The Best of Marvin Gaye: The Millennium Collection, Vol. 2: The 70's (20th Century Masters)
Marvin Gaye's 1970s recordings reflected his growing awareness of social issues--"What's Going On," "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)," "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)"--coupled with a freewheeling sexuality ("Let's Get It On," "Come Get to This," "I Want You"). On both counts, Gaye was out in front of the times, and helped shape the discussion during that turbulent time. This set does a good job of briefly limning the highlights of Gaye's '70s work; coupled with the 20th Century Masters companion volume ofhis '60s hits, it gives a fair if less than definitive overview of one of pop's most prolific and important hitmakers.--Daniel Durchholz