Almost everyone loves the music of Marvin Gaye. An artist who had success on both the R&B and pop charts, Gaye spent more than 20 years releasing hit after hit.
Gaye also had a wide variety of song styles, including slow songs and uptempo tunes, like these four. Despite how many years have passed, they all still make me want to dance today.
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โGot To Give It Upโ
Perhaps Gayeโs most noteworthy dance song, โGot To Give It Upโ came out in 1977. The song, written by Gaye, is the only single from Live At The London Palladium, a live record.
โGot To Give It Upโ says, โMove your body, ooh baby, and dance all night / To the groove and feel alright.”
Gaye received a Grammy nomination for this song.
โHow Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)”
โHow Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)โ is the title track of a record that Gaye released in 1965. Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, and Eddie Holland are the three writers of the sweet song.
This became a Top 10 hit for Gaye in 1964. The chorus of the feel-good tune says, โHow sweet it is to be loved by you / Oh baby / How sweet it is to be loved by you / Yes, it is.”
About 11 years later, in 1975, James Taylor had a No. 1 single with this song. It remains one of Taylorโs most popular hits.
โAinโt No Mountain High Enoughโ
One of Gayeโs signature songs, โAinโt No Mountain High Enoughโ came out in 1967. Husband-and-wife songwriting duo Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson are the two writers of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”. Gaye sings this song with Tammi Terrell.
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” is about enduring love and commitment. It says in part, โAin’t no mountain high enough / Ain’t no valley low enough. Ain’t no river wide enough / To keep me from getting to you, babe.”
Gayeโs take on โAinโt No Mountain High Enoughโ became a Top 10 hit. Numerous other artists also put their own spin on this song, including Diana Ross. This song is one of her No. 1 hits.
“Let’s Get It On”
The title track of a record from 1973, “Let’s Get It On” is one of Gaye’s most successful songs, reaching No. 1 on both Billboard‘s Hot 100 and Hot Soul chart. “Let’s Get It On” stayed at the top of the Hot Soul chart for a total of six weeks.
The sexy song says, “Let’s get it on, baby / Let’s get it on, let’s love, baby / Let’s get it on, sugar / Let’s get it on.”
However, after “Let’s Get It On”, Gaye didn’t have another No. 1 single for three years. In 1976, he returned to the top of the charts with “I Want You”.
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