It's not just his three-octave vocal range or his place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It's not just the fact that he ranks as #6 on Rolling Stone's list of The Greatest Singers of All Time or because he was crowned "The Prince of Soul." It's not just his Grammy awards or the tragedy of his death.
It's how Marvin Gaye's raw sensual soul broke away from the controlled recording world of the 70s and concentrated on the personal politics of the era. But even better, it's how almost 40 years later, Marvin Gaye's seductive voice still gets me off. Just go listen to Let's Get It On and you'll see what I mean.