Trouble Man (song)

"Trouble Man" is a song composed and written by American recording artist Marvin Gaye released on the Motown subsidiary, Tamla, in November of 1972.

"Trouble Man"
Single by Marvin Gaye
from the album Trouble Man
B-sideDon't Mess With Mister "T"
ReleasedNovember 21, 1972
RecordedHitsville West
(Los Angeles, California)
GenreSoul, funk, blues, jazz
Length3:49
LabelTamla
Songwriter(s)Marvin Gaye
Producer(s)Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye singles chronology
"You're the Man"
(1972)		 "Trouble Man"
(1972)		 "I Want to Come Home for Christmas"
(1972)

The song was the title track and theme of the blaxploitation film of the same name. Relating the song to the travails of the movie's leading character, named "Mister T", and also relating to issues in his private life, Gaye called it one of the most honest recordings he ever made. He played drums and piano on the record as well as performing all the vocals himself, in which he sings most of the song in falsetto while reaching a gospel-styled growl during the bridges of the song.

The performances of the song during Gaye's later concerts became one of his highlights during his 1970s and early 1980s tours. The song was also used as two instrumental "theme songs" on the accompanying album, in which Gaye played synthesizers to accompany saxophone solos from his musicians. Gaye also recorded a slightly different version of the song primarily for the movie's opening, in which he sang in both tenor and falsetto.

The album version of the song was the only one released as a single in November 1972 where it became a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot 100 reaching number seven on that chart in January 1973.[1] The song became one of Gaye's signature songs for the remainder of his life and would later be the basis of a biography and would be a sort of nickname/alias for him.

It was featured on the soundtrack for the video game Driver: Parallel Lines. It was also featured on the soundtrack for the films Four Brothers, Seven and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

T.I's album, Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head, is made after this song and on his first track, T.I samples Gaye's voice in the song.

References
  1. "Billboard Singles". All Media Guide / Billboard. Retrieved 2010-03-01.


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