 to 1979, finessing his vocals and overdub... more »bing them into a fine, layered mesh. (It was finally issued a few years ago.) Love Songs: Bedroom Ballads is a peculiar beast, combining the seven extant tracks from the Vulnerable sessions with six boudoir-minded originals recorded between 1973 and 1980. It's all splendid, if a little too schizophrenic to help seduce the soul fan of your dreams. Gaye had an exquisite touch with the tender lyrical sentiments of the vintage pop he was revisiting, although he tended to get a lot more direct when he put things his own way. "Why Did I Choose You" is one of his prettiest performances, but it's miles away from "Funk Me," and the panting and moaning in the background of the fabulous "Since I Had You"--well, if Gaye had had housemates, they'd have run the dishwasher. --Douglas Wolk« less
Marvin Gaye's Vulnerable is the work of a genius adrift--a lavishly arranged, never-completed album of standards about unrequited love that the great singer tinkered with from 1967 to 1979, finessing his vocals and overdubbing them into a fine, layered mesh. (It was finally issued a few years ago.) Love Songs: Bedroom Ballads is a peculiar beast, combining the seven extant tracks from the Vulnerable sessions with six boudoir-minded originals recorded between 1973 and 1980. It's all splendid, if a little too schizophrenic to help seduce the soul fan of your dreams. Gaye had an exquisite touch with the tender lyrical sentiments of the vintage pop he was revisiting, although he tended to get a lot more direct when he put things his own way. "Why Did I Choose You" is one of his prettiest performances, but it's miles away from "Funk Me," and the panting and moaning in the background of the fabulous "Since I Had You"--well, if Gaye had had housemates, they'd have run the dishwasher. --Douglas Wolk
"Hurry and find a nice soft cushion to snuggle up with, youll need something to hold when you hear this collection of Bedroom, and I do mean "Bedroom" Ballads!!!
Marvin sings with such soulful intensity, his caress touches firmly with every word he breaths.
The rapture oozing from the warmth of his soul, captivates as
he gives of himself so willingly, lovingly, completely.His essance, Pure Love...
His message, Hope...Is this music worth the money? A better question would be... How Good do You Want to Feel?Bluesrains"
Motown tricks
Duchess | 04/28/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"... I hate the fact that I have to buy a whole CD for just one previously unreleased song! But I must say this peviously unreleased alternate version of "The Shadow Of Your Smile" was pretty much worth it! I've heard Marvin sing this song 3 or 4 different ways, and each vocal is totally unique (and this version will not disappoint). As for the rest of the CD, you can't really go wrong with MPG and ballads and funky love songs. I thought it strange at first to go from "Soon I'll Be Loving You Again" to "This Will Make You Laugh" to "Funk Me", but it really just mirrored Marvin's diversity, range, and divided soul when it came to love, sex and romance. There is also a little riff of "I Want You" at the very beginning of the CD that has not been released before (but it's very short). Not a bad CD, it's just MPG-heads are tired of the same songs being released over and over, and MPG-heads are tired of paying for a whole CD just to get one previously unreleased song."
Motown..Motown...Motown...
Honey | Heaven | 04/21/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Why do they continue to dishonor this man's legacy? Anwyay, this compilation isn't horrible, nor is it great, but it's a nice little collection of Marvin's "love" songs! I specifically bought the CD for the song "You Sure Love To Ball" which is a stellar, stellar cut! And while I would prefer that Motown put together a serious slow jams CD by this beloved artist, I'll take this CD over a lot of the other garbage out there right now! A solid 4 Stars! It is afterall, My Dear, Mr. Gaye!"
LOVE AT WORK IN PROGRESS...
JOHN D. | LV, NV (the 702) | 12/27/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This cd is pretty good, but overall, I can make a much better Marvin Gaye ballad cd. With the focus primarily on the "Vulnerable" sessions, we get filler throughout with songs like "Funk me",and "Falling in love again". Don't get me wrong, these songs are good, and are prime Marvin, but they do not belong on this CD."