April 15 brings Marvin Gaye Live at the Copa (Hip-O Select), the unreleased album Gaye, in the tradition of the Supremes and the Temptations, recorded over two weeks in 1966 at the New York nightclub. Reissue producer Harry Weinger tells ICE that the label had intended a January ’67 release for the set, even mocking up a cover. "But then, within two weeks of each other, Marvin starts recording the ballads that become the Vulnerable album," says Weinger, "he’s assigned a new duet partner, Tammi Terrell, he has a [Top 5] hit with ‘Your Precious Love,’ and he begins recording ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine.’ He turns a whole other corner, and suddenly this project is old news." Time-wise, Live at the Copa is roughly equal parts standards ("The Shadow of Your Smile," "Who Can I Turn To") and Motown items ("How Sweet It Is," "Pride and Joy" and two medleys, one of Gaye’s own hits, another that covers the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder and others).
http://www.icemagazine.com/cubes/cubes_217.shtm