The album was the result of a plan to establish Gaye as a strong album-oriented artist as well as a hit maker. Gaye was still uncomfortable with performing strictly R&B and had begun work on a standards album around this time, after meeting musician Bobby Scott. However, the sessions were unsuccessful and he would successfully complete a standards album only in his later years (released posthumously as Vulnerable in 1997). For the time being, Gaye was winning more fans and had become a crossover teen idol.
Six songs from Moods of Marvin Gaye were released as singles, all of which reached the Top 40 on the R&B singles chart. Four singles reached the Top 40 on the Pop Singles Chart.
