(January 2021) Episode 311 of the “opus project” is MARVIN GAYE. His silky voice and songwriting tracked and defined the arc of R&B through its evolution in the 1960s and 70s. That voice could be sweet, sexy or serious, and matched well with female vocalists on several duet albums. The peak are the early 70s albums that melded sophisticated soul with social commentary and an assertion of artist independence from the Motown label.
Favorite album: What’s Going On
Favorite song: I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Sexiest song: Let’s Get It On
Favorite duet album: United (with Tammi Terrell)
Compared to expectations: same
Opus Project 