Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – United

This is one of those lovely special albums that found two lovers gelling and flowing together. Back in 1967, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell were head-over-heels in love with each other and it was elegantly portrayed on United. Most of the songs on this album are covers, except for the one I find to be the best one, which is a Gaye original, “If This World Were Mine.” On that song, Gaye and Terrell sing to each other of all the wonderful things they would present each other, if the world were theirs. Such simple, yet sweet thoughts, “You’re my constellation, there’s no hesitation.”


But what makes this album even more special and even more significant was that it was the first of three collaborative efforts by the duo. Gaye loved Terrell with all of his heart and when she collapsed in his arms at a concert, he was devastated. Terrell would pass away in 1970 and this caused Gaye to become severely depressed and he left music for almost two years before returning for his masterpiece, What’s Going On. At her funeral, Gaye was so distraught that he lay at her side, speaking to her as if she was going to respond; she was truly his soul mate and one can only hope they are together now. Here is another song, “Hold Me My Darling.” – Bryan