Critically, this album has been bashed, thrashed and rehashed over the years.Considering it was made out of the unreleased, remaining scraps of his last recording sessions, I think it is a decent posthumous affair, better than say John Lennon's "Milk and Honey". I would go as far as to say that "Sanctified Lady" is one of his best jams, done in the funky style of "Sexual Healing" or "Got To Give It Up". Also of note, "Ain't It Funny(How Things Turn Around), which is a catchy tune that I play a lot and could have been written about his recent commercial comeback with the Midnight Love album. I also like "Savage In The Sack" and "Masochistic Beauty". I think, obviously, if Marvin had lived, these sessions would be more polished and stronger material along the lines of "Sanctified Lady" would have come along and lifted this album to the level of Midnight Love, but I feel it is pure musical snobbery to turn up your nose at these recordings, as many have for years, when actually they are quite good, and let's face it, Marvin's s#*t was other people's diamonds.

The first three songs demonstrate Marvin Gaye's genius. "Sanctified Lady" is worth the price of the CD. It's as brilliantly secular as it is simultaneously sacred. "Savage in the Sack" is comical and poignant. "Masochistic Beauty" reveals a very interesting point of view from a man who's life was as rich in variety and texture as it was complex as the musical compositions that he gave to the world. In my estimation all three of these songs are even better than "Sexual Healing".

this disc is very Raw&unpolished.for people who only like the hits don't come near it.Sanctified Lady is a cool Raw Gem.this disc has many sides to it. just like the Genius of the Man.

This is a Marvin Gaye album?! Taken from unreleased demos made shortly before his death and released posthumously a year after it, this album is surely one of the worst albums ever made by a truly legendary artist. His ballads are the weakest of any album in his career, others like "Sanctified Lady" are too robotic to be good for somebody like him, and "Masochistic Beauty" is such an unforgivable atrocity that sometimes I can't help but wonder if it was what Marvin and his father were arguing about when he was killed.

The songs I like the most on this cd are so melancholy. The title track, "It's Madness" and "Life's Opera" just really make me ponder and wish MG were still alive. They are so sad yet give us a glimpse into the man himself, his feeling, emotions, beliefs, hopes and dreams.