The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye Tracklist
The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye is the debut studio album by Marvin Gaye, released on June 8, 1961, via the Motown Records label Tamla. The album was the second album to be released on the label.
Despite Motown’s efforts to try to persuade Gaye to record R&B aimed at teenagers, Gaye had ambitions to record adult-oriented pop and jazz standards, similar to one of his idols, Nat King Cole. After much hesitation, Motown allowed Gaye to record in the direction he wanted. The result is an album that consists primarily of standards, with the exception of R&B tracks “Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide” and “Never Let You Go (Sha Lu Bop)”.
Only one single was released from the album, Gaye’s debut single, “Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide”, although “(I’m Afraid) The Masquerade is Over” was sent to radio as a promo single on the same day.
“The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye” Q&A
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How did Marvin choose the songs to record on this album?
I sang ‘Witchcraft’ because Sinatra sang it, and ‘You Don’t Know What Love Is’ because of Lady Day’s version. Miles had a thing out on ‘My Funny Valentine’ which moved me to record the song. I was always fascinated by the theme of ‘Love for Sale’ and promised myself to put that tune on my first album.
— Marvin Gaye, Divided Soul
