Marvin Gaye - Marvin Gaye & His Women: 21 Classic Duets (1985)

Choice entrees featuring Marvin Gaye and his duet darlings, Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Tammi Terrell, and Diana Ross. Gaye's efforts with Diana Ross have only two representatives, but they both sizzle. "You're a Special Part of Me" and "My Mistake" had the potential to enter the Top 10 but neither did, though both made inroads on the charts. The former is an uptempo, lavish production with a driving beat. The latter is a lovely, deceivingly fast testimonial, Gaye's and Ross' voices gel on the delightful romp. Mary Wells, Gaye's first partner, teams with him for two songs, the two-sided hit they enjoyed, "Once Upon a Time," a floating, moody ballad, and the rollicking "What's the Matter with You Baby." Kim Weston fares better, four of her waxings with Gaye made the cut. Everyone's down with "It's Take Two," but are you familiar with the yearning, silky smooth "I Want You Round," or the melodic proclamation of bliss "It's Got to Be a Miracle (This Thing Called Love)"? Twelve of the 21 tracks are Gaye and Terrell sides. All of their big, beloved hits are included: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Your Precious Love," "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," and "You're All I Need to Get By." The others are an interesting mix, from the jubilant "If I Could Build My Whole World Around You" to the shamelessly sentimental "If This World Was Mine," a contemporary classic that also ran up the charts for Luther Vandross. "Little Ole Boy, Little Ole Girl," an obscure song first recorded by Loe & Joe on Harvey Records, is updated nicely by the photogenic duo. The only clunker is Ashford & Simpson's "Onion Song," an energetic concoction that preaches harmony between people; nice message, but couldn't they have called it something else? That aside, this is a legitimate winner and makes a lovely, much played addition to your CD collection.

Tracklist:

01. You're A Special Part of Me (Diana Ross) (3:40)
02. My Mistake (Was To Love You) (Diana Ross) (2:57)
03. Once Upon A Time (Mary Wells) (2:32)
04. What's The Matter With You Baby (Mary Wells) (2:29)
05. What Good Am I Without You (Opus 1) (Kim Weston) (2:51)
06. It Takes Two (Kim Weston) (3:00)
07. It's Got To Be A Miracle (This Thing Called Love) (Kim Weston) (3:30)
08. I Want You 'Round (Kim Weston) (2:25)
09. Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Tammy Terrell) (2:30)
10. Your Precious Love (Tammy Terrell) (3:04)
11. If I Could Build My Whole World Around You (Tammy Terrell) (2:22)
12. Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing (Tammy Terrell) (2:17)
13. You're All I Need To Get By (Tammy Terrell) (2:51)
14. Keep On Lovin' Me Honey (Tammy Terrell) (2:33)
15. Good Lovin' Ain't Easy To Come By (Tammy Terrell) (2:28)
16. What You Gave Me (Tammy Terrell) (2:44)
17. If This World Were Mine (Tammy Terrell) (2:44)
18. California Soul (Tammy Terrell) (2:50)
19. The Onion Song (Tammy Terrell) (3:00)
20. Two Can Have A Party (Tammy Terrell) (2:14)
21. Little Ole Boy, Little Ole Girl (Tammy Terrell) (2:43)