Sexual Healing

This U.K.-only release by Metrodome/Dressed to Kill (www.dressed2kill.co.uk) features a live concert recording from an unknown date at an unknown venue (the CD booklet contains no details except song titles). The performance finds Gaye energetically moving through many of his best songs -- "What's Going On," "Sexual Healing," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Let's Get It On" -- with an accompanying band featuring a cast of backup singers and an early-'80s-sounding keyboardist, in addition to a less prominent use of electric guitars, bass, and a horn section. Judging by the track selection -- almost identical to Capitol's The Last Concert release from 2000 -- this recording came from Gaye's final tour in 1983, before his unfortunate death. Gaye fanatics will want to track this down, but the somewhat shoddy recording quality may detract some; less than pristine, this undoubtedly sounds like a bootleg. ~ Jason Birchmeier|