Let's Get It On (song)

"Let's Get It On" is the seminal 1973 #1 smash sung by American soul music legend Marvin Gaye. The song held the #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, from August 25 1973 to September 8. It replaced "Brother Louie" by Stories, and was replaced by "Delta Dawn" by Helen Reddy.

Related Topics:
1973 - American - Soul - Marvin Gaye - Billboard Hot 100 - August 25 - September 8 - Stories - Helen Reddy

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Co-written with doo-wop pioneer Ed Townsend, the song was Gaye's plea for sexual liberation. But originally when the song was conceived by Townsend, it was written as a political and religious song due to Townsend's new-found sobriety after years of alcoholism. When Townsend passed the song to his friend, Gaye recorded the version as it was written but when seventeen-year-old Janis Hunter walked in the studios where Gaye and Townsend were recording the song, Marvin was inspired to re-write the lyrics into an anthem of love and sex. With the original music, Gaye transformed the song into an emotional centerpiece circling around him being smitten by Hunter, who was looking at her idol from inside the recording booth as he sang.

Related Topics:
Alcoholism - Love - Sex

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A few weeks later, Marvin and Janis had become seriously involved romantically resulting in a relationship that birthed two children eventually leading into marriage in 1977, a year after his divorce from Anna Gordy was finaled. In the meantime, though, the song would become a monumental success for Gaye staying at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and staying at #1 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles Chart for a monumental eight weeks. It's since been hailed by some as the greatest song to ever be released.

Related Topics:
1977 - Anna Gordy - Billboard Hot R&B Singles Chart

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The song was given a makeover in late-2004 when producers mixed Gaye's vocals with a different musical production that has been labeled "stepper's music". Released in 2005 as a single, it hit the Billboard R&B charts again proving Gaye's message still reigned true in the 2000s as it did in 1973.

Related Topics:
2004 - 2005 - 2000s - 1973

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