Editor’s Note: The Albumism staff has selected what we believe to be the 100 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time, representing a varied cross-section of films and musical genres. Click “Next Soundtrack” below to explore each soundtrack in the list or for easier navigation, view the full introduction & soundtrack index here.
Trouble Man
Tamla (1972)
Selected by Justin Chadwick
Last year, Motown and Universal Music unearthed You’re The Man, much to the delight of Marvin Gaye’s legion of loyal, lifelong devotees. The previously shelved studio album was originally intended to arrive back in 1972 as the highly anticipated follow-up to Gaye’s magnum opus What’s Going On (1971). It’s not entirely clear what compelled Gaye to place the kibosh on releasing the album and a quick Google search yields plenty of speculation.
But no matter. With You’re The Man placed on ice, coupled with his newfound financial and creative power owing to the success of What’s Going On, Gaye redirected his energy toward two other projects on his busy plate. The first was a duets album with his Motown labelmate Diana Ross, which would materialize as 1973’s Diana & Marvin. The second was the soundtrack to the 1972 Blaxploitation film Trouble Man.
Though Gaye will forever be most lovingly remembered for his preeminent instrument, his voice, his talents extended much further. Trouble Man offers ample evidence of his multidimensional gifts, as he produced, composed, and played a handful of instruments for the project, in addition to blessing the classic title track, “Life Is A Gamble,” “Poor Abbey Walsh” and “Cleo’s Apartment” with his pristine crooning.
The majority of the fare here is instrumental, film score material that captures a subdued, symphonic soundscape equal parts jazzy, funky and soulful. A reference to the swagger of the film’s protagonist Mr. T (played by Robert Hooks), the moog synth imbued brilliance of “’T’ Plays It Cool” is arguably the supreme standout on this highly immersive and rewarding soundtrack that further solidified Gaye’s genius.
LISTEN & WATCH: