Description
Morally right-on, emotionally vulnerable, and still musically avant-garde, Marvin Gaye’s previously unreleased 1972 album You’re the Man is the timeless sound of soul. At the time the tracks were recorded, Gaye was navigating music industry shenanigans and a political climate in mayhem, following his recent breakout success.
This “lost album” is in fact a broadly varied compilation of cancelled singles and studio outtakes (some of them newly polished up for release by Amy Winehouse producer Salaam Remi). On it, Gaye consistently sparks joy even though he’s scared about the future, and its 2019 release is chance for a whole new generation of listeners to connect with the legendary singer.
The music he abandoned in order to release his most famous albums is a fascinating jumble of ideas, some of them nothing short of fantastic. It is a snapshot of its creator, a world and soul music in turmoil, and in that regard, it’s perfect. It’s a reminder of an era in which our pop stars spoke from the heart, unafraid of losing a million-dollar endorsement, more concerned with uplifting their people.
