The Enduring Gifts of MARVIN GAYE Podcast

In this episode I look back thru files from my youth, I've collected and archived, regarding special experiences I've had with documentaries, tributes and concerts of Marvin Gaye over the years. It's been in this past week that I came across the video of Marvin's 1980 concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival. 

This is a rare treat and a great, full concert experience of Marvin, at a point in his career where he has recorded the majority of his catalog, and he performs it with a huge group of skilled, TIGHT and well-rehearsed musicians! It was such a beautiful and deep experience being able to see and hear Marvin REALLY open up and CONNECT to his audience in his final minutes, of his final song of the concert: "What's Going On." I've long known that I am very safe being so sure of my adoration and connection to Marvin Gaye's music. But the last four minutes, or so, of this concert performance simply drove home the safety, correct alignment, and reason WHY I'm good to go for the rest of life on this journey WITH Marvin as a daily part of it. I was so touched by Marvin's words, and because I realize they could literally be a daily meditation resource, I have created two videos that are on our sister youtube channel. The first is audio-only. The 2nd is the full concert footage so you can SEE & HEAR Marvin delivering to us what he is aware was his purpose in this life. 

I circle back to perusing thru my archives and come across a stack of stories I wrote as a teenager when I was first deeply studying, for the first time, Marvin's albums. From my life-long love of writing, I was right at home to write full stories that I "SAW" as I'd deeply get into the visions that Marvin's full albums conveyed to me.  We'll see if I decide to share them in full. I definitely remember them being extremely melodramatic, naive, and a hot-mess of drama. So if nothing else, they would be a source of comic relief to relive!  I also know that no matter if I share those stories or not, the next ALBUM that I chronologically arrive at from here is "I WANT YOU." So upcoming episodes will focus on this work of Marvin's. 

Here are links to the audio and video of Marvin Gaye Sharing with us His Purpose - HIS MOST ENDURING GIFT: 

Audio-only: https://youtu.be/l4MXiSo260M

Concert footage: https://youtu.be/phHLKUCNAU8

In this episode I share my journey in 1994, to acquiring Marvin Gaye's biography titled "Divided Soul." I was only 15 years old and this book came about at about exactly one year into my study of Marvin. It helped to deepen the connection that had already been formed toward him. I share my take on the book from the eyes of a 15 year old young girl and my take on it now. It is a definite resource for getting to know more about the life of Marvin Gaye beyond the music, which will likely only make the two more seamless.  And out of respect for my audience's time, I address the fact that  this podcast does not have a set schedule. This is out of the necessity to give you quality content that requires a flowing schedule for me as the creator. But to rest assured, this series is no where near being finished. We have much more material to discuss! I appreciate your time and every listen you give! 

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Hi Friends, I wanted to take this episode to explore Marvin Gaye's Ohana-Spirit connection to the Hawaiian Islands. I've been blessed to visit this gorgeous archipelago several times thru the years;  But it was on that very first visit that I immediately got it: the appeal the islands had for Marvin. The Islands are a spiritual place for rejuvenation, healing and renewal. I first learned of Marvin's affinity for the Islands when I read his semi-autobiography "Divided Soul" when I was 15.  Jan Gaye also details multiple visits their family took to the islands in her book. I reference a biography which MTV produced on Marvin in the mid 90s, and there is a section of it where they get to discussing Marvin's time in Hawaii.  They cut to speaking to Smokey Robinson and he provides the best example I will share about what seems to be the general state of affairs in Marvin's life, the times in the late 70s that he sought refuge on the Islands. Marvin got in touch with Smokey to ask him to send him a considerable amount of money. And Smokey stated that this was the one time in their lives that he denied Marvin anything. But he just knew what Marvin would have done with the money and the people he had surrounding him at the time that he was not going to fund it. Unfortunately the times Marvin needed the refuge of the Islands he TRULY needed it. But here's the thing. There's just something about Hawaii. It seems to be a little bit bigger than circumstances a lot of the times, or so I've found on my trips. There have been several trips where what Hawaii provided me was a sacred, spiritual place to go sit myself down and take some quiet time to get things sorted out.  Based on this, I just have this feeling that yes, Marvin was going through some of his biggest life's challenges the times he spent in Hawaii, but I believe it is Hawaii and the fact he was there going thru it, that gave us a little bit more time with Marvin and a few more albums from him.  There are so many Instrumentals from Marvin during this timeframe that I just feel that the visions that intended to accompany his sounds, are the sights of Hawaii.  The Islands definitely inspired his art  The specific song I share a STRONG and POWERFUL connection to of Marvin's from my very first, and very eventful trip to Hawaii is "Praise" from the 1981 "In Our Lifetime" album. I returned home from that trip with a newfound and very personal connection to understanding the need to stay "Praised-Up" thru life.

Please visit our Youtube Channel "Marvin Gaye's Enduring Gifts" https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChilKh5Wc2UolrxowWOPktw?view_as=public. Here I have posted numerous videos of road trips I've taken on the islands, where OF COURSE Marvin was the real-time music playing! I also share some non-musical videos (for example a sunset on the Napali coast of Kauai) to share the amazing aloha spirit of the Islands.

I first heard this song on Disc 4-The Balladeer of the Marvin Gaye Collection which contains a mix of Marvin Gaye songs from his 4 jazz albums released in the early 1960s along with a wealth of unreleased takes of songs later released on an album titled "Vulnerable." I share how this segment of Marvin's career has always held a special place for me. And the fact that my initial study of Marvin's music threw me into the middle of the Pacific ocean, so to speak, vs. the 3 foot shallow end of the pool...is the reason why my podcast series has the mission it does. The mission is to help expose you to the deep end, the Pacific Ocean end of Marvin Gaye's musical catalog. I share how I've recently come across a performance Marvin Gaye gave on a tv show from 1968 where he sang another song in this vein titled "Why Did I Choose You." Marvin Gaye is asked where the song comes from after performing it, and his answer to the question provides an explanation of the level of depth of Marvin's knowledge of this genre of music, his seriousness about it, his expertise of it, and the education that he was trying to provide to his listeners.  I give you some backstory of cinema that is tied to the songs "The Days of Wine and  Roses" and "Why Did I Choose You." I wrap up by sharing the very personal connection I have to this song through a very special experience I was able to have the one time I got to play this song for my grandfather! 

This song will shortly be available on our Youtube Channel: "Marvin Gaye's Enduring Gifts" https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChilKh5Wc2UolrxowWOPktw?view_as=public 

And there will soon be a pinterest picture board capturing images relevant to the topics we covered: https://www.pinterest.com/marvingaye_enduring_gifts/

Hey friends, this is a short bonus episode showing mad props to several celebrities that have dropped mad knowledge or shown mad respect for Marvin Gaye over the years.  Wasn't sure how I'd fit these references into episodes about particular songs, but needed to shout these fellow Marvin Gaye fans out! They know what's up! Carlos Santana, Lyle Lovett, Mos Def, and Mary J. Blige

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The VERY first time I ever heard the song "Distant Lover" was this live concert delivery from the 1974 Marvin Gaye Live album. I was only 14 and it provided a clear understanding to me that "WOW, Marvin Gaye...is the REAL DEAL!" The way that this sold-out coliseum full of adoring fans EXPLODES at the moment Marvin utters two words: DISTANT LOVER...it gives chills. I heard this song in the first month of my journey into learning all about Marvin Gaye. And there is just something about that audience's reaction to hearing their beloved begin one of their obvious favorite songs of his, that solidifies Marvin Gaye reached a status of being a legend in his own time.  Not every artist achieves that, but when that status is achieved, it results in these kind of very deep, emotional, coveted, hanging on every note, sold out 40,000+ arenas PERFORMANCES that is a next-level of artistic career achievement.  And Marvin Gaye had achieved all of this at just slightly past the halfway point in his career.  He'd been a teenage heartthrob in the 60s, he's had the million copy selling success of "I Heard it Through the Grapevine," he's made all the duets with Tammi Terrell, he's had the once in a lifetime achievement of artistic purity "What's Going On," he's pulled off a very rare feat of scoring and sound-tracking a film "Trouble Man," and now he's ventured into new soul-bearing love-song territory with the album "Let's Get it On." Yeah, all of that is most definitely legend in your own time status, and you wouldn't even need a thing more to happen with your career. Yet, thankfully we have so much more material to receive from Marvin Gaye from this point forward.  And this night, this concert, THIS singular performance, it's just a proud moment for all of us, Marvin, every fan that had the golden opportunity to be apart of that experience, and thankfully each of us to this day and beyond!  

Our youtube channel "Marvin Gaye's Enduring Gifts"  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChilKh5Wc2UolrxowWOPktw?view_as=public  allows that EVERY podcast episode song is available. Here is the video for "Distant Lover" Live: https://youtu.be/pP6LUdaZpc0

Along with many more rare tv performances, documentaries, interviews, concerts, and most important the DEPTH of Marvin Gaye's musical catalog via a "song of the day" series.  Please check it out, subscribe & like (so youtube understands the value of the channel which will help it become widely visible), and ENJOY!!  

The Star Spangled Banner was written in 1814.  Today, that makes the song 205 years old. On February 13, 1983 at the NBA all-star game, when Marvin Gaye "Marvin Gaye-nized" the song, it was, let's call it ONLY, 169 years old.  Does its being ONLY 169 vs. today's 205 years old matter? No, and here's why, because no one has ever done it like that before, since, never will, and will NEVER top it.  So now we get into some factual territory for [explicit language descriptives that I have no choice but to use when it comes to describing MARVIN GAYE-listen to the previous episode] who Marvin Gaye was as a human being on this planet! He has left behind a mark that catapults him into the classification "That There EVER Was." Examples: The Greatest Singer "That There EVER Was." The most gifted musical artist, the most creative, the most unique.  These statements become proof-positive facts based on this legendary performance, ALONE! Let alone his ENTIRE body of work, that is no where near connected to THIS song!!!  But I love that Marvin gave us the breakdown to the facts via The Star Spangled Banner.  What? WHAT could be MORE Marvin Gaye? Stick around with this series as we discuss just that.  

Our youtube channel "Marvin Gaye Music & Podcast"  allows that EVERY podcast episode song is available, so of course the video of this once-in-a-planet-moment is posted there. Along with many more rare tv performances, documentaries, interviews, concerts, and most important the DEPTH of Marvin Gaye's musical catalog.  Please check it out, subscribe (so youtube understands the value of the channel which will help it become widely visible), and ENJOY!! 

Hi friends, we're excited to announce the launch of our sister YouTube channel "Marvin Gaye's Enduring Gifts." I'm making the channel a partnering resource to our podcast, so that you can have FREE access to the depth of Marvin Gaye's catalog which I constantly refer to in these podcast episodes. 

An example is that I've posted the legendary "Sixties Medley" that I discussed in-depth in episode 10.  I'll be posting the DEPTH of Marvin Gaye's remarkable catalog, including the rare, and hard to find "Marvin Gaye Collection" boxed set. Check out that specific version of "The Shadow of Your Smile," that I direct you to and dedicate an entire episode to, episode 6.  

At our channel (yours and mine) you will be able to have the full listening experience of Marvin's rare and hidden gems that every Marvin Gaye purist MUST have access to:  on-demand and for FREE.  I'm also posting some cool videos of my various vacations to the Hawaiian Islands.  Marvin LOVED Hawaii, and I'm excited to share some of the sights that he likely enjoyed for himself.  I've got several videos of my Hawaiian road-trips, where wouldn't you know it, Marvin Gaye was literally the music I was playing as I was driving along!  

So please check it out, subscribe so you can stay informed of our newest updates, and of course, ENJOY!!  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChilKh5Wc2UolrxowWOPktw?view_as=public 

In this episode we explore Marvin Gaye's song "Inner City Blues," his conclusion to his masterpiece, work of art "What's Going On." This song is a brand new, beginning, change, fresh start. It is Marvin unleashing on us "Marvin Groove." This is a phrase I coined in episode 1 of this podcast series: "There's Groove, and then there's MARVIN GROOVE." Folks I go all the way in this episode getting to the point of THE headline that will be the thread throughout ALL episodes to come: Marvin Gaye is the baddest Mother (Shut your mouth) that there ever was.  That means of all time, ever. Of all preceding, of all during his time, and carrying thru to this day, with no peer.  I just couldn't avoid needing to establish that in this episode because I can't WAIT to fully paint my picture around this in every episode going forward.  With this song, is it not the GROOVIEST (to coin it as Marvin would), most original, and thorough example of making a change, starting anew, and doing it with complete mastery.  From note one Marvin is building us from scratch, and in real time, a totally new sound that he owns, claims, and puts on us from this point forward with no mercy, and with an expertise that just needs to be the theme song to life for any threshold, fork in the road, on the verge of a new beginning experience you may face; and where you could use that encouragement to OWN IT! Play this song for your build-up and to give you that boost to go for it!

Please visit our PInterest page which is full of some very hard and fun work I'm putting in to capture all of the beautiful and relevant imagery I can find, of our revered subject: Marvin Gaye.  It really is my goal for you to be able to see (and hear, via many videos I'm finding) for yourself, relevant references I make in these episodes. I've got 1000+ pictures & videos of rare television and concert performances, documentaries, and even the two MOVIES that Marvin Gaye made!! You can find us at:  https://www.pinterest.com/marvingaye_enduring_gifts/  

In this episode we discover Marvin Gaye's song "Save the Children" from the 1971 "What's Going On" album. I"m gonna get straight to the headline. This song contains the ONLY 20 seconds of Marvin Gaye's full-strength, in his power, and IN HIS MASTERY of his voice, that you, me, the world can handle.  There is 20 seconds of space from minute 3 and 41 seconds thru minute 4 of this song that we are shown a one-time glimpse of Marvin Gaye fully unleashing an ability, and ENDURING GIFT; that I believe he was so caught up in the moment of the song, that he did not resist, he did not hold-back, he did not remember, that he was slipping up and showing us entirely what he was working with.  The name of this song could just as easily be "Who Really Cares?" because it is the theme of the song that is repeated over and over.  Marvin takes us to a time of REVELATIONS, he is painting a future, bleek scene of what life will be on our planet (and are we there yet?).  And it's enough of a vivid picture to barely be able to handle it, thinking of just ourselves in the midst of this scene he's orating.  But it is at minute 1 and 26 seconds that Marvin inserts the CHILDREN into this picture, this opera, and suddenly...something both breaks down inside, and turns on inside of the listener.  It becomes crystal clear that the children are the total motivation to save this world.  Let's face it, no matter who an artist is, if they write and deliver a song titled "SAVE THE CHILDREN" it's going to be one of, THE MOST important song of their career.  That is this, and for me, it is all about those 20 seconds. I'm living for those 20 seconds!!

 If this podcast is resonating with you, and if you're here for the love of MARVIN GAYE, please tell 5 people.  Let's make this a movement of love in Marvin Gaye!! We've gone global and that is FULL Testament of the on-demand joy this beautiful, pure artist bestowed upon us. It is his eternal ENDURING GIFT!! 

Please visit our PInterest page which is full of some very hard and fun work I'm putting in to capture all of the beautiful and relevant imagery I can find, of our revered subject: Marvin Gaye.  It really is my goal for you to be able to see (and hear, via many videos I'm finding) for yourself, relevant references I make in these episodes. I've got 1000+ pictures & videos of rare television and concert performances, documentaries, and even the one and only MOVIE that Marvin Gaye made!! You can find us at:  https://www.pinterest.com/marvingaye_enduring_gifts/