Marvin Gaye: The Real Thing In Performance 1964-1981
Running time: 130 minutes
(exempt from classification)
Distributor: Universal


Considering the stature of the Motown stars it's surprising that nothing like this has been attempted before. A serious collection of filmed performances (only one could be called a video clip) aimed at presenting a portrait of a performer.

Eschewing the tabloid scandal angle, which frequently accompanies any telling of Marvin Gaye's life, 'The Real Thing' concentrates on his soul rather than his circumstances. What emerges is a reminder that Gaye was an awesome singer and an endearing mix of talent and humility. The footage ranges from the obvious (Hitch Hike on 'American Bandstand') to the outright obscure (a rarely seen promotional clip for A Funky Space Reincarnation) sewn together with interview footage wherein the likes of Dick Clark and Dinah Shore try to tease answers out of a clearly shy Marvin Gaye.

This is another curious element of Gaye's persona, that among the highly styled Motown school he was not an easy performer - he lacks the strut and glide of The Temptations or the innate theatricality of Smoky Robinson or Diana Ross. Instead, as he grows from nervy stiff to an on-stage smoothie, Marvin Gaye presents himself with an unabashed intimacy which on a live version of Let's Get It On becomes mesmerising. He's the kind of singer who can announce, as he does on Come Get To This, "I wanna do something freaky to you" and have it sound sweet.

If there's any shortcoming to this set it's in not licensing the video for Sexual Healing to complete the picture. In every other respect 'The Real Thing' takes a too-much-is-barely-enough approach; 16 tracks (early mimed TV appearances sensibly married to Motown's stereo master recordings), a 50 minute 1981 concert from Belgium, plus a bonus CD 'Live In Holland 1976' and a solid booklet.

While only the street footage spliced throughout What's Going On and What's Happening Brother (both live in Chicago, 1972) goes any way towards illustrating the narrative of the songs, the real joy of 'Marvin Gaye: The Real Thing In Performance 1964-1981' comes from watching such a casually complex presence.

Brett Buttfield