Marvin Gaye - In Our Lifetime (1981)

“In Our Lifetime” is the sixteenth studio album by soul musician Marvin Gaye, released January 15, 1981, on Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records. Recording sessions for the album took place at Marvin's Room in Los Angeles, California, Seawest Recording Studio in Honolulu, Hawaii, and at Odyssey Studios in London, England, throughout 1979 and 1980. The album cover was designed by Neil Breeden. Gaye's final album for Motown before leaving for Columbia Records, the album was the follow-up to the commercial failure of “Here, My Dear”, a double album which chronicled the singer's divorce from Anna Gordy. Entirely written, produced, arranged, and mixed by Gaye, “In Our Lifetime” was a departure for Gaye from the disco stylings of his previous two studio efforts and was seen as one of the best albums of the singer's late-Motown period.

Although this better set does seem effortlessly conceived, it wasn't that simple. Gaye originally envisioned a "party" album and almost released one called Love Man. After some consideration, Gaye nixed the idea and aimed for an effort that would spotlight his religious concerns. Thankfully, “In Our Lifetime” splits the difference between the two mindsets. The first single from the aborted Love Man shows up here. "Ego Tripping Out" works as both a parody of the "love man" with a few autobiographical flourishes as he sings, "Got a sweet tooth/For the chick on the floor." Slowly but surely the religious matters do surface here. The buoyant "Praise" has a blithe riff inspired and/or lifted from Stevie Wonder and has Gaye getting his message across without being preachy. Although no song is especially brilliant here, the level of Gaye's musical sense and his vocal prowess carry him throughout. The unfinished and non-Gaye-approved "Far Cry" has lyrics that are steam-of-conscious and are barely decipherable. The mesmerizing "Love Me Now or Love Me Later" has Gaye examining both good and evil with equal skill. The last track, the title song, has Gaye back in the party frame of mind and has great horn charts and a propulsive beat. “In Our Lifetime” is one of his finest later albums and captures him as his craft was maturing and becoming more multifaceted.

Track listing

01.  "Praise" - 4:51
02.  "Life is for Learning" - 3:39
03.  "Love Party" - 4:58
04.  "Funk Me" - 5:34
05.  "Far Cry" - 4:28
06.  "Love Me Now or Love Me Later" - 4:59
07.  "Heavy Love Affair" - 3:45
08.  "In Our Lifetime" - 6:57

Credits
Marvin Gaye - vocals, keyboards, drums
Robert Ahwry - guitar
Gordon Banks - guitar
Frank Bates - bass, background vocals
Frank Blair - bass, drums
Ray Brown - trumpet
William Bryant - drums, keyboards
Elmira Collins - vibraphone, background vocals
Raymond Crossley - keyboards
Fernando Harkness - saxophone
Joe James - percussion
Gary Jones - percussion, conga
Lee Kentle - drums, background vocals
Nigel Martinez - drums
Kenny Mason - trumpet
Joe Mayo - percussion
Sidney Muldrew - French horn
Curtis Anthony Nolen - guitar
Raphael Ravenscroft - alto saxophone
Dr. George Shaw - trumpet
Nolan Andrew Smith - trumpet
Bugsy Wilcox - drums
Preston "Bugsy" Wilcox - drums
Candace Bond - Executive Producer
Jon Walls - Recording & Mix Engineer

Notes
All songs were written, arranged, composed and produced by Marvin Gaye
Recorded 1979–1980 Marvin's Room, Los Angeles, California, Seawest Recording Studio, Honolulu, Hawaii, Odyssey Studios, London, England
Genre:  Soul, funk
Length:  41:30
Label:  Tamla Records

© 1981