The Vaults / CD Reissues : Marvin Gaye’s Best Songs Show Off Good Writing

****, MARVIN GAYE, “The Master: 1961-1984”, Motown With that slight, piercing, expressive tenor, Marvin Gaye may have been the best R&B; crooner ever, a cut above greats like Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke. Where Gaye had a distinct edge was in the quality of his material.

Throughout this four-CD retrospective, what stands out--almost as much as Gaye’s seductive vocals--is the exceptional writing, both by the members of the Motown factory and Gaye himself. His competitors simply couldn’t match his string of well-written hits, such as “Hitch Hike” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”--all part of this set.

As a composer, Gaye, who was shot to death by his father in 1984, etched a niche in R&B; history by co-writing the 1971 masterpiece “What’s Going On,” the jazz-inflected, sociopolitical concept album that revolutionized R&B.;

Selections from that album are featured, as well as the cream of his post-1971 material, his best duets and 13 unreleased songs--a few of them diamonds in the rough. Some fascinating extras, like his versions of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “The Lord’s Prayer,” round out this comprehensive collection, which puts all the other Gaye packages to shame.

*** “Mondo Mambo!” Perez Prado. Rhino. When mambo was king in the ‘50s, the Prado orchestra , with hits like “Patricia,” helped popularize a zesty, sensuous blend of big-band jazz and medium-tempo Latin rhythms. Purists dismissed this hybrid as a bastardization of Latin music, but, even now, it’s pleasant to listen to and terrific for dancing. An enjoyable, 20-song, best-of collection.

* 1/2 “Strange Magic: The Best of Electric Light Orchestra,” Electric Light Orchestra. Legacy/Epic Associated. Leader Jeff Lynne’s formula--Beatle-esque harmonies backed by classically tinged rock--seemed inventive in the ‘70s but sounds dreary and one-dimensional now. Hardly anything holds up on this two-CD set covering 1972-86, particularly the post-1980 tracks. Some of the early mixes, including the hit version of “Roll Over Beethoven,” are wretched.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (essential).