MARVIN GAYE & TAMMI TERRELL/EASY TML 11132 (-70) UK MONO

Mostly if I like an album I don't care about politics or background. It's fun to know, but I never let them affect the listening. If it's good it's good and that's all I need. However the circumstances behind this LP are so tragic I can't even look at the cover without being touched. At the time it was recorded Tammi Terrell was about to undergo surgery for a brain tumor she suffered from since 1967. Non of the six previous operations had been successful and there was little hope left. She was unavailable most of the time and, according to Marvin Gaye, biggest part of the female vocals were done by Valerie Simpson - Motown artist, producer and song-writer for the album. Simpson denied that first but has later admitted she did. The tracks Terrell completed here were her last and six months later she passed away. The album had US release September -69 (Tamla TS 294) and was no big seller peaking at Billboard #69, the first '45 from it "Good Lovin' Aint Easy To Come By" reached US #30 and UK #26. Although it's a good album I have a hard time matching the title "Easy" and the ecstatic face painted on the cover with what was really going on. To me it's an exemple of bad taste from the label. On the positive side - this UK mono is top class. It's big and clear with exquisite balance. Got no original stereo to compare with, but have listened carefully and all is perfect. No way this is a simple fold-down. Don't know where it comes from, but US Motown did release it as white label promo and it's possible separate mixes were made. 1:st UK issue early 1970 with label as shown here, laminated flip/back cover and EMI ad inner. (TÖMÖ*)(UKÖ*)(FÄV*)(GÖJI*)