Together is a 1964 duet album from Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells, released while both were at the height of their early careers. It is a short, sweet record: ten tracks, 27 minutes, built on the chemistry of two of the era’s most appealing voices. The album is not trying to change pop music. It is trying to make you feel good, and for the most part, it succeeds. Gaye and Wells had already proven themselves as solo artists, and this pairing gave them a chance to trade verses and share a microphone. The result is a light, charming collection of love songs that never overstays its welcome.
The record is a duet album in the classic sense: boy meets girl, boy sings to girl, and they trade lines over easy, swinging arrangements. There is no deep concept here, no social message, no artistic statement. The material is drawn from familiar standards and a couple of originals, and the goal is simple entertainment. The pair delivers it with obvious enjoyment.
Opening With the Single
The album opens with “Once Upon a Time,” the track that had already introduced the duo to the charts. It is the strongest song here, a mid-tempo ballad with a gentle push-and-pull between the two voices. Gaye takes the lead on the verses, and Wells answers him, and the call-and-response feels natural rather than staged. The story is simple — two people remembering how they fell in love — and the singers sell it with warmth. This is the track that earns the album its reputation, and it holds up.
“Deed I Do” follows, and it is a lighter, swingier number. The title is a playful way of saying yes to love, and the song is a declaration of affection set to a brisk, finger-snapping beat. Gaye and Wells trade lines with ease, but the track does not have the emotional weight of the opener. It is pleasant, professional, and a little forgettable.
The Middle Stretch
“Until I Met You” slows things down again. This is a ballad about gratitude — the singer has found the right person, and life is better for it. Gaye takes the lead, and his voice is smooth and assured, while Wells provides a soft, supportive harmony. The track is competent but not distinctive.
The title track, “Together,” is the album’s centerpiece, and it is a gentle, swaying number about unity. The lyrics are straightforward — we are together, and that is enough — and the singers lean into the sentiment. The arrangement is sparse, with a light piano and soft brass, which lets the voices carry the song. It works, though it lacks the spark of “Once Upon a Time.”
“(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons” is the most familiar song on the album, a standard that had been recorded many times before. Gaye and Wells give it a respectful reading, but they do not make it their own. The track is smooth and easy, with the two voices blending nicely, but it is hard to shake the feeling that you have heard this song done better elsewhere. It is a pleasant interlude, nothing more.
Picking Up the Tempo
“The Late Late Show” picks up the pace with a playful, theatrical number about staying out all night. Gaye and Wells sound like they are having fun, trading quips and laughing through the verses. The track is the most energetic thing on the album, and it is a welcome change of pace. It is not a great song, but it is a fun one, and the duo’s chemistry carries it.
“After the Lights Go Down Low” is a slow, sultry ballad that leans into the romantic tension between the two singers. The title says it all — this is a song about what happens when the party ends and the couple is left alone. Gaye and Wells handle the material with restraint, keeping it classy rather than overtly suggestive. The track is moody and effective, though it does not reach the heights of the album’s best moments.
“Squeeze Me” is a short, swinging number with a playful lyric about wanting affection. It is the shortest track on the album at 2:33, and it feels like a throwaway. The song is fine, but it does not add much.
Finishing Strong
“What’s the Matter With You Baby” is the other single from the album, and it is the second best track here. It is a mid-tempo duet about a couple in a minor argument, with Gaye and Wells trading accusations and apologies. The back-and-forth is lively, and the singers clearly enjoy the sparring. The song has a hook that sticks, and it is the track most likely to get stuck in your head after the record ends. It is a strong finish to the main body of the album.
“You Came a Long Way From St. Louis” closes the record with a slow, jazzy number about a woman who has made good in the big city. The song is a little odd for a duet — it reads more like a solo piece that was adapted for two voices — but Gaye and Wells manage to make it work. The track is mellow and reflective, a calm ending to a short and breezy album.
Ranking the Tracks
- “Once Upon a Time” — the clear highlight, with real chemistry and a memorable hook
- “What’s the Matter With You Baby” — lively, catchy, and the second best song here
- “Together” — a sweet title track that does its job
- “The Late Late Show” — fun and energetic, if not essential
- “After the Lights Go Down Low” — moody and effective, but not remarkable
- “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons” — pleasant, but a standard done better elsewhere
- “Deed I Do” — light and forgettable
- “Until I Met You” — competent filler
- “You Came a Long Way From St. Louis” — a weak closer
- “Squeeze Me” — the weakest track, easily skipped
The Running Order
| Track | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Once Upon a Time | 2:32 |
| 2 | Deed I Do | 2:53 |
| 3 | Until I Met You | 3:22 |
| 4 | Together | 2:43 |
| 5 | (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons | 2:36 |
| 6 | The Late Late Show | 2:43 |
| 7 | After the Lights Go Down Low | 2:53 |
| 8 | Squeeze Me | 2:33 |
| 9 | What’s the Matter With You Baby | 2:25 |
| 10 | You Came a Long Way From St. Louis | 2:52 |
The Verdict
Together is a small record with small ambitions, and it meets them. Gaye and Wells have real chemistry, and the album captures two young stars enjoying each other’s company. The best tracks — “Once Upon a Time” and “What’s the Matter With You Baby” — are genuinely good, and the rest of the record is pleasant filler. The album is not essential listening, and it is not a lost classic. It is a snapshot of a moment, a quick and easy listen that does not overstay its welcome.
The record’s weakness is its brevity and its lack of range. Ten tracks, 27 minutes, and most of them sound similar. There is no attempt to stretch or experiment, and the album is over before it ever builds momentum. But that is also its charm. It is a light, cheerful record from a time when albums did not have to be statements. It is a duet record that sounds like two people having a good time.
The album is a modest success. It is not a masterpiece, but it is a pleasant way to spend half an hour. For fans of Gaye and Wells, it is a worthwhile curiosity. For everyone else, it is a gentle introduction to a partnership that never quite got its due. The record earns a solid score, one that reflects its charm and its limitations in equal measure.
7 of 10.
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- Once Upon a Time2:32
- Deed I Do2:53
- Until I Met You3:22
- Together2:43
- (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons2:36
- The Late Late Show2:43
- After the Lights Go Down Low2:53
- Squeeze Me2:33
- What's the Matter With You Baby2:25
- You Came a Long Way From St. Louis2:52
