Illustration by Richard Williams from The Exploits of the Incomparable Mulla Nasrudin, 1966 (via The Thief)
In 1967, things were going pretty well for Marvin Gaye. He was having great success as a duet artist with the beautiful Tami Terrell - they had three Top 20 hits that year from their United album, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". So it's odd that Marvin took time out during this period to record a song that, at first listen, sounds like a thin retread of his '65 hit "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)". But "Your Unchanging Love" is not without its charms - it's a Holland-Dozier-Holland number with nice backing vocals from singers who may or may not be the Supremes. The tinkling piano line behind the verse is just short of saloon-style kookiness, and Marvin's vocal delivery is great, especially one lines like the ones that start the second verse: "I used to have more friends - Mmmmmm - than I could count."
You might question Marvin Gaye doing this single during his successful period with Tami Terrell - time that would be more precious in retrospect when she tragically passed away from a brain tumor in 1970 at the age of 24 - but Motown knew what they were doing. "Your Unchanging Love" was a Top 40 hit, one of many during this prolific time for Marvin Gaye.
"Your Unchanging Love" by Marvin Gaye
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