1979 was the descent into the underworld of Marvin Gaye from which he never returned. Where the career and the personal life of the singer entered into a spiral that marked the path of no return to its sad end. despite the success achieved in 1982/83 with his last studio album. Addicted to cocaine use and stormy relationships with their women, the rise of stars like Prince made his last years the worst nightmare ever dreamed.
After the failure of his previous work: "Here My Dear", published on December 1978; described as “bizarre” and not comercial. With only two singles :“A Funky Space Reincarnation" and "Anger", the last one published at the end of the summer, Marvin started to working on a new studio album, called “Love Man”.
As a preview to the album, a first single was published on september 17: “Ego Trippin´Out”, a slightly autobiographical disco song in which he explained as his ego was larger than life. The song was supposed to be the leading track off Gaye's next album, was recorded at his personal studio. It debuted on the Tv program Dinah Shore's Dinah & Friends; but was not a success, and this caused losses, also a $4.5 million tax bill made matters worse in the singer´s life.
Marvin had to interrupt the production of the album and go on tour to recover money. The new tour without any lp to promote, started on September 22 at at Front Row Theater, Highland Heights, OH, USA. Between the show in Japan at Banpaku Hall on November 14 and the next at Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA, USA on December 29, Marvin tried finishing his “Love Man” project; Bit.ly/79MG80 but after hearing a mix at Sea-West recording studios in Honolulu, Gaye shelved the album, fearing his music career was over; because some of the songs were too obvious and raw about his decadent personal situation.
Here´s the 1979 Sea-West recording studio mix rejected by Marvin Gaye.
Side One: 22:02.
1 Ego Tripping Out. 7:13
2 Life´s A Game Of Give And Take. 4:54
3 Life Is Now In Session. 4:04
4 I Offer You Nothing But Love. 5:50
Side Two: 22:01
1 Just Because You´re So Pretty. 5:06
2 Dance N´Be Happy. 4:43
3 Funk Me,Funk Me,Funk Me. 5:34
4 A Lover´s Plea. 6:37
Finally he abandoned the tour too, and the demands of the promoters for breach of contract, worsened his situation. Gaye's lawyer advised him to file for voluntary bankruptcy, later resulting in the shutdown of his recording studio, which further depressed Gaye. Also the divorce of his wife and the accusation of mistreatment with the next, sank him further. All this led him to attempted suicide by snorting an ounce of cocaine.
Time after, the concert promoter:Jeffrey Krueger got contact with Gaye, to start a European tour, which took place in 1980, featured performances in Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland and England.
Scared of a possible arrest warrant for avoiding the IRS, decided to settle in London. There began to reevaluate the Love Man album with a different concept. Who cared about competing with Michael Jackson and Prince?. He was the sex king. The recording sessions for his new concept for the album began at London's Odyssey and George Martin's AIR Studios.Songs that Gaye had recorded while in Los Angeles and Hawaii changed from their original approach and titles.
Here´s the 1980 Odyssey studios mix:
Side Three: 19:02
1 Ego Tripping Out. 4:37
2 Heavy Love Affair. 4:40. (A.k.a: “ Life´s A Game Of Give And Take“).
3 Life Is For Learning. 3:53. (A.k.a: “Life Is Now In Session”).
4 In Our Lifetime. 5:51. (A.k.a: “I Offer You Nothing But Love).
Side Four: 21:24
1 Love Me Now or Love Me Later. 5:43 .(A.k.a: “Just Because You´re So Pretty”).
2 Funk Me. 5:12. (A.k.a: “Funk Me, Funk Me, Funk Me“).
3 Love Party. 5:18. (A.k.a: “Dance N´Party)
4 Praise. 5:09 (A.k.a: “A lover´s Plea).
"Far Cry" was the only new song with the instrumental "Nuclear Juice", also made new mixes of: "Ego Tripping Out" at Air Studios..
In December 1979, without knowledge Marvin Gaye, the master tapes were stolen by bassist Frank Blair, and delivered to Motown's Hollywood offices. They remixed the album and published it before Marvin could do anything. “Love man” now re-titled: “When In Our Lifetime”, it became the sixteenth studio album in the singer's musical career; was finally released on January 15, 1981.
The singer did not want to continue with his old company. and signed in March 1982 with CBS, who bought the rights of Marvin Gaye to Motown In October, released his last studio album: “Midnight Love”,followed by a successful world tour.
This Long Play was certified triple platinum in the United States, selling well over six million copies worldwide. The NME named it as Album of the Year in 1983; and Mr. Gaye was nominated for a 1984 Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
But the bad luck that had accompanied him in recent years did not leave him, a day before his 45th birthday, he was killed by his father of several shots.
Photo: Original cover for "Love Man", unreleased album from 1979/80.
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