 Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell Soul duets can get pretty lazy, especially nowadays, when it seems all you need is two semi-big names and a power ballad and you've got yourself a hit. Listening to Marvin & Tammi, though, you get some serious perspective: track after track is great, showcasing a rare chemistry and truly classic songwriting. Of all of "Marvin's girls," Tammi Terrell was the best vocal partner, and their hits are rightfully considered to be some of Motown's best. And while some critics tend to read too much of Terrell's tragic stature into the music (she died in his arms, it's true), this is undoubtedly fantastic soul. The songs feature the usual mid-60s Motown production style, and most of Marvin & Tammi's hits were written by Ashford & Simpson, who would not find a better duo to express their songs until they decided to do it themselves. Nearly every cut is a gem: "Your Precious Love," the original "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (later turned into an epic by Diana Ross), "You're All I Need to Get By," "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," "What You Gave Me," "Hold Me Oh My Darling," the list goes on. The only clunker, in my opinion, is "The Onion Song," which straddles a careful line between cute and serious, and just doesn't end up working for me. I can't think of any song that has successfully used the word "onion" at all, much less in the title and as the central metaphor. Well, there's another Loud Bassoon songwriting challenge! Typical of Motown, the CD is just 32 minutes long, and this is the new remastered version – they could easily have added four or five more cuts to enhance the package. It's not like Marvin & Tammi had no more material in the can. There is a 2-disc set called The Complete Duets, which is cool, but perhaps a bit too much Marvin & Tammi. Actually, while I'm complaining about Motown, can I call for a Tammi Terrell anthology? She is totally nonexistent on domestic CDs except for the Marvin duets compilations and one track on Motown's Leading Ladies. Meanwhile, how many Rare Earth compilations have they put out? I wish someone at Motown would seize the reins and make a sweeping commitment to doing it right from now on. Do they think people are only interested in the obvious? Free Syreeta now! Marvin & Tammi's Greatest Hits is one of the few pre-1970 Motown CDs I can recommend without reservation. Sometimes it pays not to have a negative knee-jerk reaction to "classic" albums, and this one delivers in spades. So what are you waiting for, why haven't you left for the CD shop yet, you fat bag of shit?
Review by Amön Dracula |