Marvin Gaye

Let's Get It On

Song Review by Ed Hogan

According to co-producer/co-writer Ed Townsend, Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" started out as an anti-drug song. The idea for the song came from Townsend's experiences at an alcohol rehab center. The title originally referred to the axiom "let's get on with life." Issued in July 1973, the record caused a controversy because of its overtly sexual theme. The session for the classic song listed Crusaders members Joe Sample and Wilton Felder as well as David T. Walker, Eddie "Bongo" Brown, and Gaye on piano. While working on the lead vocals, Townsend had Gaye improvise lyrics over the chorus. The spontaneity comes through like a quickie. "Let's Get It On" laid at number one R&B for six weeks while going to number one pop in the summer of 1973. The Let's Get It On album stayed at number one R&B for 11 weeks, went to number one pop, and yielded "Come Get to This," "Distant Lover" (a popular live version was on his Marvin Gaye Live at the London Palladium LP), and "You Sure Love to Ball." During summer 2001, Townsend was still involved in drug recovery through a play/CD Rehabilitation Been There! Done That! on his own 12 Step Records label, co-produced with his son David Townsend of Surface.

Appears On

Year	Artist/Album	Label	Time
1973	Marvin Gaye Let's Get It On	Motown	4:52
1983	Marvin Gaye Every Great Motown Hit of Marvin Gaye	Motown	4:02
1990	Original Soundtrack Queens Logic	Epic	0:00
1992	Various Artists Best Love Songs, Vol. 3	Original Sound Entertainment	3:59
1994	Various Artists Slow Jams: The Timeless Collection, Vol. 1	The Right Stuff / Capitol	4:00
1995	Marvin Gaye Anthology: The Best of Marvin Gaye	Motown	3:58
1995	Various Artists Soul Train 25th Anniversary Hall of Fame Box Set	MCA	4:03
1998	Various Artists Strip Jointz, Vol. 2: More Hot Songs for Sexy Dancers	Robbins Entertainment	4:51
1999	Various Artists The '70s, Vol. 3	Platinum Disc	4:00
1999	Original Soundtrack Foolish	No Limit Records / Priority Records	4:00
1999	Various Artists Best Soul Album in the World	Virgin	3:57
2000	Various Artists Heart of Soul Classics	Hip-O / Polygram	4:03
2000	Various Artists The Greatest Slow Jams	The Right Stuff / Capitol	4:55
2000	Various Artists Smooth Grooves: The Essential Collection	Rhino	4:04
2001	Various Artists Jammin' Oldies	Rhino	4:03
2001	Original Soundtrack The Animal	Hollywood	4:52
2001	Various Artists Greatest Hits of Rock	Columbia River Entertainment Group	5:22
2001	Pure American Soul, Vol. 2: 70's Pure American Soul, Vol. 2: 70's	Platinum Disc	4:01
2001	Various Artists Rock N Roll Classics [Columbia River]	Columbia River Entertainment Group	5:22
2002	Various Artists Blues & Soul, Vol. 3: 1972-1973	Connoisseur	4:52
2003	Various Artists Best of Slow Jams	SPG	4:51
2005	Marvin Gaye Gold	Motown	4:53
2006	Various Artists Motown Story [2006]	Motown	3:55
2006	Various Artists Billboard #1s: The '70s	Rhino	3:59
2007	Various Artists Number 1's: '70s Pop	Hip-O	4:51
2007	Various Artists Number Ones: 70s Pop	Universal / Universal Distribution	4:53
2008	Various Artists Motown 50 [International Version 2]	Motown / Universal Distribution	4:53
2009	Various Artists Ultimate R&B Love 2009	Universal	4:53
	Various Artists Cool: R&B	Universal	4:53

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Marvin Gaye

Let's Get It On

Song Review by Ed Hogan

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