Live at the London Palladium
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| Live at the London Palladium | ||
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| Live album by Marvin Gaye | ||
| Released | March 15, 1977 | |
| Recorded | The London Palladium October 3, 1976 Marvin's Room January 31, 1977 |
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| Genre | Soul/Funk/Disco | |
| Length | 71:36 | |
| Label | Tamla | |
| Producer(s) | Marvin Gaye | |
| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| Marvin Gaye chronology | ||
| I Want You (1976) |
Live at the London Palladium (1977) |
Here, My Dear (1978) |
Live at the London Palladium was the most successful live album ever released by soul music legend Marvin Gaye and in fact, also one of his biggest-selling albums in Gaye´s recording history. Released in 1977 and recorded during several shows on rave reviews by the British press in London, England in October, 1976 during a very dizzying, topsy-turvy and bizarre period in the star's life where he was going through divorce with his first wife, married a second - the one woman who inspired many of Gaye's mid-1970s romantic anthems including "Let's Get It On" in particular - and was blinded by drug addiction and stage fright.
But despite the fact that he was slipping a bit on the American music radar, the British audience were very appreciative to Marvin. Though he wasn't over his stage fright and he often mumbled inconstiences onstage, when singing, the 37-year-old performer still could dazzle an audience with his charm, wit and show-stopping talent as was heard on the album. Performing a variety of songs from newer material encompassing from Gaye's 1976 album, I Want You, to older songs (featured in three segues of medleys) from his early-to-mid 1960s heyday to his famed What's Going On period in 1970-1971, his legendary duets and a trio of songs from his Let's Get It On album, Gaye never ceased to amaze the audience especially during the performances of "Come Get to This", "Let's Get It On" (which he moaned during a break of the song to the delight of several female fans who were heard squealing) and "Distant Lover".
After the concert was over following Gaye saying "Thank you!" over and over almost in sing-song medley as the band opened and closed with the intro to "I Want You", Gaye launches into the studio effort, his one attempt at making a convincing disco record, the funk track, "Got to Give It Up". Recorded as if there was a party at Marvin's Los Angeles studio, Marvin's Room, the singer vocalised a song where the author is longing to get out of his shy cover and get on the dance floor with reckless abandon. The song runs for 11 minutes and 52 seconds. The influence of the song, which became a #1 hit on the Billboard pop and R&B singles chart (as well as a #1 hit on the club charts), would lead to familiar songs composed and performed by Michael Jackson. The first of which, "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" (w/The Jacksons), could've taken its cue from Marvin's closing chant in "Got to Give It Up": "Let's dance/let's shout/get funky what it's all about!", while his solo number, his #1 hit, "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough", was especially influenced by "Got to Give It Up".
Either way, the album became one of Gaye's biggest successes during this late period reaching #1 R&B and #3 Pop on the album charts. The album stayed in the top 10 for thirteen weeks and went on to sell two million copies becoming one of the top ten best-selling albums of that year in America.
It would be Gaye's last live album until a show at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1980.
[edit] Track listing
- "Intro Theme" (Ross/Ware) – 2:34
- "All the Way Round" (Ross/Ware) – 3:50
- "Since I Had You" (Gaye/Ware) – 4:59
- "Come Get to This" (Gaye) – 2:24
- "Let's Get It On" (Gaye/Townsend) – 6:21
- "Trouble Man" (Gaye) – 5:39
- "Medley I: Ain't That Peculiar/You're a Wonderful One/Stubborn Kind..." – 8:49
- "Medley II: Inner City Blues/God Is Love/What's Going On/Save the Children" – 9:49
- "Medley III: You're All I Need to Get By/Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing..." (Performed by Gaye & Florence Lyles) – 10:27
- "Thanks" – 1:05
- "Distant Lover" (Fuqua/Gaye/Greene) – 8:31
- "Closing Theme: I Want You" (Ross/Ware) – 3:47
- "Got to Give It Up" (Gaye) – 11:52
