It's Madness Explained

It's Madness
Type:single
Artist:Marvin Gaye
Album:Dream of a Lifetime
Released:1985
Recorded:Early 1970s, Detroit, Michigan
Genre:Soul, pop
Label:CBS Records
Producer:Harvey Fuqua
Prev Title:Sanctified Lady
Prev Year:1985
Next Title:Just Like
Next Year:1986

"It's Madness" was the second posthumous record released by American soul singer Marvin Gaye, released off his Dream Of A Lifetime album, in 1985.

The second posthumous release following up the successful hit, "Sanctified Lady", which missed a chance of giving Gaye his fourteenth number-one R&B single; "It's Madness" was brought out from old Motown archives from the early-'70s.

The song's melancholy vibe was reminiscent of Marvin's recordings during the 1970s and could have likely have been recorded as a demo for Sammy Davis Jr., who briefly signed with the label (Gaye had also wanted to give Davis the song "Dream of a Lifetime" though he was unable to).

Written by Marvin and produced with an eighties pop flourish by his longtime mentor Harvey Fuqua, the song was released and peaked at number fifty-five on the R&B singles chart. It has since been issued on later compilations released of Marvin's music from his later years.

Reception

Nelson George of Spin wrote, "The ballad has Marvin crying out that the loss of a lover has driven him near insanity."[1]

Credits

Notes and References

  1. . Spins. Nelson George. July 1985. 3. 31.