Let's Get It On (song)
"Let's Get It On" | ||||
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Hitsville West, Los Angeles | ||||
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Label | Tamla | |||
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Marvin Gaye singles chronology | ||||
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"Let's Get It On" is a song by
Conception
Co-written with producer Ed Townsend, "Let's Get It On" was Gaye's plea for sexual liberation. When originally conceived by Townsend, who was released from a rehab facility for alcoholism, it was written with a religious theme. Gaye confidante Kenneth Stover changed some of the words around as a political song and Gaye recorded the version as it was written, but Townsend protested that the song was not a politically conscious song but a song dedicated to love and sex.[4] Gaye and Townsend then collaborated on new lyrics and, using the original backing tracks as recorded, Gaye transformed the song into an emotional centerpiece. The album version of "Let's Get It On" features soulful and emotional singing by Gaye that is backed by multi-tracked background vocals, also provided by Gaye, along with the song's signature, and most notable, funky guitar arrangements. In an article for Rolling Stone magazine, music critic Jon Landau wrote of the song:
"Let's Get It On" is a classic Motown single, endlessly repeatable and always enjoyable. It begins with three great wah-wah notes that herald the arrival of a vintage Fifties melody. But while the song centers around classically simple chord changes, the arrangement centers around a slightly eccentric rhythm pattern that deepens the song's power while covering it with a contemporary veneer. Above all, it has Marvin Gaye's best singing at its center, fine background voices on the side, and a long, moody fade-out that challenges you not to play the cut again.[5]
— Jon Landau
The song was
In 2001, when the album Let's Get It On was reissued by Motown as a two-disc deluxe edition release, the original demo that Gaye had recorded with lyrics by Kenneth Stover was included. It has a running time of 5:12.
During the time of the recording of the song and its subsequent album of the same name, Marvin had befriended the family of jazz guitarist Slim Gaillard and had become smitten with Gaillard's 17-year-old daughter, Janis Hunter. A widely reported story has been told that Hunter was in the studio when Gaye recorded the song at the recording booth. Gaye and Hunter were said to be smitten with each other and, within months, they began dating. Hunter would become Gaye's live-in lover by 1974. Their relationship would produce two children and a 1977 marriage.[6]
Release and reception
"Let's Get It On" became, and remains to this day, one of Gaye's as well Motown Records' most successful singles, as it reached number 1 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart on September 8, 1973.[7] The single remained at number 1 for two weeks, while also remaining at the top of the Billboard Soul Singles chart for eight weeks.[8] In its first week at the top of the chart, "Let's Get It On" replaced "Brother Louie" by Stories, and was replaced by "Delta Dawn" by Helen Reddy; it later replaced "Delta Dawn" and was finally knocked off the top of the chart by Grand Funk Railroad's "We're an American Band". The single stayed inside the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for 13 weeks, 10 of those weeks inside the top five. Billboard ranked it as the No. 4 song for 1973.[9]
The song became the biggest selling Motown release in the United States at the time, selling over two million copies within the first six weeks of following its release. "Let's Get It On" also became the second best-selling single of 1973, only surpassed in sales by
A
Plagiarism allegations
In August 2016, the family of Ed Townsend sued English musician Ed Sheeran over his song "Thinking Out Loud", saying that "the melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic compositions of 'Thinking' are substantially and/or strikingly similar to the drum composition of 'Let's Get It On'."[17] Two years later, in June 2018, Sheeran was again sued on similar grounds, this time for $100 million in damages by Structured Asset Sales, owners of one-third of the copyright to "Let's Get It On".[18] The Townsend family claim was rejected in a jury trial in May 2023.[19]
Charts
Weekly charts
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All-time charts
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Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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United Kingdom (BPI)[24] other 2004 release |
Silver | 200,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[25] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[26] Mastertone |
Platinum | 1,000,000* |
United States (RIAA)[26] 2005 remix |
Gold | 500,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ https://z1059.com/marvin-gayes-lets-get-it-on-celebrates-its-50th-anniversary/
- ^ Breihan, Tom (April 17, 2019). "The Number Ones: Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
...it's easy enough to imagine a clean, spare two-minute version of "Let's Get It On." But instead, Gaye turns it into a deep-funk throb.
- ^ Edward, Townsend; Marvin, Gaye; Marvin, Gaye (August 4, 2014). "Let's Get It On". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
- ^ Edmonds (2001), pp. 7–8.
- ^ Landau, Jon (December 6, 1973). "Marvin Gaye: Let's Get It On: Music Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved August 18, 2008.
- ^ PopMatters Music Feature - The Tortured Soul of.... Retrieved August 26, 2008.
- ^ a b Billboard - Hot 100. Nielen Business Media. Retrieved October 4, 2008.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 226.
- ^ Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1973
- ^ Super Seventies - "Let's Get It On". Super Seventies. Retrieved August 17, 2008.
- ^ "RIAA Searchable Database". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on June 26, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2008.
- ^ "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 30, 1973. p. 18. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. July 7, 1973. p. 1. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
- ^ "Shannon Lawson : Biography". CMT.com. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
- ^ "RS 500 Greatest Songs: 167". Rolling Stone.com. Archived from the original on December 28, 2006. Retrieved August 26, 2008.
- ^ "500 Greatest Songs of All Time:Marvin Gaye, 'Let's Get It On'". Rolling Stone.com. April 7, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- ^ Izundu, Chi Chi (August 10, 2016). "Ed Sheeran sued over claims he's ripped off a Marvin Gaye song". BBC. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
- ^ Yoo, Noah (June 28, 2018). "Ed Sheeran Sued for $100 Million for Allegedly Copying Marvin Gaye". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
- ^ "Jury finds that Ed Sheeran didn't copy Marvin Gaye classic 'Let's Get It On'". The Associated Press. May 4, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
- ^ "Marvin Gaye Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
- ^ "Marvin Gaye Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ "Hot 100 turns 60". Billboard. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
- ^ "British single certifications – Marvin Gaye – Let's Get It On". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
- ^ "British single certifications – Marvin Gaye – Let's Get It On". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ a b "American single certifications – Marvin Gaye – Let's Get It On". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
Bibliography
- David Ritz; Ed Townsend; Ben Edmonds; Harry Weinger (2001). Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On (Deluxe edition liner notes). Motown Records. MOTD 4757.