DIANA ROSS AND MARVIN GAYE/DIANA AND MARVIN STMA 8015 (-73) UK

 Two of Motown's brightest stars doing a duet LP, produced by Valerie Simpson, Nicholas Ashford and Berry Gordy. Sounds like a dream for a Motown fan, but apparently it took time to get right. As the story goes...there were plans for it already 1970, but as Ross then had full time with launching her solo carreer and Gaye initially refused to do one more duet album due to his last three had come just before his partners had left the label - Mary Welles and Kim Weston quit and Tammi Terrell died of a brain tumor - and therefore he felt like cursing who ever he sang with. When the recordings finally started 1971 the two didn't get along. Ross was pregnant and didn't like Gaye smoking dope in the studio. They recorded one song together - Wilson Pickett's "Don't Knock My Love" - after which Ross was occupied with her baby and film projects while Gaye had other things planned, so to get going Motown decided to record them separately and then mix their vocals together. It took to 1973 before the album was ready for release. It got good reviews, but just reached #26 on Billboard while managing #6 in UK. Though even with such an uncertain becoming I can hear no trace of that here. It's a beautifully crafted love album with top audio and they sound close all the way. Maybe not one I would choose for sparkling moments or a pick me up, but perfect for relaxing or soft love meetings. It all fits very well together in a snug atmosphere, but if to pick favourites - the funkiest cuts "Don't Knock My Love" and "My Mistake (Was To Love You)" plus the emotional "Just Say Just Say". Issued and reissued all over the world on every possible format through the years. Premiere US on Motown (M-803V1). US 2001 CD on Motown (012 157 173-2) came with four bonus tracks. First UK had label as shown here in a matte fold/out cover. Unfortunately this copy have the groove somewhat unfocused on side two, which make the music sway at some of the cuts. Don't know if that goes for all copies of this pressing, but now I have to find another one of some kind to get it right. (TÖMÖ*)  (FÄV*) (GÖJI*) (ZYZÖ*)