Marvin Gaye - The Master 1961-1984

The average fan is better off with Anthology, which covers almost all of Marvin Gaye's true classics. But for those who want the hits and then some, and have the budget and interest to go further, this four-CD box set is an excellent retrospective of his career. The 89 tracks include all the chart hits (both on his own and with Mary Wells, Kim Weston, Tammi Terrell, and Diana Ross) and many interesting B-sides, album tracks, and misses. There are also over a dozen previously unreleased cuts, most dating from the early part of his career; they don't rank among his best work, but they're almost all good and interesting. With a long essay by his biographer, David Ritz, this is the best overview of Gaye's evolution and versatility, and a much-recommended alternative to the previous Gaye box, The Marvin Gaye Collection. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Name Credits Alvin Score Violin Andrew "Mike" Terry Saxophone Andrew Smith Drums Angelo Carlisi Saxophone, Sax (Alto) Art Stewart Producer Beatriz Budinszky Violin Benny Benjamin Drums Bernie Peacock Saxophone Berry Gordy, Jr. Producer Bill Johnson Trombone Billy Horner Trumpet Bob Babbitt Bass Bob Cousar Trombone Bob Gaudio Arranger, Producer Bobby Rodgers Vocals (Background) Bobby Scott Producer Bobbye Hall Bongos, Conga Brian Holland Producer Bugsy Wilcox Drums Carl Raetz Trombone Carole Crosby Harp Charles Owen Sax (Tenor) Chet Forest Drums Chuck Rainey Bass Clarence Isabell Bass Clarence Paul Producer Clifford Mack Drums Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson Arranger Curtis Anthony Nolen Guitar Dale Oehler Arranger Danny Turner Saxophone Danya Hartwick Flute Dave Hamilton Vibraphone, Guitar David Blumberg Arranger David Ireland Viola David Ritz Liner Notes David T. Walker Guitar David Van De Pitte Arranger Dennis Coffey Guitar Diana Ross Performer Don Slaughter Trumpet Don White Trombone Earl DeRouen Bongos, Conga Earl Vanduke Keyboards Ed Townsend Producer Eddie "Bongo" Brown Bongos, Conga, Percussion, Drums Eddie Jones Trumpet Eddie Watkins Bass Eddie Willis Guitar Edouard Kesner Viola Elgie Stover Vocals (Background) Eli Fontaine Saxophone Eli Fountain Sax (Alto) Elmira Collins Percussion, Vibraphone Emil Richards ?, Vibraphone, Mallets Ernie Fields Jr. Sax (Alto) Ernie Rodgers Saxophone Eugene BeeBee Moore Saxophone Felix Resnick Violin Fernando Harkness Saxophone, Sax (Tenor) Floyd Jones Trumpet Frank Blair Bass Frank Wilson Producer Frankie Gaye Vocals (Background) Frederick Waits Drums Gary Coleman Percussion Gary Jones Conga, Percussion Gene Page Conductor, Arranger George Benson Sax (Tenor) George Bohannon Trombone George Gordy Producer George McGregor Drums George Shaw Trumpet Gladys Knight & the Pips Performer Gloria Jones Producer Gordon Banks Guitar Gordon Staples Concert Master, Violin, Strings Hal Davis Producer Harvey Fuqua Producer Henry Cosby Producer, Saxophone Henry E. Davis Bass Herbie Williams Trumpet Italo Babini Cello Ivy Hunter Producer, Keyboards Jack Ashford Tambourine, Percussion, Vibraphone Jack Brokensha Vibraphone, Percussion James Gadson Drums James Gittens Vibraphone, Keyboards James Jamerson Bass James Waring Violin Jan Hunter Vocals (Background) Jay Graydon Guitar Jerry Peters Fender Rhodes, Piano Jimmy Wilkins Trombone Joe Messina Guitar Joe Sample Piano Joel Peskin Saxophone John Arnold Percussion John Barnes Fender Rhodes, Piano John Trudell Trumpet John Wilson Trumpet Johnny Bristol Producer Johnny Griffith Celeste, Keyboards Johnny McGhee Guitar Kasuku Mafia Saxophone Kenny Mason Trumpet Kim Weston Performer Lamont Dozier Producer Lanny Austin Saxophone Larry Nozero Saxophone, Sax (Soprano) Larry Veeder Guitar Lefty Edwards Saxophone Lem Barney Vocals (Background) Leon Ware Producer Lewis Shelton Guitar Marcus Belgrave Trumpet Martha & the Vandellas Vocals Marvin Gaye Keyboards, Arranger, Drums, Producer, Piano, Percussion Marvin Jenkins Piano Mary Wells Performer Maurice Davis Trumpet Max Janowsky Bass (Upright) Melvin "Wah Wah" Ragin Guitar Meyer Shapiro Viola Nathan Gordon Viola Nickolas Ashford Producer Nolan Andrew Smith Trumpet Norman J. Whitfield Producer Pam Sawyer Producer Patrick Lanier Trombone Paul Humphries Drums Paul Riser Arranger, Trombone Popcorn Wylie Keyboards Preston Wilcox Drums Ray Brown Trumpet Ray Parker, Jr. Guitar Raymond Crossley Keyboards Rene Hall Arranger Richard "Pistol" Allen Drums Rick Margitza Violin Robert Staunton Producer Robert Walker Producer Robert White Guitar Ron Brown Bass Ronnie Wakefield Saxophone Russell Conway Trumpet Sidney Muldrew French Horn Sidney Muldrow French Horn Smokey Robinson Producer Son Ship Percussion Sonny Burke Piano, Fender Rhodes Sunship Percussion T-Boy Ross Producer Tammi Terrell Performer Tate Houston Sax (Baritone) Ted Buckner Saxophone Ted Sheely Keyboards Thaddeus Markiewicz Cello The Andantes Vocals (Background) The Detroit Symphony Strings The Vandellas Performer Thomas "Beans" Bowles Saxophone Tony Newton Bass Uriel Jones Drums Valerie Simpson Producer Victor Feldman Vibraphone Virginia Halfmann Violin Wali Ali Guitar Warren "Pete" Moore Producer Wild Bill Moore Saxophone, Sax (Tenor) William "Mickey" Stevenson Producer William Bryant Keyboards William Perich Flute Wilton Felder Bass Zinovi Bistritzky Trombone