Side 'B' is three separate tracks, one of which is "Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)" - an amazing track on its own. The liner notes on the album cite James Jamerson and Bob Babbit on bass. I knew that Jamerson did work on many of the tracks on this album. His bass lines are so solid, and it's refreshing to hear them on vinyl. Babbit's work is equally impressive and having seen a documentary about The Funk Brothers and the Motown story, I have a stronger appreciation for his bass playing as well. He had some big shoes to fill after Jamerson passed away and he does a great job here.
So far this album is pretty great. I've heard most of the songs on it before, but hearing them sequentially makes such a difference. Another standout track in my opinion is "Save the Children", part of the side 'A' opus. This song is quite an emotional one in my opinion and hits a very important note just before going into a very religious-themed diatribe entitled "God is Love". "Mercy Mercy Me" is the closer to side 'A' and definitely hits a peak in terms of bringing these first six tracks full circle. The sax solo at the end is especially good, but it is the last few chords of the song that make me smile the most. I swear I've heard this ending used (sampled?) in other songs before. It is very memorable, and pleasing that he brings it back to a minor key to end such an astounding twenty minutes of music. Epic is the only way I can think to describe the ending of side 'A'.
Side 'B' kicks off with a diverse sounding song called "Right On". At seven minutes, this track has room for a lot of different parts, and it's obvious Marvin was trying to accomplish a lot with just this track alone. It's nice to hear flute as a principle instrument again, something he did on some of his older tracks from previous albums (see: "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" for an amazing flute solo). "Wholly Holy" is the second track on side 'B' and is really over before you even know it. It's really slow compared to the rest of the album, but it's a nice break from the medium tempo soul grooves that make up the majority of the album. "Inner City Blues" ends the album and as stated before is an amazing track. It is definitely in my top three, if not my favorite, from the nine tracks on this disc.
I'm sure I will end up listening to this LP many times over again. It is definitely worthy of repeated listening. From the beginning introduction that sounds like a laid-back 70's party scene with dialogue comprised of greetings such as "What's happenin' man?" to the bongo-filled backbeat that slowly fades out to end the album on side 'B', this album is pure soul music with just enough jazz thrown in to make it stand out from the rest. Thank you, Marvin Gaye, for releasing this piece of work.
May god (as you know him) rest your soul, and may your music live on forever in this genre we have come to know as 'soul music'.
review by DD (also posted here: http://www.freestylepiper.blogspot.com)
