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Let’s Get It On

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Let’s Get It On · After the success of What's Going On, Marvin Gaye was given more creative freedom by Motown, but in 1972 he struggled with writer's block. He was also unsure whether to move to Los Angeles, now that Berry Gordy was relocating the label there. Recording ran from 1970 to 1973, in Detroit and Los Angeles. Where his previous album had been about politics, he now used love and sex as an image for a deeper quest, in an attempt to come to terms with his strict upbringing.

It is his first foray into funk, mixed with gentle soul and doo-wop, and with sensual lyrics. Gaye layers several vocal registers on top of one another. The singles Let's Get It On, Come Get to This and You Sure Love to Ball reached the charts. It became his most commercially successful album at Motown. The title track helped launch the slow jam and the quiet storm format, and later R&B artists drew inspiration from the album.

Listening

Listening tip. In Let's Get It On, listen to Gaye's soft, seductive singing and to the vocal layers with which he accompanies himself.

Track list

  1. 1Let's Get It On (Remastered 2003)4:54Apple Music ↗
  2. 2Please Don't Stay (Once You Go Away) [Remastered 2003]3:31Apple Music ↗
  3. 3If I Should Die Tonight (Remastered 2003)4:01Apple Music ↗
  4. 4Keep Gettin' It On (Remastered 2003)3:11Apple Music ↗
  5. 5Come Get To This (Remastered 2003)2:42Apple Music ↗
  6. 6Distant Lover (Remastered 2003)4:17Apple Music ↗
  7. 7You Sure Love To Ball (Remastered 2003)4:45Apple Music ↗
  8. 8Just To Keep You Satisfied (Remastered 2003)4:26Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗

Categories: Albums and songs