#422 Marvin Gaye, 'Let's Get It On' (1973)

Previously #165

This has got to be, if not THE, then definitely in the top 3 most sexy albums of all time. In 1971, Gaye released his most commercially successful album; the socially conscious ‘What’s Going On.’ The success of that record allowed him to renegotiate his record contract. A whopping $1 million dollars, making him the highest-earning soul artist AND black artist at the time. He was also given more creative freedom. After suffering a bout of writer’s block, he came up with this; an album about sex. Opening with the sexually charged title track, a song sure to have made many people blush over time, and of course, get it on.

His voice is as smooth as ever on this record. His falsetto was one of the best in the game. The album is filled with wah wah pedals galore, funky basslines and smooth beats. And then there’s the hilariously titled ‘You Sure Love To Ball.’ I’ll say it again. ‘You Sure Love To Ball.’ There’s no ambiguity about this song. It starts off with saxophone and a moaning woman. There’s strings, there’s a harp. The song is just dripping in sensuality. The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2004 and cited by the Recording Academy as a recording of “historical significance.” Now excuse me, I’m going to take a shower.

#rs500albums