Distant Lover
Encyclopedia
"Distant Lover" is the sixth song issued on singer Marvin Gaye
's 1973 album, Let's Get It On
and was later issued as a live recording in 1974. The live version of the song was Gaye's most successful single
during the three-year gap between Let's Get It On and his following 1976 album, I Want You.
album. The song, titled originally under "Head Title", featured Sandra Greene as a co-writer. The song was left on the shelves following the release of What's Going On
. The recording was a demo of Marvin improvising lyrics claiming he was singing "off the top of my head". The singer then recites in a gospel-inspired tone while Elgie Stover
, a longtime Gaye collaborator, shouts in anguish over Marvin's words. At the end of the song, Denise Gordy is heard in the background talking to Marvin. Marvin's tenor and Elgie's screams carry the tone of the original track The original version showcased Gaye in more of a self-conscious state of mind.
Marvin revived the song in a more polished setting upon recording the Let's Get It On
album, co-writing new lyrics with his friend Harvey Fuqua
's wife and his sister-in-law Gwen Fuqua while keeping Greene's name as a co-writer. This time instead of shouting as he had in the original track, Marvin moaned over a sensible tenor and falsetto before finally ending the song in a growl as he begged and pleaded for his lover to "come back home". According to the liner notes of the Deluxe reissue of Let's Get It On
, it took twenty separate recording sessions before Marvin was satisfied with the song-more dates than it took to record the entire What's Going On
album. Of the studio version, an Allmusic reviewer wrote:
The original 1973 recording was later sampled by Kanye West
on his College Dropout album in 2004 on the song "Spaceship".
". The song was later immortalized in a live version issued on his Marvin Gaye Live!
album from 1974 in which Marvin builds up the song from a slowed-up version of his Trouble Man
instrumental, "Theme from Trouble Man". After a small introduction, Marvin begins to sing the song, leading female audience members who attended his live show at the Oakland Coliseum to scream in delight. The song would become a show-stopper in later concerts from then on until Marvin's final concert tour in 1983. Allmusic called it a "steamy version... complete with wailing female fans." The live version of the song was so popular Motown issued that version as a single that June where it peaked at #28 on the pop singles chart
#12 on the R&B singles chart
that September.
, who recorded it as a posthumous duet with Gaye on her 1989 album, 4u2njoy; Michael McDonald
, Brian McKnight
, El DeBarge
and Thelma Houston
among other artists. Kanye West
sampled the song on his 2004 album track, "Spaceship" off his acclaimed debut, The College Dropout
.
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
's 1973 album, Let's Get It On
Let's Get It On
Let's Get It On is the twelfth studio album by American soul musician Marvin Gaye, released August 28, 1973, on Tamla Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during June 1970 to July 1973 at Hitsville U.S.A. and Golden World Studio in Detroit, and at Hitsville West in Los Angeles...
and was later issued as a live recording in 1974. The live version of the song was Gaye's most successful single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
during the three-year gap between Let's Get It On and his following 1976 album, I Want You.
Studio version
The song had been a work-in-progress for three years. Gaye originally wrote the song while recording for the What's Going OnWhat's Going On
What's Going On is the eleventh studio album by soul musician Marvin Gaye, released May 21, 1971, on the Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records...
album. The song, titled originally under "Head Title", featured Sandra Greene as a co-writer. The song was left on the shelves following the release of What's Going On
What's Going On
What's Going On is the eleventh studio album by soul musician Marvin Gaye, released May 21, 1971, on the Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records...
. The recording was a demo of Marvin improvising lyrics claiming he was singing "off the top of my head". The singer then recites in a gospel-inspired tone while Elgie Stover
Elgie Stover
Elgie Stover is an American songwriter, composer, producer and background singer, most famous for his associations with uncle Harvey Fuqua and legendary Motown star Marvin Gaye, co-writing two of Gaye's songs from the singer's acclaimed 1971 album, What's Going On.Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio,...
, a longtime Gaye collaborator, shouts in anguish over Marvin's words. At the end of the song, Denise Gordy is heard in the background talking to Marvin. Marvin's tenor and Elgie's screams carry the tone of the original track The original version showcased Gaye in more of a self-conscious state of mind.
Marvin revived the song in a more polished setting upon recording the Let's Get It On
Let's Get It On
Let's Get It On is the twelfth studio album by American soul musician Marvin Gaye, released August 28, 1973, on Tamla Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during June 1970 to July 1973 at Hitsville U.S.A. and Golden World Studio in Detroit, and at Hitsville West in Los Angeles...
album, co-writing new lyrics with his friend Harvey Fuqua
Harvey Fuqua
Harvey Fuqua, was an African-American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, record producer, and record label executive.Fuqua founded the seminal R&B/doo-wop group the Moonglows in the 1950s...
's wife and his sister-in-law Gwen Fuqua while keeping Greene's name as a co-writer. This time instead of shouting as he had in the original track, Marvin moaned over a sensible tenor and falsetto before finally ending the song in a growl as he begged and pleaded for his lover to "come back home". According to the liner notes of the Deluxe reissue of Let's Get It On
Let's Get It On
Let's Get It On is the twelfth studio album by American soul musician Marvin Gaye, released August 28, 1973, on Tamla Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during June 1970 to July 1973 at Hitsville U.S.A. and Golden World Studio in Detroit, and at Hitsville West in Los Angeles...
, it took twenty separate recording sessions before Marvin was satisfied with the song-more dates than it took to record the entire What's Going On
What's Going On
What's Going On is the eleventh studio album by soul musician Marvin Gaye, released May 21, 1971, on the Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records...
album. Of the studio version, an Allmusic reviewer wrote:
The original 1973 recording was later sampled by Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
on his College Dropout album in 2004 on the song "Spaceship".
Live version
When Let's Get It On was issued, the song was released as the b-side to Marvin's hit, "Come Get to ThisCome Get to This
"Come Get to This" is a 1973 hit for American soul singer Marvin Gaye, released on the Tamla label.The song, released a few months after his seminal anthem of seduction, "Let's Get It On", was built among a fast-paced doo-wop-like recording....
". The song was later immortalized in a live version issued on his Marvin Gaye Live!
Marvin Gaye Live!
Marvin Gaye Live! is the second live album issued by soul musician Marvin Gaye, released on June 19, 1974 by Tamla Records.-Returning to live performances:...
album from 1974 in which Marvin builds up the song from a slowed-up version of his Trouble Man
Trouble Man (album)
Trouble Man is a soundtrack album by soul singer Marvin Gaye, released December 8, 1972 on Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records. As the soundtrack to the 1972 blaxploitation film of the same name, the Trouble Man soundtrack was a more contemporary move for Gaye, following his landmark...
instrumental, "Theme from Trouble Man". After a small introduction, Marvin begins to sing the song, leading female audience members who attended his live show at the Oakland Coliseum to scream in delight. The song would become a show-stopper in later concerts from then on until Marvin's final concert tour in 1983. Allmusic called it a "steamy version... complete with wailing female fans." The live version of the song was so popular Motown issued that version as a single that June where it peaked at #28 on the pop singles chart
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
#12 on the R&B singles chart
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
that September.
Legacy, covers and samples
"Distant Lover" in its live version has been regarded as one of the greatest live performances of all time. Its studio version has been covered by the likes of artists such as Betty WrightBetty Wright
Bessie Regina Norris, better known by her stage name, Betty Wright , is a Grammy winning Miami-based soul and R&B singer-songwriter, who won fame in the 1970s with hits such as "Clean Up Woman" and "Tonight Is the Night"...
, who recorded it as a posthumous duet with Gaye on her 1989 album, 4u2njoy; Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald (singer)
Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...
, Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B/Pop musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet....
, El DeBarge
El DeBarge
Eldra Patrick "El" DeBarge is an American R&B/pop falsetto singer and was the focal point and lead singer of the family group DeBarge throughout the early to mid-1980s....
and Thelma Houston
Thelma Houston
Thelma Houston is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She scored a number-one hit in 1976 with her cover version of the song "Don't Leave Me This Way", which won the 1978 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.-Early life & career:Houston is the daughter of a cotton picking mother...
among other artists. Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
sampled the song on his 2004 album track, "Spaceship" off his acclaimed debut, The College Dropout
The College Dropout
The College Dropout is the debut album by American hip hop artist Kanye West, released February 10, 2004, on Roc-A-Fella Records. It was recorded over a period of four years, beginning in 1999. Prior to the album's release, West had worked on rapper Jay-Z's The Blueprint , which showcased his...
.
1970 version (Head Title)
- Lead and background vocals by Marvin GayeMarvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
- Additional (spoken) vocals by Elgie StoverElgie StoverElgie Stover is an American songwriter, composer, producer and background singer, most famous for his associations with uncle Harvey Fuqua and legendary Motown star Marvin Gaye, co-writing two of Gaye's songs from the singer's acclaimed 1971 album, What's Going On.Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio,...
- Instrumentation by The Funk BrothersThe Funk BrothersThe Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan, session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972...
- Produced by Marvin Gaye
1973 version
- All vocals by Marvin Gaye
- Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers
- Arranged by Gene Page
- Produced by Marvin Gaye
1974 version
- Lead vocals by Marvin Gaye
- Background vocals by Eric Dolen, Charles Burns, Dwight Owens, Michael Torrance & Wally Cox
- Instrumentation:
- Ed Green: drums
- James Jamerson: bass
- David T. Walker: guitar
- Ray Parker: guitar
- Joe Sample: keyboard
- John Arnold: percussion
- Joe Clayton: congas
- Paul Hubinon: trumpet
- George Bonhanon: trombone
- Ernie Watts: sax
- William Green: sax
- James Getzoff: violin
- Jack Shulman: violin
- Arranged by Gene Page
- Produced by Marvin Gaye