Trouble Man

Album: Trouble Man (1972)
Charted: 7
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Mr. T is Cold Hard Steel!" said the tagline for the 1972 Soul Cinema Classic film, Trouble Man. The movie, however, is not remembered for the streetwise detective played by Robert Hooks but for the stellar soundtrack composed and produced by Marvin Gaye. The bluesy title track peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1973 and later inspired the biography title Trouble Man: The Life and Death of Marvin Gaye by Steve Turner.
  • When Charles Pettigrew first met Eddie Chacon on a New York subway train, the latter was clutching a copy of Marvin Gaye's Trouble Man. Impressed, Pettigrew struck up a conversation with Chacon and the pair later started performing together. As Charles & Eddie, the pair enjoyed a worldwide hit in 1992 with "Would I Lie To You?"
  • This song plays a part in the 2014 movie Captain America: The Winter Soldier, where the character Falcon recommends the Trouble Man soundtrack to Captain America so he can catch up on what he's missed in the world. The song plays in the final scene. The song also appears in the films Se7en (1995) and Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017).

Comments: 2

  • T. Nicole from Louisville, KyThe song is also featured in the opening and closing scenes of the 2006 motion picture "Four Brothers," a remake of "The Sons of Katie Elder" and which stars Mark Walberg, Tyrese Gibson and Andre Benjamin.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn December 10th 1972, "Trouble Man" by Marvin Gaye entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #81; and seven weeks later on January 28th, 1973 it peaked at #7 {for 1 week} and spent 12 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #4 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    His next release, "Let's Get It On", would peak at #1 on both the Top 100 and R&B Singles chart...
    Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. passed away on April 1st, 1984; the day before his 45th birthday...
    May he R.I.P.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

Subversive Songs Used To Sell

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.

Janis Ian

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.