Marvin Gaye - Moods Of Marvin Gaye (1966)

Review
by John Bush - allmusic.com

After Marvin Gaye recorded tributes to Broadway and Nat King Cole in the previous two years, Motown fans may have had their suspicions raised by an LP titled Moods of Marvin Gaye. Yes, there are a few supper-club standards to be found here, but Gaye moves smoothly between good-time soul and adult pop. Most important are his first two R&B number ones, "I'll Be Doggone" and "Ain't That Particular," both from 1965 and both produced by Smokey Robinson. Berry Gordy's right-hand man also helmed "Take This Heart of Mine" and "One More Heartache," another pair of big R&B scores, and just as good as the better-known hits. As for the copyrights not owned by Jobete, the chestnut "One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)" certainly didn't need another reading, but Gaye's take on Willie Nelson's after-hours classic "Night Life" was inspired. Marvin Gaye was improving with every record, gaining in character and strength of performance, and Moods of Marvin Gaye is a radically better record than its predecessors.

My personal note: I bought this album in 1969 while in the Navy aboard the USS Shangrila (CVA-38) in the Mediterranean. The ship's store had a number of LPs available, usually the stuff you find in bargain bins. This is the only Marvin Gaye album I've ever owned and have always been of the opinion that it's probably his best effort.




Tracks
 
1. I'll Be Doggone
2. Little Darling (I Need You)
3. Take This Heart of Mine
4. Hey Diddle Diddle
5. One More Heartache
6. Ain't That Peculiar
7. Night Life
8. You've Been a Long Time Coming
9. Your Unchanging Love
10. You're the One for Me
11. I Worry 'Bout You
12. One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)

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