Motown
1977
Live at the London Palladium
About This Album
A nearly 80-minute live album from 1977, Live at the London Palladium effectively compresses most of Marvin Gaye's numerous career highlights, making it a wonderful retrospective of the justly mythologized soul singer's accomplishments. Almost everything is here that could be: his '60s hits, his duets, the best moments from What's Going On, a trio of highlights each from Let's Get It On and I Want You, and even a bonus studio track, the magnificent 12-minute disco-funk epic "Got to Give It Up." Gaye performs with a sense of exuberance no doubt fueled by the large, appreciative audience. Furthermore, his rapport with the audience becomes well apparent and welcome during "Come Get to This" and "Let's Get It On"; during this pair of back-to-back odes to sex, you can feel the sultry passion in his voice as his singing drifts close to moaning and his ad libbing approaches tasteful, amorous aural lovemaking. Yet as intimate as Gaye is while singing, he's undeniably uncomfortable when talking: just before beginning his medley of '60s hits, he stumbles over his mumbled words, confessing, "I'll tell you, I don't do this so good so, you know, I might just stop and go right into the song.
Track List

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