A New Posthumous Album Reveals Marvin Gaye at a Crossroads

In 1972, Marvin Gaye seemed to be at the peak of his career. A year earlier he had released his album What's Going On, a subversive, era-defining masterpiece. A year later he would release his next album, Let's Get It On, the future gold standard for slow jams. But in between those creative pinnacles, Gaye, 32, fell apart. His marriage had crumbled, he was feuding with Motown, and he spent much of his time alone in Detroit, depressed and high.

In 1972, Marvin Gaye seemed to be at the peak of his career. A year earlier he had released his album What's Going On, a subversive, era-defining masterpiece. A year later he would release his next album, Let's Get It On, the future gold standard for slow jams. But in between those creative pinnacles, Gaye, 32, fell apart. His marriage had crumbled, he was feuding with Motown, and he spent much of his time alone in Detroit, depressed and high.