I would actually give this album four-and-a-half stars. Another succulent suite from Marvin Gaye, I WANT YOU features some of his smoothest production work and some very moving vocals. Considering the obvious emphasis on romanticism and sex, it would be easy to view I WANT YOU as a rewrite of LET'S GET IT ON. While both albums are sensual and multilayered, the two discs actually have a completely different feel. LET'S GET IT ON was a sheer erotic jolt, while I WANT YOU is more of a psychological probing of the complications of love and sex.

The big hit is the majestic title song (#15 Pop, #1 R&B) and it perfectly encapsulates the theme and mood of the entire album. Given the sensual nature of the material, it's surprising that I WANT YOU is such a leisured and melancholy album. In spite of some suggestive lyrics, "Come Live With Me Angel" and "Since I Had You" are filled more with anguish than lust. The closing "After The Dance" is the disc's most reflective number, though Marvin even performs the songs he didn't write ("All The Way Around," the title song) with an uncommon emotional intensity.

As we had come to expect from Marvin, the album's tracks are expertly sequenced and form a lovely progression to the disc's close, even if reprising the title song three times is a bit redundant. Another huge Top Ten success on the Hot 200, I WANT YOU may not be able to top WHAT'S GOING ON or LET'S GET IT ON (but what could?), but it is a highly impressive recording in it's own right.

This is hands down the best Marvin Gaye album ever. And that's saying something. Soooo good it hurts, physically. Because this is true soul. What Marvin vocally does to a melody defies comprehension. He is the undisputed master.
Marvin said that "life as seen through my eyes can only be recalled sadly" and this album is a reflection of that statement. The title track is hauntingly beautiful (and has been the target of many a remake; sacrilegious fools), all the other tracks are similarly fantastic, with seriously laid back funky grooves throughout. I only wish He'd made a whole song out of "I Wanna Be Where You Are," but who am I to question the master.
So many "singers" cite Marvin as their musical influence, but to me that's crazy talk. If it were the case there would exist truly soulful Artists creating great music inspired by the spirit of Marvins' work. As it is there are only a handful of wanna-be's producing souless immitations.
Buy this CD, and see what the hype's all about.

`I want you' is my all time favourite Marvin Gaye song and one listen is enough to tell you why; atmospheric with lilting percussion, pulsing but hesitant sounding bassline, and a soothing multi-layered wall of backing vocals, this song is a masterpiece! Covered by artists like Massive Attack featuring Madonna, and Robert Palmer, the song gets reprised twice, especially as a horn laden instrumental near the end of the album.

This #15 US pop hit (#1 R&B) sets the tone for the rest of this album; soothing sensual music with lush orchestration and jazz leanings with lyrics about yearning and desire. The cover art is a painting depicting people dancing at a club to a live band, and this was stunningly recreated at the Motown 25th show in 1983.

All the tracks flow into one another with ease, from the soothing horn drenched `Come live with me angel', the downtempo haunting instrumental piece `After the dance' (reprised in a percussion filled vocal version at the end which has an entirely different feel), the ethereal sound of `Feel all my love inside', the too brief `I wanna be where you are', the silky smooth `All the way round', the ballad `Since I had you', and `Soon I'll be loving you again', a lush ballad introduced by delicate rolling percussion and filled with awesome backing vocals, awesome!

The album made #4 pop US and #1 R&B.

There's nothing more I can say about this work of art. Marvin was on an artistic roll in the 70s (that's not to say his other work wasn't great, mind you) and set the pace for today's R&B and Neo Soul crooners.

It's already been said....nothing else to say. This is HANDS DOWN the best Marvin CD. I'm in love with a dead man. #2 on my list is actually the sound track to Trouble Man. I'm not too enthralled with his duets...the obsession only works when he's singing alone. Genius, pure genius.

There really isn't much to be said that the previous reviewers haven't said already. This is Marvin Gaye at his best. I grew up in the same neighborhood as Marvin Gaye. I even share the same last name as Marvin Gaye. But until about 2 years ago, I had never heard this album. I have ALL of Marvin Gaye's other albums, but I never got this one until 2 years ago. And even after I got it, it sat on my bookcase for another 8 months. Why? Simple, there was no rush to get to it. I believed that "Let's Get It On" was Marvin's best work at the time, so I figured this LP wouldn't be as good. Boy was I wrong. I almost feel cheated. This is easily Marvin's bets work, and that's saying a lot. I believe all of his albums are classics in their own right, but he outdid himself in a way that goes beyond explanation. This is one of those albums that stains your brain so that you never forget it. I encourage all, young or old, to go out and get this album if you haven't heard it already. Don't cheat yourself like I did. This album is a masterpiece.

Standout Tracks: The Entire Album