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Marvin Gaye & Oma Page – Rilleh! (1965)
After Motown’s star vocalist Mary Wells left Motown for what she thought would be greener pastures — Marvin Gaye was left without a duet partner and Motown had to lavish the superstar plans it had for Mary on Diane Ross!
Oma Page (Heard) then recorded four duets with Marvin during 1965, but the first release wasn’t until this great tune, “Rilleh!,” appeared on 1990′s “The Marvin Gaye Collection” Box Set on Motown Records. It also appeared on 2003′s “Tamla Motown Connoisseurs Volume 2.” This is another great Billy Page song. Bouncy and breezy it’s pure Motown Sound and I can hear no reason it should have languished in the VAULT for 25 years.
A second of these duets, ” So Good to Be Loved by You,” first appeared on the CD compilation “Marvin Gaye Greatest Duets: A Love Songs Collection,” produced by Harry Weinger and released in 2003.
A third duet “Thief of Love” was finally released in 2007 on “A Cellarful of Motown, Vol 3″ that contained another two CDs worth of previously unreleased material from the infamous “VAULT”
Finally there is a fourth unreleased duet entitled “Your Kiss, Kiss”‘ that is still collecting dust in the VAULT.
Oma Page (Heard) left Motown around 1965 after just one solitary single release on VIP — “Mr Lonely Heart”.
I have no clues as to why Oma & Marvin”s duets were not promoted or why Oma left the record company. I have not even been able to come up with a photo of Oma. But rest assured I will continue to research this and report back if and when I find anything more on this duet pairing.
Conversly, if anyone has any more information on Oma and her Motown years I would love to hear all about it.
In the meantime please enjoy this great duet and let me know how you like it.
Musically Yours,
Related posts:
- "What's the Matter With You Baby" Performed by Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells (1964)
- "It Takes Two" Performed by Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston (1966)
- "My Mistake (Was To Love You)" Performed by Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross (1973)
- "Hold Me Oh My Darling" Performed by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1967)
- "Once Upon A Time" Performed by Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells (1964)
Filed under: Billy Page, Dynamic Duos (Duets), Marvin Gaye & His Women, Marvin Gaye & Oma Page (Heard), Motown, Pop/R&B, R&B/Motown, Rilleh!, Sixties
