Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” stands as a seminal milestone in the music world, specifically within the soul genre. This iconic thirteenth studio album from the American soul singer, songwriter, and producer Marvin Gaye was unveiled on August 28, 1973, through Motown’s Tamla Records subsidiary label in LP format.
During the creation of this masterpiece, recording sessions unfolded between June 1970 and July 1973, spanning various locations such as Hitsville U.S.A. and Golden World Studio in Detroit, as well as Hitsville West in Los Angeles.
In “Let’s Get It On,” Gaye delved into the funk genre for the first time, seamlessly interweaving elements of smooth soul and doo-wop with lyrics that exuded a captivating sensuality. This fusion has led to one writer’s depiction of the album as “one of the most sexually charged albums ever recorded.” Notably, Gaye interwove themes of spiritual healing within songs exploring the realms of sex and romance. This dual narrative served as a therapeutic means for Gaye to confront the lingering emotional scars stemming from childhood abuse inflicted by his father, Marvin Gay Sr., which profoundly affected his sexuality.
Building upon the success of his socially conscious album “What’s Going On” in 1971, “Let’s Get It On” played a pivotal role in shaping Gaye’s image as a sex symbol while broadening his appeal to a wider, mainstream audience. The album yielded three hit singles: the eponymous “Let’s Get It On,” “Come Get to This,” and “You Sure Love to Ball,” all of which made a significant impact on Billboard charts. This success ultimately empowered Gaye, granting him increased creative control within the Motown label.
The album’s allure lies in its seductive ballads, intricate vocal layering, and the captivating allure of its funk-infused sound. These elements profoundly influenced subsequent R&B artists and producers, with the title track, in particular, pioneering the slow jam and quiet storm musical formats.
Retrospectively, “Let’s Get It On” is celebrated by music critics and scholars as a seminal work within the realm of soul music. It played a vital role in popularizing the funk genre during the 1970s and represented a departure from Motown’s signature “Motown Sound” formula, embraced previously. It frequently secures a place on professional lists of the greatest albums of all time and is honored in the Grammy Hall of Fame as a historically significant recording. The album was reintroduced in 2001 as a two-CD deluxe edition by Motown and, in 2023, received a special reissue with added content to commemorate its 50th anniversary.
