Most of the world recognizes Marvin Gaye as one of the most legendary R&B/Soul singers of all time. A fair, honest assessment, his voice is impossible to confuse with any other, but how many are aware that Gaye initially aspired to be a Jazz singer?
The truth, Gaye’s 1961 debut album The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye was full of Jazz standards. Where his creative heart lay at the time, it is stated that Gaye initially had little interest in being an R&B, but due to pressure, eventually did so. Now, if you would say he was unhappy as an R&B singer is impossible to determine with any degree of accuracy, but there is simply no denying his inspirations came from the Jazz singing world.
With all of this in mind, by 1963 was transitioning into the world of R&B with his second album That Stubborn Kinda Fellow, and the move was a successful one for him as well as Motown Records. A first step toward fame, a year later Gaye was able to satisfy his muse once again with the Jazz-laden album When I’m Alone I Cry.
His third overall studio album, When I’m Alone I Cry arrived on April 1, 1964 with a cool Jazz club aesthetic. No April Fool’s Day joke, it included ten Pop and Jazz standards, two personally requested by Gaye to perform off Billie Holiday’s 1958 album Lady in Satin (“You’ve Changed” and “I’ll Be Around”). Something you would imagine Nat King Cole would have performed, sadly When I’m Alone I Cry did not find an audience, and as a result, Gaye slowly moved fully into the R&B realm due to label pressure.
No question a letdown to Gaye at the time, the commercial failure is in a way a reflection of When I’m Alone I Cry quality. While some might argue that it sounds like Gaye trying to sound like others, you cannot ignore the fact that he was pouring his heart and soul into the music. In fact, even though it is a vastly different sounding Gaye than most associate with the name, you can still very much hear his own distinctive qualities in every note.
Drifting by at a smooth, silky pace, the recordings of “I Was Telling Her About You,” “Because of You,” and “I’ve Grown Accustom To Her Face” are just some shining moments in this collection. Something that provides insight into Marvin Gaye as a singer and creator, now his long-time fans have a chance to own When I’m Alone I Cry in a newly reissued vinyl format.
Released on November 15, 2024 through Elemental Music, this limited edition pressing features the mono recordings taken from the original mono master, all pressed to a clean 140-gram vinyl. Buttery and rich, the music sounds stunning while the presentation is classic and dignified featuring the original artwork.
One of three Marvin Gaye released put out by Elemental Music in 2024, the others being his 1964 duet album with Mary Wells called Together (put out on July 12th) and 1968’s In The Groove (put out September 13th), the When I’m Alone I Cry edition well worth the time for an education in Marvin Gaye. As a result, Cryptic Rock gives this wonderful collector’s piece 4 out of 5 stars.
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