God Is Love (song)
Encyclopedia
"God is Love" is a 1970 song written by Marvin Gaye
, Anna Gordy Gaye
, James Nyx and Elgie Stover
and recorded by Marvin for his What's Going On
album. The song was a return of sorts to Gaye's religious background dedicating this song to God and his father, Marvin Pentz Gay, Sr.
The song was originally recorded as the b-side to "What's Going On" shortly after that song was recorded. The original 45" version of "What's Going On" included a slower, string-laden version of this song as its b-side. The musical composition was co-written by Marvin, wife Anna Gordy
and Elgie Stover
and was originally used for the original version of "Just to Keep You Satisfied
" by The Monitors, who recorded it in 1968. The song was later retooled in a more joyous, faster version thanks to composition from Marvin brought on after the success of "What's Going On" as a hit song. It also ended in a much faster and abrupt tone leading into the album's next single, "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
". The original version has since been re-issued on several greatest-hits sets and re-issues of the album. J Dilla
sampled the original version first for his instrumental, "Marvin and the Fam", and then with rapper Common
on his song, "Love Is", from his acclaimed 2005 album, Be.
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....
, Anna Gordy Gaye
Anna Gordy Gaye
Anna Gordy Gaye is an American songwriter and composer, known as the elder sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy and the first wife of soul legend Marvin Gaye, who used their troubled marriage as the focal point of his critically acclaimed 1978 effort, Here, My Dear, an album from which Gordy...
, James Nyx and 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,...
and recorded by Marvin for his 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. The song was a return of sorts to Gaye's religious background dedicating this song to God and his father, Marvin Pentz Gay, Sr.
Marvin Pentz Gay, Sr.
The Reverend Marvin Pentz Gay Sr. was an American minister of the House of God. He was the father of musician Marvin Gaye and gained notoriety after shooting and killing him on April 1, 1984 following an argument at their Los Angeles home.-Early life:Gaye was born on a farm on along Catnip Hill...
The song was originally recorded as the b-side to "What's Going On" shortly after that song was recorded. The original 45" version of "What's Going On" included a slower, string-laden version of this song as its b-side. The musical composition was co-written by Marvin, wife Anna Gordy
Anna Gordy Gaye
Anna Gordy Gaye is an American songwriter and composer, known as the elder sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy and the first wife of soul legend Marvin Gaye, who used their troubled marriage as the focal point of his critically acclaimed 1978 effort, Here, My Dear, an album from which Gordy...
and 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,...
and was originally used for the original version of "Just to Keep You Satisfied
Just to Keep You Satisfied
"Just to Keep You Satisfied" is a song by soul singer Marvin Gaye. The song was the b-side to Marvin's modest 1974 hit, "You Sure Love to Ball" and was the eighth and final song issued on the singer's 1973 album, Let's Get It On.-Background:...
" by The Monitors, who recorded it in 1968. The song was later retooled in a more joyous, faster version thanks to composition from Marvin brought on after the success of "What's Going On" as a hit song. It also ended in a much faster and abrupt tone leading into the album's next single, "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
"Mercy Mercy Me " was the second single from Marvin Gaye's 1971 album, What's Going On. Following the breakthrough of the title track's success, the song, written solely by Gaye, became one of his most poignant anthems of sorrow regarding the environment...
". The original version has since been re-issued on several greatest-hits sets and re-issues of the album. J Dilla
J Dilla
James Dewitt Yancey , better known by the stage names J Dilla and Jay Dee, was an American record producer who emerged from the mid-1990s underground hip hop scene in Detroit, Michigan...
sampled the original version first for his instrumental, "Marvin and the Fam", and then with rapper Common
Common (rapper)
Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. , better known by his stage name Common , is an American hip-hop artist and actor....
on his song, "Love Is", from his acclaimed 2005 album, Be.
1970 version
- All 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....
- 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...
- Arranged by Paul Riser
- Produced by Marvin Gaye
1971 (album) version
- Lead and background vocals by Marvin Gaye
- Additional background (harmony) vocals by The AndantesThe AndantesThe Andantes were a prolific female sessions group for the Motown record label during the 1960s. Composed of Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, the group sang background vocals on numerous Motown recordings, including songs by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, The Temptations, Stevie...
: Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow and Louvain Demps - 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...
- Arranged by Paul Riser
- Produced by Marvin Gaye