I can already imagine some of you reading this review saying 'Hey! - this has already been released once'. Yes - you would be right but with one slight difference. This superb 2 CD set comes complete with the much in-demand DVD 'Live In Montreux' from 1980 making this little package one hell of a collectors item. The two CD's are really quite self explanatory with disc one treating us to some of Marvin's early hits such as 'Hitch Hike' 'Pride & Joy' and 'Stubborn Kind Of Fellow' from his early days at Hitsville although if like me you enjoyed Marvin during his glory days with Motown then you'll have no problem with the likes of 'I'll Be Dogonne' 'Ain't' That Peculiar' or his original version of the great classic 'How Sweet It Is'

This CD in addition to featuring the best of Marvin's solo single releases also features some of his finest and most successful outings with a couple of Motown diva's including the great Kim Weston with 'It Takes Two' and his hits with the late Tammi Terrell with 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough' 'Your Precious Love' 'If I Could Build My Whole World Around You' and their hit 45 from the summer of 1968 'Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing'. Strangely enough there are no song duets featuring the late Mary Wells?

The back end of the sixties saw Marvin riding high in the charts with hits such as 'Too Busy Thinking About My Baby' plus the million seller 'I Heard It Through The Grapevine' (a song initially released on Gladys Knight) and the semi physchedelic flavoured 'That's The Way Love Is'

Disc two concentrates on Marvin's career during the 70-80's opening with his classic and emotive anthem 'What's Going On' from the album of the same name which also spanned other 45's such as 'Mercy Mercy Me' and not forgetting 'Inner City Blues'. The seventies were equally kind to Marvin in terms of success and whilst he never recorded any songs directed at the 'disco' market there was one exception in 1977 when 'Got To Give It Up' tore up the nations dancefloors with Marvin claiming his well deserved title as king of soul. Gaye was a very sensual performer on stage and hit songs such as 'Distant Lover' 'Let's Get It On' 'I Want You' and his 1982 CBS release 'Sexual Healing' (non Motown) were all favourites with the ladies and it is ironic that the latter was his big comeback single after years in isolation and an absence of any credible recordings - though Marvin would never live long enough to see its enormous success across the globe.

Finally, the extra jewel in the crown with this pack is the inclusion of his 1980 'Live In Montreux' DVD which is nothing short of superb. Sound and picture quality are as good as it gets and the audience just go wild as Gayes trips through two decades of his greatest hits at Motown including almost all of the songs mentioned on the above CD's and thankfully, it includes his 1973 release 'Come Get To This' which isn't on the CD. I particularly like 'If This World Were Mine' which is a brilliant song in itself and only ever made it as a flip side to one of his duets with Tammi Terrell. This DVD makes a perfect companion to a superb CD. There is always the issue of many Motown fans already owning much of what we see here and I suspect that Universal Music are marketing the DVD with the CD's as a limited run in order to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of Marvin's untimely death.

Make you own mind up whether this becomes an essential purchase or not - that said don't forget that this IS a very limited edition and stocks will sell fast.

If you decide not to buy this set then you can always check out my video clips of Marvin Gaye's by clicking here.

Rating 9/10

Marvin Gaye audio clips here.