Let's Get It On is the thirteenth studio album by American soul singer, songwriter, and producer Marvin Gaye. It was released on August 28, 1973, by the Motown subsidiary label Tamla Records on LP. 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, Let's Get It On also incorporates smooth soul and doo-wop styles alongside sexually suggestive lyrics, leading to one writer's description of it as "one of the most sexually charged albums ever recorded". Gaye infused ideas of spiritual healing in songs about sex and romance, in part as a way of coping with childhood abuses from his father Marvin Gay Sr., which had stunted his sexuality. Following the breakthrough success of his socially conscious album What's Going On (1971), Let's Get It On helped establish Gaye as a sex icon and broadened his mainstream appeal. It produced three singles—the title track, "Come Get to This", and "You Sure Love to Ball"—that achieved Billboard chart success. Let's Get It On became the most commercially successful album of Gaye's career at Motown, resulting in more creative control being given to him by the label. Its erotic balladry, multi-tracking of Gaye's vocals, and seductive funk sound also influenced later R&B recording artists and producers, with the title track specifically helping pioneer the slow jam and quiet storm formats.In retrospect, Let's Get It On has been regarded by writers and music critics as a landmark recording in soul. It increased the popularity of funk during the 1970s, while Gaye's smooth-soul sound marked a change from his record label's previous success with the "Motown Sound" formula. Among the most acclaimed LPs in history, it frequently appears on professional rankings of the greatest albums and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame as a historically important recording. In 2001, it was reissued by Motown as a two-CD deluxe edition release.
I listened to this with my wife and now I'm pregnant, so - five stars.
Sex - The Album.
Far too sexy for me. Makes me feel uncomfortable. Fuck knows what that says about me.
Just so smooth. Who else could get away with a song called Let's Get It On and then a song three songs later called Keep Gettin It On. Unparalleled swagger.
Let’s get it off
Fantastic. So good. Will resisten a million times. Makes me want to caress my plants.
Oh, oh, oh Marvin you have just brought me to climax. I've jizzed all over my mum's neck. Fetch me a glass of milk and a Snickers at once.
Marvin's 13th and most successful album. This is smooth, smooth, smooth. A very easy listen. Some classify as smooth soul or slow jam. Sounds good to me. You definitely hear its influence on future late 70's/early 80's R&B and soul. Apparently, this album was a change in typical Motown recordings in that it was free-flowing album-oriented as opposed to their typical album containing-hit singles-next-to-each-other format. Certain artists have that liberty and I would think Marvin Gaye would be one of them at this point. The themes of these songs are very straight-forward: romance, lust and sex. Marvin's music and voice take it to another level. Some song highlights for me: the title track "Let's Get It On", "Keep Gettin' It On" - similar to the title track with a little more funk, "You Sure Love To Ball" - smooth jazz background music and a great female moan and "Just to Keep You Satisfied" - tremendous vocal performance with sweeping orchestral music. Really not a bad song on the album. I recommend listening to this album as a whole; there is a great flow to the music.
Marvin Gaye, solely responsible for the baby boom of 1974
🍆💦
3.5/5 Very horny album Sounds great, Marvin oozes soul Didn’t know Let’s Get it On had a literal sequel, or that it would better than the OG
Love Marvin Gaye, love his voice, but this album is extraordinarily repetitive
One day in 1970, Marvin Gaye was like: "SEGGS!" Then, everybody turned to look at him.
Now that's more like it. Never listened to this one as much as What's Going On or Here My Dear for some reason but I should have! Another masterpiece. Always love the atmospheres he creates. Love him doing his own backing vocals and the interplay there. Listened to this one 2xs + deluxe edition bonus tracks.
My man Marvin gone too soon ❤️
4.1 - A luscious bedroom soundtrack strictly for grown folks, underpinned by sophisticated orchestration and Marvin Gaye's rich bari-tenor. Smooth and snag-free. My only knock is that "Keep Gettin' It On" sits lamely in the middle of the album as an unnecessary reprise of the title track.
Let’s Get It On - Marvin Gaye 1. Let’s Get It On - This is a classic how else am I supposed to rate this? 5/5 2. Please Stay (Once You Go Away) - I would make love to this 100%, it’s Marvin Gaye. 5/5 3. If I Should Die Tonight - I’m such a sucker for this. Gives me Disney princess type love. I want it so bad. 5/5 4. Keep Gettin’ It On - This song makes me wanna grind all over somebody. 5/5 5. Come Get To This - I would skip around the city to this, dance around the living room with the LOML to this 5/5 6. Distant Lover - IF I COULD RATE THIS HIGHER I WOULD. SOO GOOD. One of my all time faves ever I hold this song so close to my heart it’s unreal. 1000000/5 7. You Sure Love To Ball - I’m such a sucker for the saxophone, imagine getting undressed to this song. I’d die for it. 5/5 8. Just To Keep You Satisfied - For some reason I can see this song in a ballroom. Enchanting, beautiful, elegant. 5/5 Notes: My ratings were way too low on OK Computer. I’m noting it as a 4/5 because I keep wanting to listen to it and I’m enjoying it way more.
Holy cow. This is our second from Marvin Gaye (somehow we haven't had What's Going On yet? that doesn't seem right). While Here My Dear was a really excellent surprise, this album tops even that. Yeah, it's very obviously a collection of jams to bone to. But damn man, they are all (in more ways than one) bangers. I genuinely loved all but one track, and that one was still pretty cool. I wasn't expecting depth beyond the title track, as I really don't see people talking about this album, but it goes the distance. I can so strongly hear the influence that he had on guys like Frank Ocean. This is a new favorite R&B/Soul album for me, going into the all time fiver club. Favorite tracks: All but "You Sure Love to Ball," which is still a good song. Album art: Not entirely sure what Marvin is doing in this picture. Is he playing guitar behind his head? Is he holding a pizza box, winding up before he smashes it on the table in front of him? Is he just hitting a "raise the roof" emote style? No idea. But it's blurry, the font is pretty shitty, and it doesn't even matter because the music is that good. 5/5
There’s definitely a comparison here about the strong correlation between this album and actually ’getting it on’. It’s starts very strong. Using its best, time and tested proven moves. That intro that is damn near Pavlovian. It’s just great, gets everything loose, hits the right spots. Then it settles into pure smoothness. Going through the motions a bit, but still nice. Then it almost realises things have … fallen off the boil a little. So it goes back to the same moves of the opener, just a little less effective. Then more, nice, functional, smoothness … and then it just end a little bit too quickly without a satisfying ending. Just me? It’s an album that is our silk, a great background soundtrack. It’s more clearly named than any Ronseal product.
One of the finest. Masterful, moving, soulful, spiritual and heartfelt. A wonderful example of the enduring power of music by one of its greatest exponents.
It must have been hard even for Marvin Gaye to follow up What’s Goin’ On? (if we skip the Trouble Man soundtrack); having dealt with social issues and the environment, Gaye went for something a little more private, a little more sensual on Let’s Get It On. There are terrific tracks here and Gaye’s genius, especially as a vocalist, is apparent throughout. The backing singers are brilliant, I thought - no, wait, that’s all Marvin (except when it’s The Originals on Just to Keep You Satisfied). The jams are glorious and the only criticism is the brevity - a few tracks feel like kernels of ideas not quite fully formed and at half an hour - well, look, I guess that’s long enough for what Marvin had in mind…
2-3 Standout songs go beyond 5 stars and lift the slightly less good (but still groovin) tracks up from a 4. I'd say 4.5 but roundin' up.
It’s a shame that this album is solely remembered for its title track because the rest of the album is truly “all killer, no filler.” Every single song is a carefully-crafted, passionate masterpiece that showcases all the different flavors of love. Tracks like “I Should Die Tonight” are inescapable representations of passionate and unconditional love, and songs like “Please Stay” are of course musical sex, but it’s songs like “Just To Keep You Satisfied” and “Distant Lover” that really make the album for me. The former is a complex goodbye song, and the latter synthesizes this heartbreak with the rest of the album’s longing: you can hear both the longing and pain in Gaye’s desperate pleas at the end of the song. This album perfectly sets the indescribable intricacies of love to music.
Ha! What an album. The drums coming in on Let’s Get It On after those three sexy wahs is so satisfying and perfectly sets the mood for the rest of the album. It’s stunning in its lush arrangements and vocals, creating a dreamy space of all encompassing sensuality and tenderness. Beautiful.
What a classic sound. I'd recognize it anywhere, even if I didn't know the song. I can't believe I am just learning today that his father murdered him. YIKES. Anyway, this album is sex.
On “Let’s Get It On”, Marvin Gaye demonstrates why he’s the king of love songs. Tracks flow top down like molasses; Gaye’s voice envelops you like a warm hug. I was also very surprised by the tight, live sounding percussion. Just like me, I wish this project lasted longer.
1000 Albums You Must Listen Before You Die + 1 Album You Must Listen Before You Fuck
The title track wasnt actually as cheesy and I remember. Definitely a sensual album through and through. Not sure I'd listen again but I think I got it.
Lighter-hearted jazz. Let’s Get It On is iconic. The rest is more of the same which gets repetitive. There’s a reason only one song has most of the clicks, not that any of it is bad. If I Should Die Tonight is good too.
really good but i have no hoes so
It's smooth. And classic. You've got to be in the right mood with the right person for this album to really shine.
It’s a really good album don’t get me wrong. I just don’t think there’s any space in my life where it really fits in. Maybe sitting outside by the fire? Otherwise it’s just not my taste
Soul just isn't my thing. I'm sure this album was cutting edge and revolutionary when it came out, but it just feels cheesy today. I didn't dislike the album, but I don't think it's one I'd intentionally listen to again.
he really did get it on
A classic 5/5
Loved it. Followed it with Ain't That Good News by Same Cooke
Groovy jams, thought provoking lyrics that still resonate today
Simple tunes but a stunning voice and style.
Mega lækkert album. Smooth AF. Lutter gode numre
Love love love
This shit a classic. Let's get it on is an ultra classic. The sound is just so perfect. Gaye is just so perfect. I dont know how you make something this smooth. 7/8 favorite song: Distant Lover.
Excellent R&B (and SBFM) album
Simply an incredible album
Tight, very sexual
Really dug it.
Stellar
Real love songs that really fit the mood
MOre singular and personal than what's going on. Sweeping compositions on all the tracks. Super layered sound.
A classic and always excellent.
Perfect soul.
Never disappoints. I think there are more bangers on this album than pop culture will admit. Let’s get it on is great. But this whole album was great.
Big sex energy
Epic
10/10 A solid set of tracks all the way through. An old favorite for sure.
Beautiful album all throughout. Excellent voice and songs. 9/10.
Álbum reconocido a nivel mundial debido al primer sencillo del álbum. El álbum sigue una línea general de ritmo e instrumentos, pero nunca se vuelve aburrido
Un clásico precioso
Discazo de principio a fin
super good all the way through, with such a strong start
A classic for a reason
A classic, near-perfect album. The title track alone is worthy of 5 stars.
Pure sex. The album that is playing in my head whenever SHACK is in smelling distance.
Great listen Friday morning
That'll put ya in the mood.
Marvin Gaye is a king and a saint. And I will listen to anything with his name on it.
Listened to it all the way through, multiple times! So good.
So much passion in this music. It’s hard not to move and sway when listening.
Yes please.
The slow music with the great melodic vocal. It's a good combination of listening and relaxation.
This is a blast to listen to. Marvin Gaye, you knocked it out the park. The vocals are sublime and dreamy, the falsetto is incredible. I've enjoyed every song so far, nothing more to say.
Good stuff. Definitely strongly themed around the album title.
Top
Classic Marvin Gaye album but I think I enjoyed What's Going On more.
amazing album..one of the best.
I've only heard the first song, wasn't expecting a story through the songs
Fantastic from start to end
Great album. Every song is great, a classic. Really hits a groove. So much soul & emotion.
Sensual, soulful, funky. This album has it all. Loved every moment of it. My favourite songs were Let's Get It On, Keep Gettin' It On and You Sure Love To Ball.
Glorious late night soulful grooves.
Come Get To This is my favorite song in the album which as a whole contains great R&B. Reminds me of sitting on a rooftop in the city watching the sunset.
Finally mother fuckers. History will eventually come around to realize this or "Here, My Dear" is Marvin's best album. The fact that he was able to take his unprecedented daddy issues and turn them into a joyful document encouraging the world to enjoy sex is something of a marvel. Marvin Gaye was so exceptional he even did all of his own background vocals here.
Comment unnecessary. But I'll say it anyway: utterly brilliant.
Marvin. Yes. Beautiful.
Precioso
Hot damn, he's got soul.
OOH ik geniet hier zwaar van
I very good album
Amazing!
I've heard this album plenty of times, and it never fails to surprise and intrigue. An all-time great.
One of The best all time
The Prince of Soul! Marvin Gaye will forever be a soul legend. I love the way he combines his passionate singing with so many instruments into one of the most memorable sounds in music. “What’s Going On” is one of my favorite albums, and this comes pretty darn close to matching it. Easiest 5 star I’ve given so far. Favorite: Keep Gettin it On
Mmm hmmm.
vibes were impeccable - bonafide classic
Cool!
Perfect soul album, simple as. Gaye is a master of fitting in just the right number of sounds, and each one seems distinctive on top of it. The runtime makes for an easy fit, but every minute is rich. And there's a slight bend toward tragedy.
Motown classic. I think there is not much to say.
Following up the most important and powerful album in then-recent memory would be a daunting task but Marvin turned this album into an ode for sexual magnetism and raunchy good times. Yet another step in the right direction in a decade where R&B and Soul found its footing and stamped its legacy. Essential listening.
The hype is real, yo.
I mean it’s Marvin Gaye
duh