I would actually give this album three-and-a-half stars. After the brilliant HERE, MY DEAR became a commercial and critical flop, Marvin decided he should return to the type of bedroom funk that made LET'S GET IT ON such a smash. However, the planned party album (which was to be called LOVE MAN) was scrapped when the first single from the then-forthcoming release (the funky and revealing "Ego-Tripping Out," which is included on the 1994 remaster of this album) was a flop with the mainstream.

He instead recrafted and reimagined the remaining tracks into a new, deeper concept album that deals with what he believed to be the upcoming apocalypse. Though not quite as focused as his other masterpieces, IN OUR LIFETIME is another very good suite from the Master. The intense selections "Praise" and "Life Is For Learning" continue Marvin's ever growing fascinations with the mysteries of creation and his own internal struggles, while "Heavy Love Affair" is another stunning ode to obsessive love. The album's central theme comes to head in "Love Party," in which he reminds us to love all we can for the end is nearing.

This is the album that ended Marvin's 20-year association with Motown records. They made changes to the cover (particularly removing the question mark from the title) and released the record before it was finished (the track "Far Cry" in particular sounds pretty rough) and Marvin was justifiable furious. While I'm glad that IN OUR LIFETIME was issued, I wish Motown would have given Marvin more time to finish it. As is, it's a good record; but it might have been fantastic if it had been completed.

marvin gaye's 'in our lifetime'was released in january 1981. my father bought me this album in the summer of 1981 while i was still in high school. i remember jamming 2 this album day and night.all of the songs on this lp are classics.some of the songs on 'in our lifetime'were from marvin's still yet unreleased album from 1979 entitled 'love man'of which marvin had planned as
a loose party album but instead ended up with tracks about lamentations about his second wife janis hunter.marvin scrapped 'love man' by saying that:'the tracks are happening,but the lyrics are jive!'/gaye refashioned the majority of the tracks from 'love man'which evoled into 'in our lifetime'(1981)-his
final album 4 motown.the only track that survived intact that survived the 'love man' concept which ended up on the album 'in our lifetime' is the compelling 'funk me'/marvin gaye's album 'in our lifetime'is a classic motown album that is very much ignored and is treated like'DIRT'by black radio as though it never existed, WHICH IS A DAMN SHAME!!!!/10 years after his classic recording from 1971 'what's going on'-'in our liftime' found marvin returning back 2 social world issues as he did with 'what's going on'/the album cover illustration for 'in our life-time'is a precursor to the music itself.framed edged in red,the illustration was done by artist neil breeden. it was marvin's
artistic concept of which dual marvin's face off against each other in a chess match:the 'angel vs.the devil' above the clouds. below marvin the 'angel',there's a population of people wanting peace.below marvin the 'devil',war tanks and industrial pollution is at large,while the earth is being ripped apart.within the album cover illustration is the amazing music itself.'praise'(which was inspired by marvin's labelmate stevie wonder)is the opening track (from the original vinyl album-the cd reissue has 'ego tripping out'from 'love man'as the opening cut)offers a shinning brilliance of prayer like rays from god's sun while at the same time visualizing in his mind the image of a dancing woman with shinning light above her.the song is both spiritual and sensual at the same.on 'life is for learning',marvin warns his listeners that songs can lead to corruption or salvation and that the world is divided between good and evil.'love party'is the album's first song of seduction while at the same time mentioning the world's end by stating:'revelation's prophesy nearly fulfilled,-let's love before it's too late'/'funk me' continues where 'love party'(which mentioned seduction only briefly)left off.'funk me' is pure seduction from start 2 finish.it is an irresistible groove that is so compelling with cool intoxicating lyrics:'i need us for me to love-mother nature taught me love' and near the song's end he states:'oh father above-give me this lady to love-so i can love her right now'/ 'far cry'was the initial track that forever caused marvin's break and fury with motown(and strained relationship with berry gordy)when he simply snapped with spiteful anger when this track was incomplete-just in it's very beginning stages(melody&lyrics) /one of gaye's musicians snuck the master tapes out of a london, england studio-which was then shipped 2 los angeles(motown)and finished 'far cry' without marvin's approval.the song was in it's infancy when all marvin had was a vocal track-a work in progress of which marvin wanted 2 deepen the song with more muscle. without marvin's consent,motown added guitar licks and bass lines.another complaint that gaye had with the album was that motown screwed up the title of the album by leaving off the ?(question mark).marvin's question was-'is the world coming to an end IN OUR LIFETIME?'marvin felt betrayed and concluded that 'in our lifetime' would be his last album for motown and that he would never record for them again.'love me now or love me later' is the message of the album where the album cover illustration comes 2 life.4 this track, marvin preaches with precision and power of gospel expression of the spiritual and the good vs.evil
war locked within himself.'heavy love affair'a song of strong feelings about his second wife janis hunter,of which gaye admitted that lots of women loved him,but still he was lonely without janis of which he loved and hated her and loves pain 'as deeply'/the title track'IN OUR LIFETIME'IS CLASSIC MARVIN GAYE FUNK!!!a groove that won't let up from start 2 finish!!!!THIS IS THE JAM:bracketed by punctuating horns and a heavy funk bass line,gaye gives into the funk.-with lyrics:'sweat down my spine-feeling fine-ain't it the lovefunk baby?/midway thru this serious funk groove,marvin gets serious about himself and life's pitfalls with this observation:'sometimes i don't want to cry-but there are the pitfalls of life,comes the tears in my eyes'/as this sensational dramatic funkjam comes 2 a close,marvin sees the apocalypse fast approaching like the speed of light,where the album's title track is mentioned only once near the song's dramatic funk conclusion:'now folks have said that the world's coming to an end baby-i wonder....in our lifetime?/marvin tells his woman:'oh well,let's make love'......ending the jam and album with a serious soulful instrumental interlude-a melody of isolated harmony and peace.marvin gaye's 'IN OUR LIFETIME'is a concluding testament 2 his will of artistic courage,and a befitting finale of a great legendary artist....

Marvin Gayes in our lifetime, is perhaps his most underrated masterpiece ever, the album combines all the personas of Marvin, the party jam funk of I Want You, the thought provoking lyrics of Whats Going On, a great concept album like Here My Dear, In Our Lifetime, digs deeper into Marvins' psyche as he questions and tackles one of his own personal issues, religion and spirituality. Now its no surprise to any die-hard Marvin, fan who would know that Marvins life was marked by conflicts with his own morality, sex, and drugs, yet Marvin was truly blessed, with his piercing falseto he sang songs like Mercy,Mercy Me, and Save the Children, almost sounding like an Angel of death looking down on the plights of this world. So it would be, an entire album dedicated with his fascination with duality and polarity, like the albums cover art portrays Marvin the Angel, playing a game of chess against Marvin the demon. First of all this album took alot of courage to even record, more of a book or an interpertation of the bible, than radio friendly hits, there truly was no market for this album, which is why most people never heard of it, in fact it was actualy shelved by Motown, who only later reissued it about five years ago, don't get me wrong this album is by no means bad, nor is it just a day in church, actualy its funky as hell, while Marvin and a slew of talented muscians jam on bass, and wah-wahs, bang on keys, and horns and strings scream, and congas race from ear to ear, its a great album, very very funky and a must have for Marvin Gaye collectors, this would probaly be equal to Princes' Black Album, or a collection of b-sides, its one of those type of albums that wasnt recorded to make money, but for an artist to express themselves, and to let the fans just cherish art for arts sake.

This album for some reason has slipped into obscurity. I bought it in album form when it first came out and it has remained my favorite of all of Marvin's work and Marvin is in my pantheon of all-time favorites (What's Going On, of course, is a desert island record). But I LOVE this album. The bass work of Frank Blair on Heavy Love Affair and Funk Me is BRILLIANT. I can find little on Mr. Blair on the internet, other than that he later played with Robert Palmer. I have always wanted to write him a fan letter. I shared this album with a young bass player I know who had never heard of it and he was BLOWN AWAY by Blair's playing. This album just has the funkiest groove and satisfies on such a profound level. I'm so happy to own it in both album and CD form since it is seemingly so unavailable.

Marvin Gaye envisioned a "Dancing Party album" and almost released one called Love Man.
After some consideration, he changed his mind and aimed for an album that would spotlight his religious concerns.
Bottom line, some songs were written for the Love Man album, and some were written for In our Lifetime; If you see what I mean; A great mixture.
This is also the only album where Gaye does not collaborate with any other composer, making "In our Lifetime" one of his finest albums and capture him at the prime of his musical career. No Computer work or electronics; simply perfect music all played by real musicians from A to Z.
Very highly recommended for all Marvin Gaye fans; as for any person new to Marvin's music, start with "What's going on" and "Let's get it on"

P.S Marvin Gaye was very Annoyed that motown neglected putting a question mark after the main title