Romantically Yours
Encyclopedia
Romantically Yours was the second posthumous release for American
soul music
legend Marvin Gaye
, also released by Columbia Records
in 1985.
While his previous posthumous album, Dream Of A Lifetime
, showcased some of Marvin's appetite for funk
rhythms and soul
balladry, this album focused on his attempts at being a crooner.
The collection showcased a growth in Gaye's vocal styling as he slowly found his footing as a crooner with songs such as "Just Like", "Why Did I Choose You" - a track he had originally recorded in 1968 to failed result and later revived for an album he was working on in 1978 titled Ballads (later released as Vulnerable
in 1997) and "Walking in the Rain" which showcased his perfecting falsetto croon to a jazz setting.
Songs such as the revived 1978 recordings of "Why Did I Choose You" and "I Won't Cry Anymore" and a different 1978 version of "The Shadow of Your Smile" later made it on Vulnerable.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
legend Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
, also released by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in 1985.
While his previous posthumous album, Dream Of A Lifetime
Dream of a Lifetime
Dream of a Lifetime was the first posthumously released compilation of music by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. It spawned the #2 R&B hit, "Sanctified Lady".-Background:...
, showcased some of Marvin's appetite for funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
rhythms and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
balladry, this album focused on his attempts at being a crooner.
The collection showcased a growth in Gaye's vocal styling as he slowly found his footing as a crooner with songs such as "Just Like", "Why Did I Choose You" - a track he had originally recorded in 1968 to failed result and later revived for an album he was working on in 1978 titled Ballads (later released as Vulnerable
Vulnerable (Marvin Gaye album)
Vulnerable is a posthumous album which was recorded by American singer Marvin Gaye in the late 1970s and set to be released under the tentative title of The Ballads. Shelved in 1979, the album was released by Motown in 1997.-Background:...
in 1997) and "Walking in the Rain" which showcased his perfecting falsetto croon to a jazz setting.
Songs such as the revived 1978 recordings of "Why Did I Choose You" and "I Won't Cry Anymore" and a different 1978 version of "The Shadow of Your Smile" later made it on Vulnerable.
Track listing
- "More" (Norman Newell, Nino Oliviero, Riz Ortolani) – 2:40
- "Why Did I Choose You" (Michael Leonard, Herbert Martin) – 2:36
- "MariaMaria (1956 song)"Maria" is a song from the Broadway musical West Side Story, sung by the lead character Tony. The music was written by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The song was published in 1956....
" (Leonard BernsteinLeonard BernsteinLeonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
, Stephen SondheimStephen SondheimStephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...
) – 3:06 - "The Shadow of Your Smile" (Johnny MandelJohnny MandelJohnny Mandel is an American composer and arranger of popular songs, film music and jazz. Among the musicians he has worked with are Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Anita O'Day, Barbra Streisand, and Shirley Horn.-Life:...
, Paul Francis WebsterPaul Francis WebsterPaul Francis Webster was an American lyricist who won three Academy Awards for Best Song and was nominated sixteen times for the award.-Biography:...
) – 3:03 - "Fly Me To The MoonFly Me to the Moon"Fly Me to the Moon" is a popular standard song written by Bart Howard in 1954. It was originally titled "In Other Words", and was introduced by Felicia Sanders in cabarets...
" (Bart HowardBart HowardBart Howard was the composer and writer of the famous jazz standard "Fly Me To The Moon", which has been performed by singers Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, Della Reese, Diana Krall, June Christy and Astrud Gilberto...
) – 3:19 - "I Won't Cry Anymore" (Al Frisch, Fred WiseFred Wise (lyricist)Fred Wise was the co-writer of the lyrics to the 1948 song "'A' — You're Adorable" with Buddy Kaye. He subsequently wrote many of the songs sung by Elvis Presley in his movies....
) – 2:40 - "Just Like" (Gaye) – 4:08
- "Walkin' In The Rain" (Gaye) – 2:54
- "I Live For You" (Gaye) – 2:40
- "Stranger In My Life" (Gaye) – 3:41
- "Happy Go Lucky" (Eddie Holland, Norman WhitfieldNorman WhitfieldNorman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
) – 2:35