Year/Genre/Sub-Genre/City: 1971, R&B, Soul, Detroit, Michigan
Matrix #: TS310
Condition: VG+, sounds great, looks good, some marks

Cultural Facts:

1. Label Standoff: Motown head Berry Gordy initially refused to release the single, calling it too political; Gaye went on strike until it came out.

2. Family Ties: His father, a strict minister, physically abused him for years; that volatile relationship ended with Marvin shot by his father in 1984.

3. Political Science: Inspired by police brutality and Vietnam letters from his brother, Gaye shifted from romance to systemic critique at real commercial risk.

6.28.23 kg  2/24/2026 CC