Album: The Master 1961-1984 by Marvin Gaye (1995)
Genre: Soul | Style: Urban/R&B | Mood: Happy
Record Label: Motown Records
Format: Compilation

Description: The Master (1961-1984) is a chronological box set album looking back at American R&B/soul legend Marvin Gaye's phenomenal 23-year recording career. Spanning four discs, the box set goes over all portions of Gaye's career with a repertoire that spanned doo-wop, R&B, soul, psychedelic soul and funk with a mixture of themes including dance songs, love ballads, duets, socially conscious material, sensual material and autobiographical revelations. The set includes rarities such as a recorded 1981 live track of Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips each singing their seminal hit "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", Gaye's famed 1983 performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at an NBA All-Star game and an a cappella performance of "The Lord's Prayer" taped during Gaye's exile in Belgium.

In 2006, Universal re-released the boxset as part of its Universal Earbook series, issuing it as a LP-sized hardback coffee table book.

Artist Background: Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. (April 2, 1939 - April 1, 1984), better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye (he added the 'e' as a young man), was an acclaimed American singer-songwriter and musician who achieved major success in the 1960s and 1970s as an artist for the Motown label. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Gaye was the son of a storefront minister of a local Pentecostal church and grew up singing in his father's church, later learning to play piano and drums. As a teenager, he discovered ... Part of the Washington, D.C., USA music scene. Emerged in the 1960s era. Associated with Soul movement. Known for Urban/R&B style.

Related Artists: Stevie Wonder, Al Green, The Isley Brothers, Curtis Mayfield

Music Scene: Part of the Washington, D.C., USA music scene. Emerged in the 1960s era. Associated with Soul movement. Known for Urban/R&B style.

Tags: Soul, Urban/R&B, Happy, 1990s, Compilation, Motown Records


The Master (1961-1984) is a chronological box set album looking back at American R&B/soul legend Marvin Gaye's phenomenal 23-year recording career. Spanning four discs, the box set goes over all portions of Gaye's career with a repertoire that spanned doo-wop, R&B, soul, psychedelic soul and funk with a mixture of themes including dance songs, love ballads, duets, socially conscious material, sensual material and autobiographical revelations. The set includes rarities such as a recorded 1981 live track of Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips each singing their seminal hit "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", Gaye's famed 1983 performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at an NBA All-Star game and an a cappella performance of "The Lord's Prayer" taped during Gaye's exile in Belgium.

In 2006, Universal re-released the boxset as part of its Universal Earbook series, issuing it as a LP-sized hardback coffee table book.

The Master 1961-1984

Marvin Gaye

Track List

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