THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

723-Marvin Gaye-Got to Give It Up.

1977-Number 7 single.

Best Bit-At 1.39. The song was subject to a landmark court case in 2013 against the writers of ‘Blurred Lines,’ a song which had given Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams a Billboard and UK Number 1 single. Gaye’s family argued that it sounded too similar to ‘Got to Give It Up,’ and the judgement awarded $7.3 million to the Gaye family, nice work if you can get it.

Marvin Pentz Gay Jr. (see also best songs 183 and 114) was born on April 2nd, 1939, in Washington, D.C., United States, he died on April 1st, 1984, after being shot in the chest, and his shoulder, by his father Marvin Gay Sr., (1914-1988) at the age of 44. By the mid 1970’s Marvin Gaye’s record label Tamla Motown were feeling under pressure to keep up with the latest music trends, namely ‘Disco,’ so Marvin Gaye, after a lot of persuading, came up with this gem. Throughout 1976 Marvin Gaye was suffering financial difficulties, due to pending lawsuits from former band mates, and the divorce proceedings between himself and his first wife Anna Gordy (1922-2014.) In order to relieve Gaye from his debt, his European concert promoter Jeffrey Kruger (1931-2014) booked him on a lengthy European tour. The tour was a great success, with one of the shows which was filmed at the ‘London Palladium, being released as an Album ‘Live at the London Palladium.’ Around the same time ‘Motown’ tried to get Marvin Gaye to record ‘Disco Music,’ which was the best selling genre at that time. However Gaye criticised ‘Disco,’ saying, ‘It lacked substance,’ and refused to record a ‘Disco’ Album. However he finally came around to the idea after seeing the success his label mate Diana Ross (see also best songs 1001-900-519-365-212-183-148 and 28 ) had achieved with her ‘Disco’ hit ‘Love Hangover’ (1976-Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 10.)

‘Got to Give It Up’ was the only single released from Marvin Gaye’s live double Album ‘Live at the London Palladium,’ from March 1977, all of the other tracks on the Album were live recordings, with ‘Got to Give It Up’ being the only studio recording. The song was written by Marvin Gaye, with the production of the track, and also the Album, being by Art Stewart. ‘In it’s entirety ‘Got to Give It Up’ runs for 11.52, and takes up the whole of side 4 of the Album, but it was an edited version of 4.12, which was issued for the 7 inch single. The song proved very successful reaching the Number 1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, and also on their ‘Hot R&B’ chart as well. Following the success of ‘Got to Give It Up,’ Art Stewart came to the attention of other ‘Motown’ artists including Rick James, (1948-2004) (see also best songs 418) and he and James co-produced Rick James’ 1978 Album ‘Come Get It!’ Art Stewart also worked closely with James’ fellow ‘Motown’ label mate Teena Marie (1956-2010) (see also best songs 735.)

‘Got to Give It Up’ was originally titled ‘Dancing Lady,’ as Marvin Gaye had been influenced by Johnny Taylor’s (1934-2000) 1976 Billboard Number 1 single ‘Disco Lady.’ ‘Got to Give It Up’ was recorded at ‘Marvin’s Room,’ which was a recording studio founded by Marvin Gaye in Los Angeles in 1975. The lead vocals were sung by Marvin Gaye, who also sang backing vocals, along with his brother Frankie Gaye, (1941-2001) and his second wife Janis Hunter (1956-2022.) Other notable names performing on the track were Jack Ashford of the ‘Funk Brothers,’ who provided percussion, and the singer songwriter Frankie Beverley, the tenor saxophone solo was provided by Fernando Harkness.

‘Got to Give It Up’ was an important influence on Michael Jackson (1958-2009) (see also best songs 812-511-249-191 and 137.) Jackson would write, along with his brother Randy, ‘Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground,’) (1978-Billboard Number 7 & UK Number 4) adapting parts of Gaye’s chant, transforming it into ‘Let’s dance, let’s shout, shake your body down to the ground,’ Michael Jackson’s song ‘Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough,’ (1979-Billboard Number 1 & UK Number 3) written solely by Michael Jackson, and recorded the same year as ‘Shake Your Body,’ took even more of Gaye’s influence on ‘Got to Give It Up,’ by using percussive instruments, and Jackson singing the track falsetto, as Gaye had done on ‘Got to Give It Up.’

‘I used to go out to parties and stand around, ’cause I was too nervous to really get down. But my body yearned to be free, I got up on the floor, and found someone to choose me.’