Marvin Gaye Lets Get It On

In 1976 Marvin Gayes marriage was about to collapse. He was also just about to be imprisoned because of non-paid child-support to his wife Anna. Reputedly Motown bailed Marvin out and he was suggested to leave US for a some time. Promoter Jeffrey Kruger arranged a European tour to start up in September 1976 and it also included a long waited visit to England for the first time in ten years.

This concert in question was held in 10th October before sell-out audience in Edenhall concert hall Amsterdam. The track listing is pretty much identical compared to the Album "Marvin Gaye - Live At The London Palladium!" which was recorded on the same tour seven days earlier. Only songs missing are "Trouble Man" and "God is Love". All the other tracks are exactly (although in different order) the same as on this DVD, even including the content of medleys. These Medleys are actually one of the biggest problems in this concert. In a way the whole concert is one gigantic medley, while atleast what I was expecting, were the full versions of the songs. If compared to the performances in the "Live in Montreux" DVD this concert feels pretty boring. Marvin himself explained the reason for these medleys in Sharon Davis´ biography book like this; "I got a list of songs from my promoter. He told me all the tracks that were popular in England and I just put them into medley form for few minutes because I hadn´t done them in years. In fact, when I sing them in the States people go for popcorn and hot dogs. The only way you can perform an old record in the States is if you are very animated about it because American´s don´t want memories. They´re not nostalgic people. So I can´t understand why British audiences want to hear the old stuff because for me the songs are very painful, especially those with Tammi Terrell..."

The show starts up with two songs from the "I Want you" album; "All The Way Round" and "Since I Had You". The effect of constant eating of junk food and irregular sleeping habits can bee seen on Marvins body as his appearance looks a bit sleepy and swollen. The song "Come Get To This" leads the concert onwards as an intro to an extended version of "Let´s Get It On" in which Marvin really "gets it on" in seducing the female viewers in the audience. After "Let´s Get It On" begins the chain of medleys which won´t end until the finale which is the "Distant Lover". First medley includes some biggest 60´s hits like "Pride and Joy", "I Heard It Through The Grapewine" ect.

The second medley consisted of songs from the "What´s Going On?" album starting with "Inner City Blues" and then leading through "What´s Going On?" to "Save The Children". For the final medley of classic duet songs, Marvin was joined on stage by a lady called Florence Lyles. With Florence Marvin sings through songs like "You´re All I Need" and "Ain´t No Mountain High Enough", but unfortunately Flo´s voice sounds really flat compared to original duet partners like Tammi Terrels or Kim Westons. She really doesn´t make any justice for these songs although It´s only my own oppinion. The Finale "Distant lover" is probably the best act in this concert though I think a better performance can be heard on the "Live At The London Palladium" album.