"The Hellacious, Damning, Kiss-Off sequel of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"
Marvin Gaye singing "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" was a chilling experience that even an 11-year-old could appreciate. That song froze me in my tracks. I recall thinking that this guy must have really been suffering to get all of that anguish into that song. Years later, it was amazing to find out just how much really was going on in Marvin's real life.
This song, "Get Away Heartbrak (Keep On Moving)" is just as chilling. It's a song that is a paradox; an incredibly intense paradox. Ostensibly, the song's lyrics are happy; a song about finding love- true love. This could have been the happy turn of events that came after the heartbreak of "Grapevine." The paradox comes from the fact that this kind of "happy" is nothing like the sweet, bounce of a song like "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby."
Right from the intro, the vibe is sinister, threatening, blistering, finger-poke-in-the-chest confrontational. Producer Johnny Bristol and the Funk Brothers painted a musical landscape that would have fit right in with the "Blaxploitation" movies of the 70's. In fact, it's hard for me to remember this was recorded in 1968 and not 1970.
Special shout out needs to go to Bassist Extraordinaire, James Jamerson as he provides one of the most Ungodly basslines ever to pulse through a Funk Brothers music track. James' always kept coming up with ever-innovative bass lines and here, he tosses in so many twists and corkscrew runs, especially at the end, you have to wonder from where exactly did his gift come?
Marvin sings lyrics by Johnny Bristol, Lean Manns and Vernon Bullock that go way beyond the simple, "I found love and I'm a happy man" theme. Here, Marvin takes the blood-chilling intensity of "Grapevine" and transforms it into an absolute threat that if Mr. Heartbreak shows up, there's going to be some serious trouble for him. Yes, Marvin has found someone who is everything love is supposed to be and there is no way he'll let that slip by again.
The whole song is so high-voltage, it's amazing the Motown studios survived the sparks that must have been generated.
Get Away Heartbreak (Keep On Moving) (John Bristol-Vernon Bullock-Lena Manns) published Jobete 15-Jan-69
Marvin Gaye; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 11-Dec-68 ; produced by Johnny Bristol"
related: "marvin gaye what's going on" "marvin gaye let's get it on" "marvin gaye i heard it through the grapevine" "men of motown"
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