Diana & Marvin: When Two Soul Giants Collide
Diana & Marvin: When Two Soul Giants Collide
See how the Diana & Marvin album fits into the larger careers of Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye.
In 1973, the music world witnessed a unique collaboration that transcended individual stardom—Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye teamed up for a duet album. This partnership was not just a spur-of-the-moment decision; it had been in the works since 1970. Ross had just embarked on her solo career then, and Gaye was grappling with the emotional aftermath of Tammi Terrell’s untimely death. By the following year, Marvin Gaye was already crafting his iconic album, What’s Going On, while Diana Ross juggled a hectic schedule that included album releases, film roles, TV specials, and motherhood at the age of 27.
The album, named Diana & Marvin, was released on October 26, 1973, and was a significant moment for both artists. For Ross, it followed her first solo Top 10 album, Touch Me In the Morning, and her Oscar-nominated role in Lady Sings the Blues. On the other hand, Gaye had just released his R&B chart-topping album Let’s Get It On, adding another feather to his cap after his film score for Trouble Man. Interestingly, this was Gaye’s sixth collaborative album, having previously partnered with artists like Mary Wells, Kim Weston, and Tammi Terrell.
The album’s production was complex, involving multiple producers such as Hal Davis, Berry Gordy and his wife Margaret, Bob Gaudio of the Four Seasons, and Ashford & Simpson. Despite the challenges, the album was released while both Let’s Get It On and Touch Me In the Morning still made waves on the R&B charts.
In a Rolling Stone interview with Paul Gambaccini shortly after the album’s release, Diana Ross expressed her longstanding desire to collaborate with Marvin Gaye. She revealed that they had recorded numerous songs together over the past year and a half, so many that she was unsure which tracks would make the final cut.
The album received a warm reception, although it didn’t quite meet the lofty expectations set by a Cash Box review. The first US single, “You’re a Special Part of Me,” did achieve notable success, reaching No. 4 on the R&B charts and No. 12 on the pop charts. Billboard magazine lauded the “gentle magic” of the combined vocals and highlighted tracks like “Love Twins” and “Don’t Knock My Love.” However, the album’s performance in the U.S. was considered somewhat disappointing, peaking at No. 26 on the pop charts and No. 7 on the R&B charts, despite what was described as Motown’s most extensive merchandising campaign ever.
Internationally, the album fared better, especially in the UK, where it remained on the charts for an impressive 36 weeks until as late as February 1975. It featured standout tracks reworked from the Stylistics, penned by soul legends Thom Bell and Linda Creed.
The legacy of Diana & Marvin was further enriched by a 2001 reissue, which included four additional tracks from their 1972 and 1978 recording sessions. One of these, “I’ll Keep My Light In My Window,” was later included in a multi-artist Motown album dedicated to Berry “Pops” Gordy, Sr.