let's get it on

Marvin Gaye moved from the political to the personal and found expression for his new ethos with the sensual slow jams of this seductive and spiritual celebration of love.  After the success of his landmark 'What's Going On' album, Gaye was able to secure more creative control over the recording process at Motown Records, which was in the process of relocating from Detroit to Los Angeles.  At the same time, he was in a personal crisis over his separation from his wife Anna Gordy Gaye, and the beginning of a new relationship with Janice Hunter.  Gaye became more and more involved in spirituality to cope with the guilt of his passion and the unresolved issues from his childhood.  The theme of romance became a metaphor for the love of God.

Gaye co-produced the sessions with Ed Townsend initially at Hitsville U.S.A.'s Golden World Records studio (Motown's Studio B) in Detroit, Michigan and then later at the new Hitsville West studios in Los Angeles, California.  Motown's ace session team The Funk Brothers laid down the grooves with Marvin Gaye on piano, vocals, and background vocals;  David T. Walker, Eddie Willis, Lewis Shelton, Melvin Ragin, Robert White, and Don Peake on guitar; James Jamerson and Wilton Felder on bass;  Paul Humphrey and Uriel Jones on drums; Eddie "Bongo" Brown on drums and bongos; Bobbye Hall Porter on bongos and percussion;  Ernie Watts, and Plas Johnson on percussion; Joe Sample and Marvin Jerkins on piano;  Emil Richards on percussion and vibraphone; Victor Feldman on vibraphone; The Originals on background vocals; and David Van DePitte, Gene Page, and Rene Hall on arrangements and conducting.  

'Let's Get It On' made it at thirty-nine in the UK; two on the US album chart; and number one on the US R&B album chart, the Cash Box chart, and the Record World music chart.  The album became the biggest of his career and helped to redefine the direction of soul music.  Gaye expressed in the liner notes:  "I can't see anything wrong with sex between consenting anybodies. I think we make far too much of it. After all, one's genitals are just one important part of the magnificent human body ... I contend that SEX IS SEX and LOVE IS LOVE. When combined, they work well together, if two people are of about the same mind. But they are really two discrete needs and should be treated as such. Time and space will not permit me to expound further, especially in the area of the psyche. I don't believe in overly moralistic philosophies. Have your sex, it can be exciting, if you're lucky. I hope the music that I present here makes you lucky."





http://www.marvingayepage.net/






"Let's Get It On"  became one of the biggest Motown singles of all time.  It worked its way to number thirty-one in the UK and took over the US charts, topping both the pop and soul charts and selling more than three million copies.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6QZn9xiuOE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhBAJHzIkQk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKPoHgKcqag








'Let's Get It On' 
full album:




Side one
1. "Let's Get It On"   Marvin Gaye, Ed Townsend 4:44
2. "Please Stay (Once You Go Away)"   Gaye, Townsend 3:32
3. "If I Should Die Tonight"   Gaye, Townsend 3:57
4. "Keep Gettin' It On"   Gaye, Townsend 3:12
Side two
5. "Come Get to This"   Gaye 2:40
6. "Distant Lover"   Gaye, Gwen Gordy, Sandra Greene 4:15
7. "You Sure Love to Ball"   Gaye 4:43
8. "Just to Keep You Satisfied"   Gaye, Anna Gordy Gaye, Elgie Stover 4:35