“Let’s Get It On” is one of the most iconic and influential songs in soul and R&B history, performed by the legendary Marvin Gaye.
Song Overview
- Release: The song was released in 1973 as the title track of Gaye’s thirteenth studio album, Let’s Get It On.
- Writers & Producers: Marvin Gaye co-wrote and co-produced the track with Ed Townsend.
- Commercial Success: It was a massive hit, reaching Number 1 on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B singles charts, and becoming the most commercially successful single of Gaye’s Motown career. It’s often cited as the definitive “slow jam” or “baby-making music” track.
Musical Style and Sound
“Let’s Get It On” marked a significant shift in Gaye’s sound, moving from the socially conscious themes of his previous album, What’s Going On, to a more sensual, funk-influenced style focused on romance and intimacy.
- Genre: Smooth Soul, R&B, and Deep Funk. It is considered a pioneer of the Quiet Storm format.
- Instrumentation: The song features a deep, seductive groove built on a simple yet effective funk rhythm and memorable, wah-wah guitar notes in the intro. The arrangements are layered with lush strings and horns.
- Vocals: Gaye’s performance is a masterclass in passionate, soulful singing. He also famously used multi-tracked background vocals—all sung by himself—to create a rich, almost spiritual chorus effect, which became a signature of his 70s work.
Theme and Cultural Impact
The song’s direct, passionate subject matter was groundbreaking for a major Motown artist at the time.
- Lyrics: The lyrics are a bold, open invitation to love and sexual intimacy: “I’ve been really tryin’, baby, tryin’ to hold back this feeling for so long / And if you feel like I feel, baby / Then come on, oh come on, whoa, Let’s Get It On.”
- Contradiction of Sex and Spirit: For Gaye, the song was more than just a plea for sex; he viewed the act of love and physical intimacy as a way to achieve spiritual healing and connect with God. This blending of the sacred and the secular added a layer of profound depth to the music. In the album’s liner notes, he famously wrote, “I can’t see anything wrong with sex between consenting anybodies… I think we make far too much of it.”
- Legacy: Let’s Get It On established Marvin Gaye as a sex icon and a master of romantic soul, influencing generations of R&B singers and producers who followed, particularly in the creation of seductive, atmospheric soul music.