Cleopatra

34-year-old Marvin Gaye's 13th studio album was released on 28 August 1973.

After the success of What's Going On (1971), Gaye was given more creative control over his recording. While the previous album explored cultural topics (drug abuse, poverty, the Vietnam War), Let's Get It On would explore more personal ones, specifically, sex and spirituality.

Gaye's father was a minister (Marvin started singing in church when he was 4), who physically abused his children and instilled in them feelings of guilt about sex. Marvin was determined to find a more positive connection. In the album's liner notes he writes, ""I can't see anything wrong with sex between consenting anybodies. . . . I contend that SEX IS SEX and LOVE IS LOVE. When combined, they work well together, if two people are of about the same mind. . . . I don't believe in overly moralistic philosophies. Have your sex, it can be exciting, if you're lucky. I hope the music that I present here makes you lucky."

Let's Get It On was an immediate success, peaking at #2 on the US Billboard Albums chart, and remaining on the charts for 61 weeks. It was the best-selling soul album of 1973. The title track was Motown's best-selling single of all time when it was released, selling more than 2 million copies in little more than a month (it has gone on to sell more than 10 million copies).

Zoo animal pictograms. National Zoo Pamphlet, Washington, D. C. 1978. Detail.

Loads of money. How To Get Rich And Keep It. 1978. Cover art.