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Marvin Gaye — Trouble Man
Album: Trouble Man
Avg rating:
7.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3473









Released: 1972
Length: 3:46
Plays (last 30 days): 5
I come up hard, baby, and that ain't cool!
I didn't make it sugah, playin' by the rules!
I come up hard, babe, but now I'm fine.
I'm shakin' trouble sugah, & movin' down the line.
I come up hard, but that's OK.
'Cause

Trouble Man don't get in my way!!

I come up hard, baby!

I mean fo' real, baby, cuz I'm a Troubled Man!
Gonna keep movin', gonna go to town.
I come up hard, and now I'm gettin' down!
There's only 3 things that's fa sho*:
Taxes, death and trouble

This I know, baby. this I know.
Yeah, you never let it sweat you baby,

whooooo

Got me singin', yeah, yeah, hooo

I come up hard, baby, I had to fight!
To keep my dignity with all my might!
I come up hard, I had to win!
Then start all over. And WIN AGAIN!!
I come up hard, but that's OK!
'Cause Trouble Man don't get in my way

Hey,Hey!

Now I been some places and I seen some faces
I got my connections they take my directions
Don't care what they say. that's OK, they don't bother me
I'm ready to make it, don't care 'bout the weather
Don't care 'bout no trouble, got myself together
No laughin', no cryin', my protection's all around me

I come up hard, baby
I mean for real, baby
With the Trouble Man
Movin', goin' tight
I come up hard, come on, get down
There's only 3 things for sure:
Taxes, death and trouble

This I know, baby, baby
This I know, baby, baby
Hey now, let it sweat, baby

I've come up hard, but now I'm cool
I didn't make it, baby, playin' by the rules
I've come up hard, baby, but now I'm fine
I'm shakin' trouble, sure movin' down the line
Comments (257)add comment
The late great MG. Perfection.
Talk about trouble.  I'm sitting here trying to understand how I originally marked this as a 9.  Sorted now.  
Can you dig it?!
Listening to this now, and realizing Jimmy Somerville sounds a lot like Marvin.

Very cool, timeless performance.
 RabbitEars wrote:

Such a great song... weirdly I became familiar with it by a Joni cover. Here live with the great Brian Blade on drums.



Who KNEW? Thank so much!
Off the Richter scale and a clear 10 👍
what a beautiful man.
I'm hoping 'Happy Man' by Jungle is coming on next...

but no...
All these years I thought he was saying "I come apart"
EXCELLENT!!  Thanx RP!   
this is one of the finest songs - period - EVER RECORDED. 
Beautiful Marvin, such a talent taken from this earth too soon
Such an incredible song, listening to this on a Saturday morning while writing my next science fiction novel, Asteroid City. It's such a perfect song to play in the background while drinking coffee in the morning. 
Simply fantastic 👌
 eileenomurphy wrote:
GODLIKE!!! ICONIC!!!    Even better NOW in FLAC W/ great phones, amp & DAC! Thank You RP!   

You've gotta tell me what amp/dac and 'phones you're using in your head-fi setup!


His music, lyrics, sound, is as current today as it was when this first came out.  The world needs him and his messages so badly today. Miss you, Marvin!
Smoother & sweeter than a peanut butter & honey sandwich.
 idiot_wind wrote:

He had a helleva bass player on this album and the what's going on album.   



the funk bros. ...see the documentary...brilliant...Motown studio band
Outstanding music on Sunday 3/06/2022  
 Amesy74 wrote:

Hi all



Hi Amesy74  
GODLIKE!!! ICONIC!!!    Even better NOW in FLAC W/ great phones, amp & DAC! Thank You RP!   
Hi all
...and Berry Gordy was concerned when Marvin wanted to get deeper into socially relevant expressions!
Marvin was Pure Soul and to this day the compassionate voice of "The people"& "Socially Relevant" issues!
Environmentally conscious before it was even as dyer of an issue as it is now! 
Way ahead of his time!
 Laptopdog wrote:

How did I live my entire life and never know about this song?



You hadn't lived until then.
"There's only 3 things that's fa sho: Taxes, death and trouble."
So true!

Marvin rocks on.... wish he was still here!
Wow, R&B on rp. Maybe Tower of Power is next!
Tapping my toes, snapping my fingers.
Such a great song... weirdly I became familiar with it by a Joni cover. Here live with the great Brian Blade on drums.
I rate a tenfinity!!!!
Absolutley light years ahead of his time.  
The epitome of cool.

(I didn't even know there was a movie.)
just gave a dollar or two  to these guys who  are busy so many years. Love you guys  ....
lots of love frome the Netherlands.
And  about rasicm:... please people; dont think in groups. just individuals: I love Everybody :-)
cheers paul. NL
He had a helleva bass player on this album and the what's going on album.   
Shot and killed by his own father. Damn. You learn something new every day...
Quality of this song, exceedes the quality of movie by far..
How did I live my entire life and never know about this song?
 RabbitEars wrote:
Joni does a very respectable cover of this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S8SgNy11eI 
 
Thanks, I have never heard that before although I have most of her albums.
It is either my speakers or youtube but her voice sounded terrible in that video. Would love to hear a clear version. Did she record it, other than that live video?
 Segue wrote:


 

Well put!! 11!!

 

I second that!   
The trouble man will be troubled next days...
Love the Janis Siegel (Manhattan Transfer) cover of this, too!
There are certain artists and songs that will always be relevant...this is Da'Man"
oh yeeaaaahhhhhhh
 jambo wrote:
when taken as a whole, trouble man is not just classic rock or a classic. it is a masterpiece of our day.

 

 

Well put!! 11!!

when taken as a whole, trouble man is not just classic rock or a classic. it is a masterpiece of our day.
Great music! More from 70s please :)
The Man! Classic, applies just as well today as it did then!
 BBoyes wrote:
Trouble Man movie
This song from this movie soundtrack.
This is not the later actor named "Mr T".

 
And it surely isn't the president I call Mr. T. Although he is certainly cold. And he also wears a shitty tie. And he's setting a lot of shit on fire. 
 dragon1952 wrote:
Doesn't Joni Mitchell do a killer version of this song?{#Drunk}
 
I believe that very sentiment may have been previously suggested.
Doesn't Joni Mitchell do a killer version of this song?{#Drunk}
Marvin

God imo

(hey BBoyes that crazy ad looks like it was produced by the man's tie manufacturers : P )
 BBoyes wrote:
What a voice... Could have used him in our high school choir - in which we were short of tenors.

 
and ya coulda used Willie Mays on your baseball team, Jim Brown on Varsity Football and Julius Erving on B Ball
Trouble Man movie
This song from this movie soundtrack.
This is not the later actor named "Mr T".
What a voice... Could have used him in our high school choir - in which we were short of tenors.
Pure genius. An all-time great.
Most excellent!
Solid 11
Where's the 20 when you need it! 
So freakin' soulful.  Chair groovin' 
I'll be 200 and second every positive comment regarding this (genius) artist and his music.
timeless in its Superior Super Cool style
 hayduke2 wrote:
GOD the Creator Supreme

 
Amen!
More please of this genre not enough played or given air time sadly on RP 
i saw the movie just because of this song
movie was awful
live and learn
.
still love the song 
Just Wow!
Incredible power behind controlled restraint. Pure genius.
10++
marvin
tg3k wrote:
Classic Marvin indeed.

Figured I'd share this photo I took a year or so ago of the marble stoop at at the entrance to Marvin's old recording studio in Hollywood:


I was there installing some artwork for John McClain. Also got to see Marvin's apartment upstairs above the studio. Very cool place with a hidden staircase entrance. 

 
This location was home to Eldorado Studios for many more years than it was originally Marvin's Room. Eldorado moved here in '87 when it was a major LA studio during the "grunge era" until '96 when they moved again to Burbank. 

During that time they recorded artists and albums such as; Jane's Addiction - Nothing Shocking and Alice in Chains - Dirt... Let's just stop here. These 2 albums alone merit a huge amount of respect for Eldorado. These were not just monumental albums of their time that helped usher in new sounds into the mainstream, they forever left their impression on rocks landscape. Teenagers in a hundred years will be busting out these albums and their realities will be rocked. These 2 complete and full albums were works of art and are surely way more significant than the couple of disco tracks Marvin recorded at this location in the 4 years he used this spot as his personal LA playground/crash pad. OK, let's continue... 

Other bands who recorded albums at this location while it was Eldorado:

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Public Image Ltd., Social Distortion,  Offspring, White Zombie,  Anthrax, Meat Puppets, Throwing Muses, Donovan (interesting), etc... so on... 

So... No disrespect to Mr. Gaye in the slightest, but credit needs to given where due and whatever magic and vibes that Marvin left behind here are completely covered by several thick layers of lung chocking grunge, metal and pure knock you on your ass rock sediment. Some very significant music was created in this location, but as much as I love "Got To Give It Up", it doesn't hold a fucking candle to "Rooster" or "Jane Says" or really any other track on either of those albums. 

Now, if we were talking about everything he recorded pre-1975 then I wouldn't have made an argument at all. It would be more like an addendum (AIC and Jane's made cool records here too!). But we're talking about 1975 and after so... there ya go. 
 dragon1952 wrote:

Someone is actually comparing Marvin Gaye to Rap?.....ha fucking ha :^ /

 
The topic was soul music. Marvin is soul. Rap is not.  
 hayduke2 wrote:
GOD the Creator Supreme

 
Really? Think much?
I guess not. 
GOD the Creator Supreme
PERFECT SHIFT FROM ROBBIE

10 for MARVIN - 9 for ROBBIE 
 Steely_D wrote:
A nice appropriate complement to Superfly and Freddie's Dead.

Rap isn't soul music; this is. 



 dragon1952 wrote:

Someone is actually comparing Marvin Gaye to Rap?.....ha fucking ha :^ /

 
No, it doesn't look as if a comparison was being made.  Read it again; the statement seems more like an assertion than a comparison.  
joni does a very respectable cover of this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S8SgNy11eI 
 Steely_D wrote:
A nice appropriate complement to Superfly and Freddie's Dead.

Rap isn't soul music; this is. 

 
Someone is actually comparing Marvin Gaye to Rap?.....ha fucking ha :^ /
MAN.... this shit is GOOD!
A nice appropriate complement to Superfly and Freddie's Dead.

Rap isn't soul music; this is. 

Dayum!  I've been out of touch for a while — new employer frowns on music streaming at the office.  Tune in today and hear 3 killer, I mean absolute killer tunes in a row.

Marvin epitomized smooth soul.  Still does.


 nice, well said
kcar wrote:

The cat could bring it. 

 


There are certain songs that stand-out way above any other!

This is one of them (and I am not a specific Mowtown-lover).

MARVIN is very GAYE!

MARVELLOUS! 
{#Sunny}{#Devil_pimp}One of the BEST, sweet reminder of my Detroit days TY
I love Marvin.  I love this song.  I love Marvin's version of the song.

But I love Buddy Guy's version much better. 
Classic. 
 oldfart48 wrote:
this is the real deal, don't bother me with any of that gangesta / rap crap. this is what it's supposed to be. ah marvin so much lost.............

 
I like u...I mean that from the bottom of my fart!
Palate cleanser

Thanks
 Charlie_rijsel wrote:

Doh! Thats Belgian - another country entirely but bravo for getting the right language. My respect for American knowledge of Europe has at least doubled.

 

Well, the Walloons speak French at any rate, French being just one of three official languages in Belgium.  The others don't count, I suppose, to a Frenchman.
Too cool....{#Notworthy}
As much as I like Marvin Gaye, this one just grates on my nerves.
I wish I was half as cool as this song.  Flutes (and maybe piccolos) in the bridge are a different touch.
this is the real deal, don't bother me with any of that gangesta / rap crap. this is what it's supposed to be. ah marvin so much lost.............
Sweetness on a Sunday morning with hot tea and a nice view through the light drizzle.  Marvin's still cool 40 years after the fact.
 Cynaera wrote:
No time is a bad time for Marvin Gaye. Got sunshine, heat, wine, and a day off.  Yep - it doesn't get much better than this...{#Bounce}
 

Miss you so much, Cynaera...

love this song...
 
this much i know 10
 icemang wrote:

Dude, you're French. Every song can't be "Ca Plane Pour Moi", wait in France that's the only song there is...
 
Doh! Thats Belgian - another country entirely but bravo for getting the right language. My respect for American knowledge of Europe has at least doubled.
the foundation of hip-hop/rap.altho way better, {#Fire} the man was a genius.
Another reason for gun control in the United Snakes.

What a sad loss the day he died.
 


Miss you, babe.
..the fount for the falsetto-rap movement?..i love me some Gaye (hmmm...no, i won't retract that wording), but only going 7 here..maybe on further listens..
 Poacher wrote:

THIS IS THE NEW LANGUAGE OF STINGRAY!!!!!!! YES

I COME ON BOARD.

BUT NOT IF IT IS GAY..............

NO NO! 

 
WHEELCHAIR GRANDMA AND GRANDDAD!
ENDLESS NIGHTMARE!!!!
UNLISENBLE!
Classic Marvin indeed.

Figured I'd share this photo I took a year or so ago of the marble stoop at at the entrance to Marvin's old recording studio in Hollywood:


I was there installing some artwork for John McClain. Also got to see Marvin's apartment upstairs above the studio. Very cool place with a hidden staircase entrance. 
Marvin Gaye in his prime, and I believe his favorite album of his own, but still a little formulaic...
 Poacher wrote:

THIS IS THE NEW LANGUAGE OF STINGRAY!!!!!!! YES

I COME ON BOARD.

BUT NOT IF IT IS GAY..............

NO NO! 

 
{#Lol} You missed out the garish colours and oversized fonts, but otherwise that's spot on channelling our resident troll :)
Awesome Marvin.
Buddy Guy does an absolutely smokin' version of this song on his Feels Like Rain album.
Now I need to watch "Four Brothers" again... :-)
Sublime.
Nice segue from Fever Ray!
Yep. True genius.
 ncollingridge wrote:
Peerless and exquisite.
 
The cat could bring it. 


 Poacher wrote:

THIS IS THE NEW LANGUAGE OF STINGRAY!!!!!!! YES

I COME ON BOARD.

BUT NOT IF IT IS GAY..............

NO NO! 

 
ARE YOU BONDE WOMEN?  SEND PHOTO. 

 Axelito wrote:
1 =>0 .. can't do this? hum... too bad....
 
Dude, you're French. Every song can't be "Ca Plane Pour Moi", wait in France that's the only song there is...
This may very well be his best song overall - IMHO.
One of the first things I ever heard when I came upon the magic musical spell that is RP, and one I enjoy immensely every time I hear it, in spite of its prophetic nature and insight into the brightly-burning soul of this troubled but talented man...Groove on, Marvin, and RIP.

Peerless and exquisite.
It certainly does sound good at 5:45 AM
Like a butter for my brain, soo smooth  {#Meditate}
 

Blusie, and "funkin" 70's.
 
Timeless!
 BKardon wrote:

Wow, can't imagine giving this a 0.

 
Well, it's certainly not for everyone.  Doesn't do a thing for me.  I keep waiting for the music to start...

 Axelito wrote:
1 =>0 .. can't do this? hum... too bad....
 
Wow, can't imagine giving this a 0.

 Axelito wrote:
1 =>0 .. can't do this? hum... too bad....
 
You obviously don't appreciate the finer things! Nice to hear this.
1 =>0 .. can't do this? hum... too bad....
 dkwalika wrote:
We will never be this cool.
Sadly I think you're right ...  


GORGEOUS!
One true great!!!