Trouble Man

Music by Marvin Gaye

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not as ostensive as other soundtracks of black power cinema, Marvin Gaye´s music for Trouble Man (1972) was a curious experience for the compose/singer to work on instrumental material.

The film was a average production of the genre, focusing on investigative plot more than action. Marvin don´t sings much on the soundtrack (which is bad), but experiments with dramatic compositions (which is good) in instrumental pieces that tried expansion on the traditional of soul music and rythm'n'blues. Isaac Hayes was the unsurpassed example in this expressive search, but Gaye did an incredibly good job. Is a pity he did not writed more for films. Aided by veterans arrangers Gene Page and J. J. Johnson, Trouble Man has very good moments of music supporting action as in The Break In or the psychedelic (moog effects) Deep in It. Gaye´s romanticism shows from beginning to end with certain tragic touch, as in Poor Abbey Walsh and Cleo's Apartment. Some tracks reveals jazz reference as the incisive saxophone of the Main Theme. For those who expect the traditional "soul power balances" the score includes T Plays it Cool (barely heard as background music in the pool hall) and T Stands For Trouble. Marvin sings with his usual vocal intensity in the main theme and in Life is a Gamble and Don`t Mess With Mister T, being the latter a good representative of the period with its dramatic feel and moog solos.