Let's Get It On

Release type:What's this?
studio album
First released:
Aug 28 1973

Overview Edit

Let's Get It On is the twelfth studio album by American soul musician Marvin Gaye, released August 28, 1973 on Tamla Records in the United States. Recording sessions for the album took place during June 1970 to July 1973 at Hitsville U.S.A. and Golden World Studio in Detroit and at Hitsville West in Los Angeles. Serving as Gaye's first venture into the funk genre and romance-themed music, Let's Get It On incorporates smooth soul, doo-wop, and quiet storm. It has been noted by critics for its sexually-suggestive lyrics, and was cited by one writer as "one of the most sexually charged albums ever recorded".

Following the breakthrough success of his socially-conscious album What's Going On (1971), the album helped establish Marvin Gaye as a sex icon and furthered his mainstream appeal. It spawned three singles, "Let's Get It On", "Come Get to This", and "You Sure Love to Ball", that each attained Billboard chart success. Let's Get It On became the most commercially successful album of Gaye's recording career, and it further expanded his creative control during his tenure with Motown. Its sexual balladry, multi-tracking of Gaye's vocals, and seductive, funk sound influenced later R&B artists and production.

The album has been regarded by many music writers and critics as a landmark recording in soul music. It furthered funk music's popularity during the 1970s, and its smooth soul sound marked a change for his record label's previous success with the "Motown Sound" formula. On September 18, 2001, Let's Get It On was reissued by Motown Records as a two-disc deluxe edition release featuring extensive liner notes and digital remastering, as well as several material from the initial recording sessions. In 2003, the album was ranked number 165 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

The Overview appearing in this section is attributed to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let's_Get_It_On. Portions of this Overview may be available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, version 3.0 or any later version, available at: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. Additional terms may apply. See Wikipedia Terms of Use for details.

This particular version Edit

Record label:
Catalog number:
064 021
Release dates:
  • Jan 14 2003 in United States

Genres

Hip-Hop, Motown, Pop, Rhythm & Blues, Soul. Vote on Genres

What do Amazon.com customers think?

5 stars Classic, but avoid temptation
An utterly classic, highly-recommended album, but if you have the previously-released remastered version you don't need this. The two bonus tracks are the abbreviated single edits of two album tracks - hardly worth an upgrade. If you have the two-CD special edition, you've got it all.
Written by R. Riis "rriis"
3 stars Save this for the proper occasion.
I got this in a buy 2 get 1 free deal with What's Going On and a Tom Waits CD.

What's Going On is a true masterpiece filled with deep and meaningful songs.

The title track here is a classic. But as a album to simply listen to, it's not that great. I suggest waiting until you're about to "get it on" and then putting on this album. Great as background mood music, but not the best.
Written by M. Carpenter "Matt"

Track listing Edit

Credits Edit

  1. arranger

  2. design

    1. Jim Britt [photography]
  3. engineer

    1. Gavin Lurssen [remastering]
  4. other

    1. Ernie Watts [production assistance]
    2. Marvin Gaye [liner notes]
    3. Plas Johnson [production assistance]
  5. performer

    1. Bobbye Hall [bongos]
    2. David T. Walker [guitar]
    3. Eddie "Bongo" Brown [bongos & drums]
    4. Eddie Willis [guitar]
    5. Emil Richards [mallettes & vibraphone]
    6. James Jamerson [bass guitar]
    7. Joe Sample [piano]
    8. Louie Shelton [guitar]
    9. Marvin Gaye [lead singer, piano & backing vocals]
    10. Marvin Jenkins [piano]
    11. Paul Humphries [drums]
    12. Robert White [guitar]
    13. Uriel Jones [drums]
    14. Victor Feldman [vibraphone]
    15. Wah Wah Watson [guitar]
    16. Wilton Felder [bass guitar]
  1. producer

Other versions Edit

Let's Get It On 8 tracks format: 1 x CD
catalog number: 044001475726
release dates: Jan 14 2003
view details
Let's Get It On 10 tracks format: 1 x CD
catalog number: 044001475726
release dates: Jan 14 2003
view details
Let's Get It On 8 tracks format: 1 x CD
record label: Motown Records
release dates: Sep 9 2003
view details
Let's Get It On 37 tracks 2xCD Deluxe Edition
format: 2 x CD
record label: Motown Records
release dates: Sep 18 2001
view details
Let's Get It On 8 tracks format: 1 x CD
record label: Motown Records
release dates: Apr 7 1998
view details
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