Following the success of ''
What's Going On'', Marvin Gaye had not only won creative control, but a renewed $1 million contract with
Motown Records subsidiary Tamla had made the musician the most profitable R&B artist of all time. Signing the contract in early 1972, Gaye sought to take advantage of his opportunities. Bolstered by the successes of film soundtracks such as
Shaft and
Superfly, Motown offered the musician a chance to compose his own film soundtrack after winning rights to produce the crime thriller,
Trouble Man. Unlike
Isaac Hayes and
Curtis Mayfield, who mixed social commentary with sexual songs in their respective soundtracks, Gaye chose to focus primarily on the film's character, "Mister T", producing and composing the film's score while entirely producing the film's soundtrack, which was recorded at Motown Studios (or "Hitsville West") in Hollywood. Following the closing of Detroit's
Hitsville USA studios in 1972, Motown had primarily moved its location to Los Angeles, where Gaye also relocated while he recorded the
Trouble Man album. Gaye invited several musicians, including some from the
Funk Brothers and musicians from
Hamilton Bohannon's band. Gaye would compose five different versions of the title track, including an alternate vocal version, which was used primarily for the film's intro. The alternate version featured Gaye
double-tracking two lead vocal parts into one, overlaying his
falsetto vocals with his lower register. The single version, which was also featured on the soundtrack, would feature a single lead vocal take. The other three versions were put on the album as
instrumentals with Gaye providing
synthesizer keyboards while
saxophone solos (and occasionally guitar) accompany him. The only other songs in which Gaye vocalized harmonies or performed lead vocals included "Poor Abbey Walsh", "Cleo's Apartment", "Life is a Gamble", "Don't Mess with Mister T" and "There Goes Mister T". ==Critical reception==