The No. 1 project marked the R&B legend’s return to the stage
On January 4, 1974, Marvin Gaye stepped on to the stage at the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum to deliver his first proper live show in years. With 14,000-plus fans in front of him, he performed a rapturous set. With the release to all streaming partners of Marvin Gaye Live!: Deluxe Edition on Motown/UMe, the full show will finally be available for the first time on March 28th, just a few days ahead of what would have been Gaye’s 86th birthday on April 2nd.
Dropping in anticipation of the deluxe edition release is “Come Get To This (Live In Oakland).”A track that appeared briefly on CD and DSPs and then disappeared – and was never included in the original live album – it serves as the perfect prelude to this epic performance, highlighting his instantly recognizable vocals and iconic presence.
The original, nine-track Marvin Gaye Live! LP first arrived on June 19, 1974, following Marvin’s previous smash album, Let’s Get It On. Driven by the ecstatically received performance of “Distant Lover,” the elaborately packaged live album hit No. 1 on the Soul/R&B Album Chart for two weeks in addition to climbing to No. 8 on the Pop Album Chart. It also garnered a Grammy Award nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. This new deluxe edition paints the full picture of the evening, boasting the addition of four rare cuts: “Flying High (In the Friendly Sky),” “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology),” “Come Get To This,” and “Keep Gettin’ It On,” plus a spoken word interlude where Marvin sweetly acknowledges the band – consisting of stellar studio players including Motown legend James Jamerson on bass and a full 30+-piece orchestra – and his “Let’s Get It On” creative partner, Ed Townsend.
Also on March 28th, the standard audio presentation of the original nine-track version will land on digital platforms for the first time. Both the original album and the new deluxe edition are newly remastered and available in Dolby Atmos for the full immersive concert appearance.
Last year, Motown/UMe debuted the first-ever official animated music video for Marvin Gaye’s classic signature staple, “Let’s Get It On.” The latter has amassed 2.6 million YouTube views and counting.
The video complemented Motown/UMe’s 2023 release of Let’s Get It On: Deluxe Edition on the 50th anniversary of the seminal record’s original release.
Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004, Let’s Get It On represents a pivotal moment not only in the career of Marvin Gaye but in the evolution of soul music. Gaye gave voice to intimate desire in a way that was lightning-charged. At the time, he claimed it was spiritually guided. Fifty years on, it’s never been more apparent that he was telling the truth.
- Introduction
- Overture
- Trouble Man
- Flying High (In the Friendly Sky)
- Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
- Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
- Distant Lover
- Come Get To This
- Jan
- Keep Gettin’ It On
- Fossil Medley: I’ll Be Doggone/Try It Baby/Can I Get A Witness/You’re A Wonderful One/Stubborn Kind Of Fellow/How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
- Thanks to the Orchestra
- Let’s Get It On
- What’s Going On
