I Want You (3:56)

“I Want You” is a song written by songwriters Leon Ware and Arthur “T-Boy” Ross and recorded and released as a single by singer Marvin Gaye. Released as a single in 1976 on the Tamla label, the song introduced a change in musical styles for Gaye, who before then had been recording songs with a funk edge. Songs such as this gave him a disco audience thanks to Ware, who produced the song alongside Gaye.

The song also stood to be one of Marvin’s most popular singles during his later Motown period followed by his sabbatical following the release of 1973’s Let’s Get It On. The song eventually reached number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Selling Soul Singles chart.[1] It also became a disco hit, reaching number ten on the Disco Singles Chart alongside “After the Dance”.



Originally conceived by Motown songwriter Leon Ware and his songwriting partner “T-Boy” Ross, it was originally intended to be included in Ware’s Musical Massage album. When Ware, who was also signed to the label as a solo artist, presented the rough draft of his album to Motown-CEO Berry Gordy, the mogul was appreciative of the songs, including a rough version of “I Want You”. But after hearing it, he convinced Ware to give some of the songs to Marvin Gaye, who was coming off the release of his acclaimed 1973 record, Let’s Get It On, his final duet recording with Diana Ross and a commercially successful live album and was coming off a US tour at the time.