That's the Way Love Is (album)

That's the Way Love Is
Studio album by Marvin Gaye
Released January 8, 1970
Recorded 1969
Genre Soul, psychedelic soul
Label Tamla
Producer Norman Whitfield
Marvin Gaye chronology

Easy (with Tammi Terrell)
(1969)
That's the Way Love Is
(1970)
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's Greatest Hits
(1970)

That's the Way Love Is is the tenth studio album by soul musician Marvin Gaye, released on January 8, 1970 on the Tamla (Motown) label. Built off the success of the title track (#7 Pop; #2 R&B in late 1969) originally taken from M.P.G., and much like Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" after its success, was released with intent to sell albums based on the success of one particular single (a Motown trademark). Gaye was showing signs of disillusionment from the label's powers-that-be mentality but it didn't affect the singer's performance as he gave a powerful vocal in the title track and was especially impressive with his version of The Beatles' "Yesterday". It also features the modest hits, "Gonna Give Her All the Love I Got" and "How Can I Forget". It also featured Gaye's classic rendition of the socially conscious tune, "Abraham, Martin & John" which became a huge hit in the UK, peaking at #9 in June 1970. The single (and that of his duet single with Tammi Terrell titled "The Onion Song") is widely regarded as a hint of what would follow a year later with his epochal What's Going On. He also covered The Temptations' hits "I Wish It Would Rain" and "Cloud Nine".

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Track listing

  1. "Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got" (originally by Jimmy Ruffin) (Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield)
  2. "Yesterday" (originally by The Beatles) (Lennon–McCartney)
  3. "Groovin'" (originally by The Young Rascals) (Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere)
  4. "I Wish It Would Rain" (originally by The Temptations) (Roger Penzabene, Strong, Whitfield)
  5. "That's the Way Love Is" (originally by The Isley Brothers) (Strong, Whitfield)
  6. "How Can I Forget" (originally by The Temptations) (Strong, Whitfield)
  7. "Abraham, Martin & John" (originally by Dion) (Dick Holler)
  8. "Gonna Keep on Tryin' Till I Win Your Love" (Strong,Whitfield)
  9. "No Time for Tears" (originally by The Marvelettes) (Eddie Holland, Whitfield)
  10. "Cloud Nine" (originally by The Temptations) (Strong, Whitfield)
  11. "Don't You Miss Me a Little Bit Baby" (Penzabene, Strong, Whitfield)
  12. "So Long" (Holland, R. Dean Taylor, Whitfield)

Credits