Marvin Gaye

Artist:  Marvin Gaye

Birth Name:  Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr.

Born:  April 2, 1939.  Washington, D.C. USA

Died:  April 1, 1984 (Aged 44).  Los Angeles, California, USA

Genre:  R&B, Soul, Gospel, Funk, Progressive Soul, Psychedelic Soul, Smooth Soul, Pop-Soul, Quiet Storm, Motown

Occupation:  Singer, Songwriter

Instruments:  Vocals, Keyboards, Drums

Marvin Gaye was an American Singer and Songwriter.  He helped to  shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as a in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of success, earning him the nicknames "Prince Of Motown" and "Prince Of Soul".  His big hits include "Ain't That Peculiar", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", and "I Heard It Through The Grapevine".  He also recorded duets with Mary Wells, Diana Ross, Tammi Terrell, and Kim Weston.  He won his first two Grammy Awards on the album Midnight Love.

Title:  Recorded Live On Stage (Special Edition) (2025)

Genre:  R&B, Soul, Gospel, Funk, Progressive Soul, Psychedelic Soul, Smooth Soul, Pop-Soul, Quiet Storm, Motown

Label:  Ermitage

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side One:

 1.  Stubborn Kind Of Fellow (3:39)

 2.  One Of These Days (2:51)

 3.  Mo Jo Hanna (5:20)

 4.  The Days Of Wine And Roses (3:17)

Side Two:

 1.  Pride And Joy (3:16)

 2.  Hitch Hike (3:26)

 3.  Get My Hands On Some Lovin' (2:47)

 4.  You Are My Sunshine (2:09)

Recorded Live On Stage is the first live album by Marvin Gaye, originally released on September 9, 1963 by Tamla, remastered and reissued on June 5, 2025 by Ermitage Records.  Special Edition Yellow Vinyl.

Luther Vandross

 

Artist:  Luther Vandross

Birth Name:  Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr.

Born:  April 20, 1951.  New York City, USA

Died:  July 1, 2005 (Aged 54).  Edison, New Jersey, USA

Genre:  Soul, R&B, Pop, Disco, Adult Contemporary R&B, Contemporary R&B, Quiet Storm, Adult Contemporary

Occupations:  Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer

Instrument:  Vocals

Luther Vandross was an American Soul and R&B Singer, Songwriter, and Record Producer From New York City.  Throughout his career, he achieved eleven consecutive RIAA-Certified Platinum Albums and sold over 40 million records worldwide.  He has been recognized as one of the 200 greatest singers of all time (2023) by Rolling Stone Magazine, as well as one of the greatest R&B artists by Billboard, additionally named him one of the 50 Great Voices.  He was the recipient of eight Grammy Awards, including Song of The Year in 2004 for a track recorded shorftly before his death, "Dance With My Father".   In 2021, he was posthumously inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall Of Fame.  He as a backing vocalist im the the 1970s, and appeared on albums by artists such as Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Judy Collins, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Ben E. King, Stevie Wonder, Donna Summer and many more!.  His Hit Songs include "Never Too Much", "Here And Now", "Any Love", Power Of Love/Love Power", "I Can Make It Better", and "For You To Love", and many more!.

Title:  Never Too Much:  Greatest Hits (2024)

Genre:  Soul, R&B, Pop, Disco, Adult Contemporary R&B, Contemporary R&B, Quiet Storm, Adult Contemporary

Label:  Epic Records

Rating:   *****

Format:  CD

Tracks:

Disc 1:

 1.  Never Too Much (3:48)

 2.  Power Of Love/Love Power (6:42)

 3.  Give Me The Reason (4:42)

 4.  Stop To Love (5:11)

 5.  Take You Out (3:25)

 6.  Any Love (5:02)

 7.  Michelle (6:34)

 8.  Here And Now (5:23)

 9.  I'd Rather (4:19)

10. So Amazing (3:40)

Disc 2:

 1.  Dance With My Father (4:25)

 2.  Speak Your Love (5:07)

 3.  The Closer I Get To You (Duet with Beyonce) (4:59)

 4.  Endless Love (Duet with Mariah Carey) (4:19)

 5.  Always And Forever (4:52)

 6.  A House Is Not A Home (7:06)

 7.  Superstar/Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) (9:16)

 8.  Never Too Much (Lost Frequencies Edit) (5:21)

 9.  Get Myself Together (Louie Vega Radio Remix) (3:47)

10. Michelle (Radio Edit) (4:10)

Format:  LP

Tracks:

LP 1:

Side A:

 1.  Never Too Much (3:48)

 2.  Power Of Love/Love Power (6:42)

 3.  Give Me The Reason (4:42)

 4.  Stop To Love (5:11)

 5.  Take You Out (3:25)

 6.  Any Love (5:02)

Side B:

 1.  Endless Love (Duet with Mariah Carey) (4:19)

 2.  Always And Forever (4:52)

 3.  A House Is Not A Home (7:06)

 4.  Superstar/Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do) (9:16)

LP 2:

Side C:

 1.  Here And Now (5:23)

 2.  I'd Rather (4:19)

 3.  So Amazing (3:40)

 4.  Dance With My Father (4:25)

 5.  The Closer I Get To You (Duet with Beyonce) (4:59)

Side D:  All Previously Unreleased

 1.  Michelle (6:34)

 2.  Speak Your Love (5:07)

 3.  Never Too Much (Lost Frequencies Edit) (5:21)

 4.  Get Myself Together (Louie Vega Radio Remix) (3:47)

Never Too Much:  Greatest Hits is the compilation album by Luther Vandross, released on December 13, 2024 by Epic Records, featuring 4 previously unreleased tracks, including "Michelle".

Sade

 

Artist:  Sade

Birth Name:  Helen Folasade Adu

Born:  January 16, 1959.  Ibadan, Nigeria

Genre:  Soul, Pop, Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Sophisti-Pop, Quiet Storm, Adult Contemporary, R&B, Adult Contemporary R&B

Occupation:  Singer, Songwriter

Instruments:  Vocals

Sade is a Nigerian-born British Singer and Songwriter, known as the lead vocalist of her band Sade.  One of the most successful British Female Artists in history, she is often recognised as an influence on contemporary music.  The band released the album Diamond Life, wich became one of the era's best-selling albums and the best-selling debut by a British Female Vocalist.

Title:   Love Deluxe (2024)

Genre:  Soul, Pop, Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Sophisti-Pop, Quiet Storm, Adult Contemporary, R&B, Adult Contemporary R&B

Label:  Sony Music

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side 1:

 1. No Ordinary Love (7:20)

 2.  Feel No Pain (5:08)

 3.  I Couldn't Love You More (3:49)

 4.  Like A Tatto (3:38)

Side 2:

 1.  Kiss Of Life (5:50)

 2.  Cherish The Day ( (5:34)

 3.  Pearls (4:34)

 4.  Bullet Proof Soul (5:26)

 5.  Mermaid (4:23)

Personnel:

Sade Adu:  Vocals

Stuart Matthewman:  Saxophone,, Guitar

Andrew Hale:  Keyboards

Paul S. Denman:  Bass

Additional Musicians:

Leroy Osbourne:  Vocals

Martin Ditcham:  Drums on Track 5, Percussion on Tracks:  1/1, 2/1

Tony Pleeth:  Solo Cello on Track 2/3

Gavyn Wright:  Orchestra Leader

Love Deluxe is the fourth studio album by Sade, originally released on October 26, 1992 by Epic, remastered and reissued on September 20m 2024 by Sony Music.

Sade

 

Artist:  Sade

Birth Name:  Helen Folasade Adu

Born:  January 16, 1959.  Ibadan, Nigeria

Genre:  Soul, Pop, Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Sophisti-Pop, Quiet Storm, Adult Contemporary, R&B, Adult Contemporary R&B

Occupation:  Singer, Songwriter

Instruments:  Vocals

Sade is a Nigerian-born British Singer and Songwriter, known as the lead vocalist of her band Sade.  One of the most successful British Female Artists in history, she is often recognised as an influence on contemporary music.  The band released the album Diamond Life, wich became one of the era's best-selling albums and the best-selling debut by a British Female Vocalist.

Title:  Diamond Life (2024)

Genre:  Soul, Pop, Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Sophisti-Pop, Quiet Storm, Adult Contemporary, R&B, Adult Contemporary R&B

Label:  Epic Records

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

Side 1:

 1.  Smooth Operator (4:58)

 2.  Your Love Is King (3:41)

 3.  Hang On To Your Love (5:55)

 4.  Frankie's First Affair (4:39)

 5.  When Am I Going To Make A Liviing (3:27)

Side 2:

 1.  Cherry Pie (6:20)

 2.  Sally (5:23)

 3.  I Will Be Your Friend (4:45)

 4.  Why Can't We Live Together (5:28)

Personnel:

Sade Adu:  Vocals

Stuart Matthewman:  Saxophone,, Guitar

Andrew Hale:  Keyboards

Paul S. Denman:  Bass

Additional Musicians:

Dave Early:  Drums, Percussion

Martin Ditcham:  Percussion

Paul Cooke:  Drums

Terry Bailey:  Trumpet

Gordon Matthewman:  Trumpet

Diamond Life is the debut studio album by Sade, originally released on July 16, 1984 by Epic Records, remastered and reissued on June 21, 2024 by Epic Records, featuring "Smooth Operator", and "Your Love Is King".

Natalie Cole

 

Artist:  Natalie Cole

Birth Name:  Natalie Maria Cole

Born:  February 6, 1950.  Los Angeles, California, USA

Died:  December 31, 2015 (Aged 65).  Los Angeles, California, USA

Genre:  Pop, Soul, R&B, Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Adult Contemporary, Quiet Storm

Occupation:  Singer, Songwriter, Actress

Instruments:  Vocals

 

Natalie Cole was an American Singer, Songwriter, and Actress.  She was the daughter of American Singer and Jazz Pianist Nat King Cole.  She rose to success in the mid-1970s as an R&B Singer with the Hits "This Will Be","Inseparable" (1975), and "Our Love" (1977).  She returned as a Pop Singer on the 1987 album Everlasting and her cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Pink Cadillac".  In the 1990s, she sang Traditional Pop by her father, resulting in her biggest success, Unforgettable  With Love, which sold over seven million copies and won her seven Grammy Awards.  She sold over 30 million records worldwide.

Title:  Unforgettable With Love (Limited Edition Opaque Pink Colored Vinyl 2 LP) (2022)

Genre:  Pop, Soul, R&B, Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Adult Contemporary, Quiet Storm

Label:  Craft Recordings

Rating:   *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

LP 1:

Side A:

1.  The Very Thought Of You (4:14)

 2.  Paper Moon (3:24)

 3.  Route 66 (3:00)

 4.  Mona Lisa (3:45)

 5.  L-O-V-E (2:32)

 6.  This Can't Be Love (2:13)

Side B:

 1.  Smile (3:37)

 2.  Lush Life (4:20)

 3.  That Sunday That Summer (3:31)

 4.  Orange Colored Sky (2:36)

 5.  Medley:  (7:26)

      -For Sentimental Reasons

      -Tenderly

      -Autumn Leaves

LP 2:

Side C:

 1.  Straighten Up And Fly Right (2:40)

 2.  Avalon (1:51)

 3.  Don't Get Around Much Anymore (2:34)

 4.  Too Young (4:32)

 5.  Nature Boy (3:23)

 6.  Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup (3:24)

Side D:

 1.  Almost Like Being In Love (2:11)

 2.  Thou Swell (1:50)

 3.  Non Dimenticar (2:56)

 4.  Our Love Is Here To Stay (3:28)

 5.  Unforgettable (Duet With Nat King Cole) (3:29)

Personnel:

Natalie Cole:  Vocals

Monty Alexander:  Piano

Alan Broadbent:  Celeste Piano

Dennis Budimir:  Guitar

John Chiodini:  Guitar

John Collins:  Guitar

John Pisano:  Guitar

Al Viola:  Guitar

John Clayton:  Bass, String Bass

Chuck Domanico:  Bass, String Bass

Jim Hughart:  Bass

Buell Neidlinger:  String Bass

John Patitucci:  Bass

Andrew Simpkins:  Bass

Pat Coil:  Synthesizer

Tom Garvin:  Synthesizer

Ralph Grierson;  Synthesizer

Randy Karber:  Synthesizer

Brad Cole:  Piano

Jeff Hamilton:  Drums

Harold Jones:  Drums

Dave Wecki:  Drums

Ike Cole:  Piano

Michael Lang:  Piano

Mike Melvoin:  Piano

Joe Sample:  Guest Artist, Piano

Larry Bunker:  Percussion

John Thomas Johnson:  Tuba

John Johnson:  Tuba

Katie Kirkpatrick:  Harp

Gayle Levant:  Harp

Dorothy Remsen:  Harp

Jo Ann Turovsky:  Harp

Tom Boyd:  Oboe

Gene Cipriano:  Oboe, Woodwind

Steve Kujala:  Woodwind

Ronnie Lang:  Woodwind

Donna Devidson:  Background Vocals

Debbie Hall:  Background Vocals

Kenny Katz:  Background Vocals

Rich Logan: Background Vocals

Gene Merlino:  Background Vocals

Don Shelton:  Background Vocals

Sally Stevens:  Background Vocals

Susan Stevens:  Background Vocals

Rick Baptist:  Trumpet

Oscar Brashear:  Trumpet

Conte Candoli:  Trumpet

Charlie Davis:  Trumpet

Chuck Findley:  Trumpet

Gary Grant:  Trumpet

Larry Hall:  Trumpet

Nolan Andrew Smith:  Trumpet

Steve Huffsteter:  Trumpet

Warren Luening:  Trumpet

Thurman Green:  Trombone

Pete Beltran:  Trombone

George Bohanon:  Trombone

Charles Loper:  Trombone

Bruce Paulson:  Trombone

Frank Szabo:  Trumpet

Richard Taylor "Dick" Nash:  Trombone

Kack Rechmond:  Trombone

Bill Recenbach Jr.:  trombone

Pete Christieb:  Tenor Saxophone, Woodwind

Bob Efford:  Baritone Saxophone

Dan Higgins:  Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone

Gary Foster:  Flute, Alto Saxophone, Woodwind

Don Menza:  Tenor Saxophone

Richard Mitchell:  Tenor Saxophone

Lanny Morgan:  Alto Saxophone

David "Fathead" Newman:  Tenor Saxophone

Jack Nimitz:  Baritone Saxophone, Woodwind

Bill Perkins:  Alto Saxophone

Bob Tricarico:  Baritone Saxophone

Sheridon Stokes:  Woodwind

Susan Greenberg:  Flute

Ronald Langinger:  Flute

David Duke:  French Horn

Arthur Maebe:  French Horn

Brian O'Connor:  French Horn

James Thatcher:  French Horn

Richard Todd:  French Horn

Brad Wanaar:  French Horn

Murray Adler:  Violin

Israel Baker:  Violin

Marilyn Baker:  Violin

Arnold Belnick:  Violin

Jacqueline Brand:  Violin

Darius Campo:  Violin

Stuart Canin:  Violin

Lily Ho Chen:  Violin

Gail Cruz: Violin

Isabelle Daskoff:  Violin

Bonnie Douglas:  Violin

Assa Drori:  Violin

Pavel Farkas:  Violin

Henry Ferber:  Violin

Michael Ferril:  Violin

Ronald Folsom:  Violin

Armen Garabedian:  Violin

Berj Garabedian:  Violin

James Getzoff:  Violin

Julie Gigante:  Violin

Harris Goldman:  Violin

Endre Granat:  Violin

Diana Halprin:  Violin

Clayton Hasiop:  Violin

Karren Jones:  Violin

Nathan Kaproff:  Violin

Ezra Kliger:  Violin

Bernard Kundell:  Violin

Kathleen enski:  Violin

Brian Leonard:  Violin

Rene Mandel:  Violin

Edith Markman:  Violin

Michael Markman:  Violin

Yoko Matsuda:  Violin

Ralph Morrison III:  Violin

Irma Neumann:  Violin

Sid Page:  Violin

Stanley Plummer:  Violin

Barbara Porter:  Violin

Anatoly Rosinsky:  Violin

Sid Sharp:  Violin

Haim Shtrum: Violin

Paul Shure:  Violin

Alexander Treger:  Violin

Mari Tsumura-Botnick:  Violin

Dorothy Wade:  Violin

Ken Yerke:  Violin

Raymond Tischer:  Viola, Violin

Gerald Vinci:  Violin

Alan de Veritch:  Viola

David Stockhammer:  Viola

Milton Thomas:  Viola

Mike Nowack:  Viola

Carole Mukogawa:  Viola

Dan Nefeld:  Viola

Kenneth Burward-Hoy:  Viola

Denyse Buffum:  Viola

Samuel Boghossian:  Viola

Roland Kato:  Viola

Myra Kestenbaum:  Viola

Donald Mcinnes:  Viola

Kazi Pitelka:  Viola

Myron Sandler:  Viola

Harry Shinnian:  Viola

Jodi Burnett:  Cello

Anthony Cooks:  Cello

Ronald Cooper:  Cello

Stephen Erdody:  Cello

Paula Hochhalter:  Cello

Dennis Karmazyn:  Cello

Anne Karam:  Cello

Armand Karpoff:  Cello

Armen Ksadjikian:  Cello

Nils Oliver:  Cello

Daniel Rotmhller:  Cello

Frederick Seykora:  Cello

Unforgettable With Love is the thirteenth studio album by Natalie Cole, originally released on June 11, 1991 by Elektra Records, remastered and reissued on February 4, 2022 by Craft Recordings.  Limited Edition in Opaque Pink Colored Vinyl.

Marvin Gaye

 

Artist:  Marvin Gaye

Birth Name:  Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr.

Born:  April 2, 1939.  Washington, D.C. USA

Died:  April 1, 1984 (Aged 44).  Los Angeles, California, USA

Genre:  R&B, Soul, Gospel, Funk, Progressive Soul, Psychedelic Soul, Smooth Soul, Pop-Soul, Quiet Storm, Motown

Occupation:  Singer, Songwriter

Instruments:  Vocals, Keyboards, Drums

Marvin Gaye was an American Singer and Songwriter.  He helped to  shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as a in-house session player and later as a solo artist with a string of success, earning him the nicknames "Prince Of Motown" and "Prince Of Soul".  His big hits include "Ain't That Peculiar", "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)", and "I Heard It Through The Grapevine".  He also recorded duets with Mary Wells, Diana Ross, Tammi Terrell, and Kim Weston.  He won his first two Grammy Awards on the album Midnight Love.

Title:  What's Going On (50th Anniversary Edition Double Vinyl) (2022)

Genre:  R&B, Soul, Gospel, Funk, Progressive Soul, Psychedelic Soul, Smooth Soul, Pop-Soul, Quiet Storm, Motown

Label:   Motown Records

Rating:  *****

Format:  LP

Tracks:

LP 1:

Side 1:

 1.  What's Going On (4:00)

 2.  What's Happening Brother (2:37)

 3.  Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky) (3:40)

 4.  Save The Children (4:06)

 5.  God Is Love (1:44)

 6.  Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (3:03)

Side 2:

 1.  Right On (7:13)

 2.  Wholy Holy (3;06)

 3.  Inner City Blues (Mae Me Wanna Holler) (5:30)

LP 2:

Side 3:

 1.  What's Going On (Stripped Version) (3:57)

 2.  What's Going On (Mix 1/No Strings or Horns) (3:54)

 3.  What's Going On (Rhythm 'N' Strings Instrumental Mix) (3:50)

 4.  Symphony (Demo Version) (2:49)

Side 4:  Original Mono Singles:

 1.  What's Going On (3:54)

 2.  God Is Love (2:51)

 3.  Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (2:30)

 4.  Sad Tomorrows (2:22)

 5.  Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) (2:58)

 6.  Wholy Holy (3;09)

Personnel:

Marvin Gaye:  All Lead Vocals

Detroit Symphony Orchestra:

David Van De Pitte:  Conductor

Background Vocals:

Marvin Gaye

The Andantes (Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, Louvain Demps)

Mel Farr, Charlie Sanders, Lem Barney Of The Detroit Lions

Dave Bing Of The Detroit Pistons

Bobby Rogers Of The Miracles

Elgie Stover

Kenneth Stover

Strings, Woodwinds And Brass:

Gordon Staples, Zinovi Bistritzky, Beatriz Budinzky, Richard Margitza, Virginia Halfmann, Felix Riesnick, Alvin Score Lillian Downs, James Waring:  Violins

Edouard Kesner, Meyer Shapiro, David Ireland, Nathan Gordon:  Violas

Italo Babini, Thaddeus Markiewicz, Edward Korkigan:  Cellos

Max Janowsky:  Double Bass

Carole Crosby:  Harp

Dayna Handwick:  William Perich:  Flutes

Larry Nozero, Angelo Carlisi, George Benson, Tate Houston:  Saxophones

John Trudell Maurice Davis:  Trumpets

Nilesh Pawar:  Oboe

Carl Raetz:  Trombone

The Funk Brothers:  Instrumentation, Spoken Interlude ("What's Going On") and solo Horns

Eli Fountain:  Alto Saxophone on "What's Going On"

Wild Bill Moore:  Tenor Saxophone on "Mercy Mercy Me"

Marvin Gaye:  Piano, Mellotron on "Mercy Mercy Me", Box Drum on "What's Going On"

Johnny Griffith:  Celeste, Additional Keyboards

Earl Van Dyke:  Additional Keyboards

Jack Brokensha:  Vibraphone, Percussion

Joe Messina, Robert White:  Electric Guitars

James Jamerson:  Bass on "What's Going On", "What's Happening Brother", "Flyin' High", "Save The Children", "God Is Love", "Sad Tomorrow"

Bob Babbitt:  Bass on "Mercy Mercy Me","Right On", "Wholy Holy", "Inner Cit Blues"

Chet Forest:  Drums

Jack Ashford:  Tambourine, Percussion

Eddie "Bongo" Brown:  Bongos, Congas

Earl DeRouen". Bongos, Congas on "Right On"

Bobbye Hall:  Bongos on "Inner City Blues"

What's Going On is the eleventh studio album by Marvin Gaye, originally released on May 21, 1971 by Tamla, remastered and reissued on April 1, 2022 by Motown Records.  The album reached No. 1 on US Billboard Top Soul Albums Chart (1971).  50th Anniversary Edition in Double LP 180 Gram Vinyl.