October 29, 1973: Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye team up
They were separately two of Motown's most iconic artists. And when they came together, absolute magic happened. It was on this day in 1973 that Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross released an album of duets that was as sumptuous as fans imagined it would be.
There had been discussion of a duets album for two or three years, but the artists were in different places: Marvin was mourning the passing of his longtime duet partner Tammi Terrell and was putting together his seminal soul protest album What's Going On, while Diana was just emerging from the Supremes with her own solo career.
October 29, 1973: Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye team up
They were separately two of Motown's most iconic artists. And when they came together, absolute magic happened. It was on this day in 1973 that Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross released an album of duets that was as sumptuous as fans imagined it would be.
There had been discussion of a duets album for two or three years, but the artists were in different places: Marvin was mourning the passing of his longtime duet partner Tammi Terrell and was putting together his seminal soul protest album What's Going On, while Diana was just emerging from the Supremes with her own solo career.
Ultimately, the label got them together in spurts through 1971-3, but there was a fair bit of drama around the recording of the album, as Gaye reportedly wasn't in the best place emotionally and Ross was pregnant with her first child. But with a bevy of producers and songwriters, including Ashford & Simpson, Hal Davis and Berry Gordy, Jr himself, the result was glorious. Diana & Marvin was a terrific combination of new songs and covers, and the two stars proved to be a powerful partnership.
The disc immediately shot into the top 10 on the R&B album chart and the top 30 Pop. Perhaps the highlight of the album was a Gloria Jones and Pam Sawyer composition that was driven by a forlorn harmonica and a steady Motown beat. “My Mistake (Was To Love You)” became an instant and lasting classic, and it sounds just as great now as it did back in 1973.
Take another listen to this wonderful combination.
Diana & Marvin – “My Mistake”