On His Birthday: Top Five Marvin Gaye Tunes

April 2nd would have been the 74th birthday of soul singer Marvin Gaye. It was one day before his 45th birthday, on April 1st 1984 that his father shot him dead as he sat on his bed talking to his mother. It was revealed during Marvin Gaye Sr.'s trial that the gun used in the murder had been given to him as Christmas present from his son. 

Marvin Gaye was a hit-making machine,with a whopping 56 chart hits from 1962-1982. I  Heard It Through the Grapevine was unquestionably his biggest hit, spending 7 weeks at #1 beginning in December of 1968. We celebrate his birthday with our top 5 Marvin Gaye tunes of all time.

#5)LET'S GET IT ON -  Spent 2 weeks at #1 in 1973, and is a must for any romantic compilation you may be conjuring up.

#4) I'LL BE DOGGONE - A top 10 hit from 1965. This unique video clip, recorded LIVE, features a long introduction with Marvin on percussion.

#3) IT TAKES TWO -  Marvin was well-known for his duets with the likes of Diana Ross, Tammi Terrell, Mary Wells, and this one with Kim Weston. It's just a super feel good love song.

#2)  IF I COULD BUILD MY WHOLE WORLD AROUND YOU - This is one of eleven duets with Tammi Terrell. It's hard to pick a favorite from Your Precious Love, You're All I Need To Get By, and Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing. But this top 10 hit from 1967 gets the nod from me.

#1) I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE -  Seven weeks at #1 speaks for itself. But just in case there is any doubt that Marvin is one of the greatest rock and roll singers of all time,  you owe it to yourself to give a listen to  Marvin's acappella version. It will blow you away.