Marvin Gaye – "Here, My Dear."

Messy, but undeniably vibrant music. Marvin rapping about his troubles in such a nonchalant but earnest way. It’s effortless for him, he can do this stuff in his sleep. There’s a video of them rehearsing this material somewhere on Youtube and Marvin’s singing his parts while lying on a couch.

I first heard this remarkable album in 1994, when Motown finally reissued a remastered version on CD with stellar liner notes by David Ritz. It quickly became one of my favorite albums, and I picked up this vinyl copy at a flea market a couple of years later, even though I didn't have any way to play vinyl at the time. Fast forward nearly 30 years, and I'm in absolute heaven. This is a fantastic original pressing, and it sounds better than the CD I became so familiar with over the ensuing years. There's a depth to the low end that sounds so much more organic than I'm used to, and Marvin's many marvelous double-tracked vocal harmonies absolutely shimmer. Definitely a crown jewel in my vinyl collection.

Album Revolution #9:

Divorce!!!! Wow, nobody likes it, but at this time it was "Marvin Gaye's" reality......After everything that he was going through at this time, having to go to court was a trying experience!!!! "Ana Gaye" was going for Blood, and "Marvin" could not escape it...

With that the Judge suggested that when "Marvin" recorded his next album, the proceeds should go to "Anna"...That sounded like a great idea to "Marvin", because that's what he did best....With that the result was the release of "Here, My Dear"....

With this one, just like all his other albums in the 70's, "Marvin" said everything that was going on in his life...You would not think that "Marvin" would make this a Double album, but obviously he had a lot to get off his chest.....

Starting the first side of Record one with an introduction of the "Title Track", which is a shot to "Anna", saying that "He hopes it makes her happy", "This is what you wanted"...

Then "Marvin" goes right into the story with "I Met A Little Girl", which chronicles the life he had with "Anna", with specific details....

"When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You", is an absolute standout!!!!! It really spells out of the things that went wrong with "Marvin" and "Anna" (And again, he held nothing back).....

The first side caps off with "Anger"....It does sound like "Marvin" was "Angry" here, but it is also extremely "Funky"!!!!! The Back Beat and Keyboards really bring the Mood of the song to the forefront....

The second side of Record 1 starts off the very Sultry "Is That Enough"...It continues the story, with "Marvin" spelling out what else was going wrong between "Marvin" and "Anna"...

"Everybody Needs Love", has the same Musical Backdrop as the "Title Track"....It is an emotional plea of Mans need for Love.....

"Time To Get It Together", almost follows the same pattern as "Everybody Needs Love", but it is a very "Funky Affair"....

The 2nd Record, starts with "Sparrow"...This is a Swinging Jazzy t with some "Funk" in the background...."Marvin" sounds like he created the concept of Vocals on this one (it's that fantastic!!!!!!)....

I don't know what was the purpose of doing "Anna's Song".....Was it to dedicate it to her, or was it to cut her down? I'm not sure, but it is also fantastic!!!!!!

I usually complain when "Marvin" put Instrumental versions of his songs on his albums....But the "When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You (Instrumental), es because "Marvin's" Dub Vocals make it sound very engaging!!!!

OMG!!! "A Funky Space Reincarnation" sounds like "Marvin" just came from hanging out with Dr. Funkenstein himself "George Clinton", from the "Mothership"!!!!! All 8:16 minutes is worth it!!!!!

The serious, but funny at the same time, "You Can Leave, But It's Going To Cost You", is another standout!!!! It has "Marvin" spelling out what "Anna" was saying to Him....My favorite line is, "That Young Girl Is Going To Cost You"....I know, I know, but I am wired differently...I can just imagine the looks on both of their faces when this conversation was happening....

"Falling In Love Again" caps off the album almost....It talks about how good "Marvin" feels about being in love with "Janis"......

Then it finally finishes with the "When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You (Reprise), which ends the album very nicely!!!!

"Here My Dear" blew my mind when I finally heard it in '95!!!!! It is an Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel!!!!!! To me, if I was old enough back then, I would have bought it so "Marvin" could pay "Ana" what he owned her in alimony and child ....

People slept on this one, and they should have been ashamed!!!!! "Marvin" told it like it was, but because it wasn't a "Let Get It On" record, People ignored it!!!! Over 30 years later, I think it finally made enough money, but it is way too late!!!!! This also started troubles for him and "Janis" as well.....But now that you know that it's tight, please take a chance on this one....

Club Edition copy is missing, which I have. Unable to add as a release.

Believe my copy is a promo of this pressing, great sound!

This is the best record ever recorded! My one pick for the island. There, i said it...

There's often esteemed iration granted to those who expiate their inner pain into great art. Sparked, or rather embittered into action by his ex-wife Anna Gordy's successful alimony against him, this was Marvin Gaye's big pay-off to the madness in more ways than one and almost everyone derided it as a pretentious, meandering mess of dreary soap opera-scaled proportions. After flipping the course of black sexual politics with two landmarks of sensual bliss and salvation,—1973's Let's Get it On and 1976's I Want You—Gaye boldly crafted a highly confessional and idiosyncratic chronicle devoted to the dissolution of his first marriage and its emotional strain with Here, My Dear. Perhaps the directness of its tell-all exploits, or the improvised, raw nature of Gaye's expressive lyrics is what has drawn many to this album, along with its all-encoming, subtly layered musical edge. But, the emotional range that is explored here is as staggering as its subject matter, which fuels the album's conceptual impetus. Vitriol melds with poignancy, self-pity and regret boil over into coldblooded narcissism and relief, and just when you think Gaye can't get anymore wickedly brilliant, he retreats off into an oddball, escapist moment of satirical humor and sci-fi fantasy to balance the brooding agony and realism exuded throughout this album. Indulgence and divorce never sounded as sweet as this and 40 years later, it's even sweeter. Soap operas and reality shows can kiss its royal ass, too.

Incredible mastering on this 1978 original pressing. Lush and full all the way through, with just the right amount of warm low-end. Marvin's indelible voice and unparalleled musicianship just blanket an entire room. No pressing flaws, either. I don't own any other vinyl reissue of this one, as I can imagine any of them suring or equaling the quality of this one. Since this album was a commercial flop, the many copies that Motown pressed ended up in many a cutout bins shortly after its release, so there must be plenty still floating at record meets and shops for dirt cheap. The 1994 Gavin Lurssen remaster is incredible, nearly comparable to the superb mastering of this pressing. Hip-O Select's 2008 expanded edition is a must-have as well, solely for the great alternate mixes, which were reconstructed and remixed by well-respected contemporary producers and musicians from the original tape reels of the Here, My Dear sessions.

I hope the expanded edition (2cd versions form 2007-2010) will be released on vinyl, just like they did with the 4lp release of What's going on. Anyone who knows if this will be the case?

No need to add further remarks on the lore of this album; I will just add that nearly 40 years since its release time has vindicated HMD as a singular classic that gets better with each ing year. Musically complex and coherent as well as immaculately rendered. I love it more and more. Thank you Mr. Gaye for this great piece of art.

Still one of my favorite album ever….