Rating:
Genre: R&B
Release Date: 07/17/2001

Frankly, there are enough different Marvin Gaye best-of compilations that are on the market, or have been on the market, that fans should be forgiven if they couldn't quite muster a great deal of enthusiasm for yet another one at the time of this release. On its own terms, this double disc is a very good survey of Gaye's most popular songs, starting with his first hit single in the early 1960s ("Stubborn Kind of Fellow") and going all the way up to "Sexual Healing," also including his big duet hits with Tammi Terrell. It's a good starting point for those who want a little more than a standard single-disc Gaye best-of, or one that spans his entire career instead of just some of it. Nevertheless, the 1995 Anthology release is a better deal from every standpoint, including more songs (47 to The Very Best of's 34). It also has some good early hits that do not appear on The Very Best of, such as "One More Heartache," "Try It Baby," and "Baby Don't You Do It," not to mention his 1964 duet hit with Mary Wells, "What's the Matter With You Baby" (though it doesn't have "Sexual Healing"). Those that are willing to spend just a little more time or money on their purchase should consider alternatives, whether Anthology or the more comprehensive The Master box set. Of course, there's always a catch that might cause dedicated fans to hesitate passing this by entirely, namely two rare tracks. One's a previously unreleased stereo mix of the spiritual "His Eye Is on the Sparrow." The other, more interesting find is the previously unreleased 1972 track "Where Are We Going?," a fair but not great track in the same vein as material from the What's Going On album, but poppier; the song was also done by Donald Byrd on his Black Byrd record.

~Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

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Marvin Gaye - Arranger
Marvin Gaye - Vocals
Marvin Gaye - Producer
Marvin Gaye - Main Performer
Marvin Gaye - Executive Producer
Smokey Robinson - Producer
Kim Weston - Performer
Gene Page - Arranger
Gene Page - Conductor
Wade Marcus - Orchestra Director
T-Boy Ross - Producer
Larkin Arnold - Executive Producer
Nickolas Ashford - Producer
Johnny Bristol - Producer
Henry Cosby - Producer
Lamont Dozier - Producer
Harvey Fuqua - Arranger
Harvey Fuqua - Producer
Harvey Fuqua - Production Advisor
Berry Gordy, Jr. - Executive Producer
Rene Hall - Arranger
Brian Holland - Producer
Ivy Hunter - Producer
Fonce Mizell - Trumpet
Fonce Mizell - Producer
Dale Oehler - Arranger
Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson - Arranger
Freddie Perren - Producer
Kevin Reeves - Mixing
Kevin Reeves - Digital Remastering
Paul Riser - Orchestra Director
Valerie Simpson - Producer
William "Mickey" Stevenson - Producer
Art Stewart - Producer
Tammi Terrell - Performer
Ed Townsend - Producer
David Van De Pitte - Arranger
The Vandellas - Accompaniment
Harry Weinger - Compilation Producer
Harry Weinger - Mixing Producer
Norman Whitfield - Producer
David Ritz - Essay
Leon Ware - Producer
Vartan - Art Direction
Mathieu Bitton - Art Direction
Mathieu Bitton - Design
Adam Starr - Product Manager
Jeff Moskow - Executive Producer
Ute Friesleben - Production Coordination

The Anthology 1961-1977
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The Big Chill [Original Soundtrack]
    Original Soundtrack / CD / 1983
Motown 40 Forever
    Various Artists / CD / 1998
40 Golden Motown Greats
    Diana Ross & The Supremes / CD / 1998
20 Greatest Hits
    The Chi-Lites / CD / 2001
Definitive Collection
    Stevie Wonder / CD / 2002
It's All Right [Collectables]
    The Impressions / CD / 2004

Release Date: 07/17/2001
Genre: r&b