‘If music be the food of love, play on…’ - Shakespeare

In 1973, one of the finest soul singer and musician of all time decided to make an album on the act of sex, devouring inspiration from his own experiences in the bedroom with his girl-friend. The result is a 32 minutes long musical orgasm. ‘Let’s Get It On’ by Marvin Gaye is seven notes at their sensuous best.

Gaye’s previous outing, ‘What’s Going On’ was the splendid, outward looking and a divine cry to make things better for the mankind and our planet. Two years later, he comes up with this totally inward looking piece which explores the act of sex, the most fundamental need of any species. In the case of human beings, it comes along with sensuousness and pleasure as well. Gaye’s music on this album explores those aspects and how. ‘Let’s Get it On’ is the perfect Yin to What’s Going On’s Yan.

Musically speaking, the album has funk influenced smooth soul and doo-wop sound which set a precedent for the later Motown sound and R&B artists. Gaye’s multi-tracked silky vocals are seductive and haunting. The stand out tracks are the title track Let’s Get it On, which also reached No 1 on the charts, If I should Die Tonight with its stunning horn section, Distant Lover which became a staple for Gaye’s live performance and the 5 minutes erotica, You Sure Love to Ball. Gaye’s silky vocals are just perfect for the context. Ignited by the 70’s sex revolution, the LP became Gaye’s largest selling album and turned him to a sex icon for an entire generation. But in all this sexuality, there is a serene spirituality, which was there in What’s Going On as well. That’s the Yin & Yan.

Various modern day researches have revealed that music and sex stimulate the same part of the brain. This album is a breathing proof of the same. Go on, light a candle or two, pour some wine, spin this LP, swirl your partner and soak in the essence of sex.

Year: 1973

Genre: Soul / Funk

Label: Tamla

Producer: Marvin Gaye / Ed Townsend

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Reviewed by Meraj Hasan

Meraj Hasan is a Mumbai / Hyderabad based communication professional (and an amateur poet/musician) with a passion for listening to music the vinyl way. His 31 year old Technics turntable along with a humble collection of LPs across genres like Classic rock, Classical, Blues and Jazz (amongst others) are his prized possessions.