Chained (Marvin Gaye song)
Encyclopedia
"Chained" is a 1968 single released by soul
singer Marvin Gaye
on the Tamla
label.
Written and produced by Frank Wilson
, the song, much like his previous hit, "You
", directed the singer towards a grittier and funk
ier musical element than his previous hits.
His second non-duet solo hit after two years of, mostly, duet singles with the likes of Kim Weston
and Tammi Terrell
, the song talked about how he was just with his estranged lover and then the lover disappeared and the narrator hopes to bring her back home.
The song was another top forty entry for Gaye peaking at number thirty-two on the chart while ascending to number eight R&B. The male background singing group, The Originals
, would later collaborate with Gaye on their own singles such as "Baby I'm for Real" and "The Bells".
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
on the Tamla
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
label.
Written and produced by Frank Wilson
Frank Wilson (musician)
Frank Wilson is an African American former songwriter and record producer for Motown Records.-Biography:He was born to James Wilson and Samantha Gibbs...
, the song, much like his previous hit, "You
You (Marvin Gaye song)
"You" is a 1967 single released by American singer Marvin Gaye on the Tamla label.Released as the first single off Gaye's In the Groove album, it was written by Ivy Jo Hunter, Jack Goga and Jeffrey Bowen and produced by Hunter....
", directed the singer towards a grittier and funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
ier musical element than his previous hits.
His second non-duet solo hit after two years of, mostly, duet singles with the likes of Kim Weston
Kim Weston
Kim Weston is an American soul singer, and Motown alumna. In the 1960s, Weston scored hits with the songs "Love Me All the Way" and "Take Me in Your Arms ".-Career:...
and Tammi Terrell
Tammi Terrell
Thomasina Winifred Montgomery, known as Tammi Terrell was an American singer-songwriter most notable for her association with Motown and her duets with Marvin Gaye. As a teenager she recorded for the Scepter–Wand, Try Me and Checker record labels. She signed with Motown in April 1965 and enjoyed...
, the song talked about how he was just with his estranged lover and then the lover disappeared and the narrator hopes to bring her back home.
The song was another top forty entry for Gaye peaking at number thirty-two on the chart while ascending to number eight R&B. The male background singing group, The Originals
The Originals
The Originals were a successful Motown R&B and soul group during the late 1960s and the 1970s, most notable for the hits "Baby I'm For Real", "The Bells" and the disco classic, "Down to Love Town"...
, would later collaborate with Gaye on their own singles such as "Baby I'm for Real" and "The Bells".
Credits
- Lead vocals by Marvin GayeMarvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
- Background vocals by The OriginalsThe OriginalsThe Originals were a successful Motown R&B and soul group during the late 1960s and the 1970s, most notable for the hits "Baby I'm For Real", "The Bells" and the disco classic, "Down to Love Town"...
: Freddie Gorman, Walter Gaines, Hank Dixon, C.P. Spencer, and Joe Stubbs - Instrumentation by The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...