Marvin Gaye: Artist Essentials

First released: 1971 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1971 release history of What's Going On. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1971 studio recording
Credit: Marvin Gaye
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: What's Going On

What's Going On - original nine-track program
The original 1971 album includes Mercy Mercy Me and Inner City Blues; the title retains its earlier 1971 single date. The selected original production is distinguished from subsequently issued alternative Detroit mixes and live programs. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1968 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1968 release history of In the Groove. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1968 studio recording
Credit: Marvin Gaye
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: In the Groove

In the Groove - original Grapevine album recording
The original 1968 album includes I Heard It Through the Grapevine before its later single campaign. Subsequent retitling, anthologies and later rerecordings do not establish its original release. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1973 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1973 release history of Let's Get It On. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1973 full album recording
Credit: Marvin Gaye
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Let's Get It On

Let's Get It On - original album program
The original eight-track album is dated 1973. The selected full title performance belongs to that original program; the named 2003 remaster is not its first release. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

Let's Get It On - separately cataloged single version
The distributor explicitly names Single Version and retains June 1973 for that edition. It establishes an edition alternative to the selected full album production, without identifying the retained annual row's edition. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1982 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1982 release history of Midnight Love. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1982 studio recording
Credit: Marvin Gaye
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: Midnight Love

Midnight Love - original Columbia program
The original 1982 album identifies Sexual Healing. Current copyright/package lines and later instrumental bonus material do not redate or replace the selected original studio production. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1964 (year verified)

UMG explicitly dates the original single to late 1964. Its 1965 parent album, inherited album-track field and retained annual year are later events.

Recording: Original 1964 studio recording
Credit: Marvin Gaye
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original single: How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)

UMG - Marvin Gaye original recording overview
The label overview explicitly identifies How Sweet It Is as a late-1964 release and Can I Get a Witness with 1963. It supplies musical context across the original Motown and later solo repertoire; chart years and later compilations are not adopted as first-release dates. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

How Sweet It Is - original album program
The original album is dated 1965. Its inherited 1965 title-song field is superseded by UMG's explicit late-1964 single history; the album program supports the recording identity, not that later first-release year. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1967 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1967 release history of United. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1967 studio recording
Credit: Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
Role in this collection: Co-lead vocalist with Tammi Terrell

Original album: United

United - original Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell duets
Original 1967 duet program identifies Ain't No Mountain High Enough and Your Precious Love, including the earlier same-year singles. Both singers retain their original joint credit. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1971 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1971 release history of What's Going On. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1971 studio recording
Credit: Marvin Gaye
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: What's Going On

What's Going On - original nine-track program
The original 1971 album includes Mercy Mercy Me and Inner City Blues; the title retains its earlier 1971 single date. The selected original production is distinguished from subsequently issued alternative Detroit mixes and live programs. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1971 (year verified)

The original recording is documented in the 1971 release history of What's Going On. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.

Recording: Original 1971 studio recording
Credit: Marvin Gaye
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original album: What's Going On

What's Going On - original nine-track program
The original 1971 album includes Mercy Mercy Me and Inner City Blues; the title retains its earlier 1971 single date. The selected original production is distinguished from subsequently issued alternative Detroit mixes and live programs. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1977 (year verified)

The original Part 1 single was released in 1977. It edits the longer studio production included on Live at the London Palladium; that album title does not make this a concert performance.

Recording: Original 1977 Part 1 studio single edit
Credit: Marvin Gaye
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original single: Got to Give It Up (Part 1)

Classic Motown - Got to Give It Up Part 1
The label identifies the 1977 Part 1 single as an edit of a longer studio production used on the fourth side of Live at the London Palladium. The selected Part 1 is a studio recording despite that album's title; session completion in 1976 is not public release. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

First released: 1962 (year verified)

The detailed label history documents a 1962 single release before the 1963 album and annual appearance. The museum's inconsistent 1961 shorthand is not used.

Recording: Original 1962 studio recording
Credit: Marvin Gaye
Role in this collection: Primary artist

Original single: Stubborn Kind of Fellow

Classic Motown - original Stubborn Kind of Fellow release
The label history places the completed recording in June 1962 and its release less than a month later. This establishes the original 1962 single, before the 1963 album and retained annual entry; recording-session and chart dates remain separate. | Reviewed 2026-10-17

That Stubborn Kinda Fellow - original Tamla program
The original 1963 album program identifies Pride and Joy and retains earlier 1962 recording-release fields for Stubborn Kind of Fellow and Hitch Hike. The current 2014 copyright does not redate the original recordings. | Reviewed 2026-10-17