Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye – Diana & Marvin

This ranks right up there with the soul duos of Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway, Dinah Washington & Brook Benton and Otis Redding & Carla Thomas (not to mention all the duet records Marvin recorded prior to this). Apparently it was a long time coming, given what each of these artists had already accomplished. But it's a real classy affair, even if some of their "duets" were recorded separately and later edited together. I think the songwriting and sympathetic arrangements seal the deal for me, especially "My Mistake (Was To Love You)". The two Stylistcs covers are also surprisingly good. Another Motown classic.

Album Revolution #5: With practically most of the "Motown" artists finding their Voice and expressing themselves, the Record Company really wanted to get back to some of the things that made them successful in the past....The would include having a duet album....And who better to make that happen with, then with the Queen and Prince of "Motown" in "Diana Ross" and "Marvin Gaye".....Now, "Marvin", in the '60's, was the person to go to when it came to Duets....He successfully acomplished it well with "Mary Wells", "Kim Weston" and especially "Tammi Terrell"....But by the '70's, there was truely one "Lady" of "Motown", and it was "Diana"....So with the pairing, the album "Diana & Marvin" was released.....Now, let's be honest here.....It truely has nothing on any of the Duets that "Marvin" had before, but it was good enough to be in good standing with the fans (and to be part of the Album Revolution)....Their versions of "The Stylistics" "You Are Everything" and "Wilson Pickett's" "Don't Knock My Love", are just good enough to make the grade of great Duets (with "You Are Everything" being the 1st Crown Jewel).....As usual, with projects like this, "Berry Gordy" had to have a hand in it, with the 2nd Crown Jewel, "You're A Special Part Of Me".....As critical as I am with "Berry" at times, I will never deminsh his contributions to Music!!!!! In this case it worked!!!!! The song truely fits "Marvin" and "Diana's" Vocal personalities....."Pledging My Love", the 3rd Crown Jewel, was the first song I paid attention to by the Duo, because it is also on "Marvin's" "The Master Box Set" (released in 1995)....It's a very engaging song, and it actually sounds like "Marvin" was ready for this one, while "Diana" brought it on home...."Just Say, Just Say" (the 4th Crown Jewel, Produced by "Ashford & Simpson"), is a nice little slice of a Romatic Love song....I personally don't know why "Ashford & Simpson" only did one song here....Maybe they were on their way out, because soon they would Get Extremely Down at "Warner Bros. Records".....I personally wasn't feeling their verson "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)", as well as "I'm Falling In Love With You" and "Include Me In Your Life"....They were not terrible, just really wasn't feeling them....Now, the Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel, "My Mistake (Was To Love You)", Is The BOMB!!!!!!!!! I believe it was a single, but I personally feel like people slept on this one!!!!! Muscially and Vocally, it is just THAT!!!!! This one sounds like "Marvin" really loved this song!!!!! And the way "Diana" sounded was classic, and she also sounded like she was happy that "Marvin" loved it....I said those last two statements because, I do believe that "Berry" had to really talk "Marvin" into this project....Remember, "Marvin" had other sounds in his head, so to temporary take him away from that, really had to take a lot...And I'm also sure that he was not stupid to turn down a chance to work with "Diana" as well....After this, "Marvin" would go back to what he was doing, while "Diana" would continue to become the "Diva" (the title that she would earn)!!!!!!!!

Maybe the Best Duo ever in the 70’s ???
Monster LP full of great tracks that do not need any introduction
Never be tired listening this one

Perfect in every way