Let’s Get It On – Marvin Gaye | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#1) and R&B (#1); 1973
Story Behind The Song By Harris Sterling
By the early 1970s, Marvin Gaye had already reshaped soul music with the socially conscious What’s Going On. In 1973, he shifted focus with Let’s Get It On, a song that blended romantic intimacy with spiritual undertones.
Co-written with Ed Townsend, the song was initially conceived around themes of love and emotional connection. Gaye later reshaped the lyric into a sensual ballad that emphasized physical desire within a committed relationship.
Released in the summer of 1973, Let’s Get It On reached #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B chart. It became one of Gaye’s biggest commercial successes and the title track of his album of the same name.
The recording is built around a steady groove, layered vocals, and Gaye’s expressive delivery. His performance moves between restraint and intensity, giving the song its distinctive tone.
Let’s Get It On remains one of Marvin Gaye’s signature recordings and one of the defining soul singles of the 1970s.
This content and the Song Meaning article was created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2026 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
This content was created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Harris Sterling. © 2026 Harris Sterling. All rights reserved.
Produced by:
Marvin Gaye
Ed Townsend
Lyrics Written by:
Marvin Gaye
Ed Townsend
Awards:
Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004.
Harris Sterling
Independent music label executive Harris Sterling has worked in the music industry for most of his career.
As Executive Vice President for independent music label Madacy Entertainment, he led the strategic marketing and business development for the label, negotiating agreements with the major record labels to release custom music compilations under license with major brands, such as Ford Motor Company, Crayola, Care Bears and Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Harris also led Madacy’s strategy for the licensing of its entire music catalogue to Apple for their launch of the IPOD.
In 2011, Harris co-founded Starting Five Media, a company that specializes in recording and licensing custom renditions of popular songs as well as clearing the rights to the music composition for use by their clients in media projects.
Harris has negotiated publishing and master recording rights for many Top 40 songs for use in various media projects, TV Commercials and more.