By 1968 Marvin Gaye had established himself as a well-known name in the world of R&B and Soul music, but in the grand scheme of matters, the best was yet to come. Gaye, a key part of Motown Records’ success, had made major impressions on audiences by teaming with Tammi Terrell for a string of hits starting in 1967 with “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You,” leading into 1968 with “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing” and “You’re All I Need to Get By.” A magical time, tragically amidst it all in October of 1967 Terrell collapsed from exhaustion, and it was soon learned she had a brain tumor. Something that weighed on Gaye, he pushed through with a heavy heart to record his solo album In the Groove.
A breakthrough album for Gaye, In the Groove, was released on August 26, 1968, but was not without struggles behind the scenes. As mentioned, Gaye was sincerely upset about Terrell’s health issues, and some would say her untimely passing in March of 1970 altered his approach to singing in the future. Something to consider, in the thick of the recording sessions of In the Groove, Producer Norman Whitfield called on Gaye to raise his voice to a much higher register for “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.” A song that Whitfield co-wrote with Barrett Strong, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” would go on to become the first massive hit, the most successful for Motown at the time, but ironically, Gaye was not sharing in the joy. An artist with a mass of sensitivity, Gaye believed the recording’s success was not deserved because he felt as if he was merely a puppet during the creative process. Understandably, considering the turbulence of everything going on around him, to the bipartisan listener, it is still an exceptional listen that can only be attributed to Gaye’s talents.
All these matters considered, the late success of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (nearly a year and a half after In the Groove’s release) should not overshadow the album itself. Gaye’s first solo studio album in two years, In the Groove featured some fantastic songs like the single “You,” a cover of “Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever” (originally recorded by the Four Tops), plus the Gospel-vibed “At Last (I Found a Love)” and the soulful “Change What You Can,” both co-written by Gaye himself. All making for a great album, skyrocketing up to number 2 on the R&B Album Chart thanks to “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” which made In the Groove his best-selling release to date.
A prelude of what was to come for Marvin Gaye, where his genius would soon be fully realized with albums like 1971’s What’s Going On, it is important to celebrate In the Groove. Doing just that, Elemental Music has made the wise decision to include it as part of their 2024 Motown Records reissue vinyl collection. The second Gaye reissue of the year for them, the first being the duet album Together with Mary Wells back on July 12th, In the Groove arrived on September 13th.
Pressed to a 140-gram pristine virgin vinyl, the limited edition reissue also features the colorful original cover art which provides an authentic feel. As smooth as butter spreading on bread, the tone of Gaye’s voice is perfectly encapsulated, and that is why Cryptic Rock praises this exciting pressing of In The Groove, giving it 5 out of 5 stars.
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