Live at the London Palladium cover art
Song Clearance Sheet
4 sources cited

Got to Give It Up

Funk1970s
123BPM
UnconfirmedKey
Tempo/key via Deezer
The verdict
Documented Sampling History
Confirmed sole songwriter (Marvin Gaye), no dispute over this song’s own creation — it is the Gaye recording at the center of the “Blurred Lines” case (covered there). The documented “resistant genius” disco-parody origin is presented factually.
Quick Facts
Released1977
AlbumLive at the London Palladium
GenreFunk, Soul, Disco
LabelTamla / Motown Records
ProducerMarvin Gaye & Art Stewart
Recorded atMarvin’s Room, Los Angeles
Who you need to ask
The songwriter of recordMarvin Gaye
Wikipedia · checked Jul 2026
The current administratorNot confirmed — Tamla/Motown + Gaye estate; needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Unknown · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
The Gaye recording at the center of the massive “Blurred Lines” judgment (this catalogue); Frankie Gaye and Janis Hunter (this batch, via “Let’s Get It On”) sang backgrounds.
Wikipediachecked Jul 2026
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriters of record.
Compiled from public sourceschecked Jul 2026

The two permissions you need, and who holds them

The song itself (the writing)Marvin Gaye
Recorded Dec 1976, released March 15, 1977 on Tamla, from “Live at the London Palladium” — #1 Hot 100, R&B and Dance. The Gaye recording at the center of the “Blurred Lines” case (this catalogue)Wikipediachecked Jul 2026
A documented “resistant genius” originGaye had publicly resisted recording disco at Motown’s insistence, criticizing the genre as lacking substance and vowing never to record it. He eventually wrote this specifically as a kind of parody of disco, originally titled “Dancing Lady” as a direct response to Johnnie Taylor’s 1976 “Disco Lady.” No lyrics reproduced.
Stereogumchecked Jul 2026
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Tamla / Motown; connects to the Gaye estate (per the documented “Blurred Lines” settlement, this catalogue) — needs a Songview/Discogs lookupchecked Jul 2026

Receipts

Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found

Made to fill a fourth album side

The song was created to fill the fourth side of a planned double live album after Gaye insisted on a double-album release despite not enough live material from the London Palladium show — Gaye and drummer Bugsy Wilcox had been “fooling around” on the groove with just keyboard and drums at his home studio.

Classic Motown · read it →
Real financial context

Gaye was in serious financial trouble from a bitter divorce from Anna Gordy, reportedly narrowly avoiding imprisonment over unpaid child support — the European tour that relieved some pressure led to the London Palladium session that necessitated this song. Frankie Gaye and Janis Hunter provided background vocals.

Wiki of the Arts · read it →

Can You Use It for Free?

How to check PD →
Is it public domain?No
Compiled from public sourceschecked Jul 2026

Sample History

Times sampled
The Gaye song at the center of “Blurred Lines”
Covers
First flip
Big names who used itRobin Thicke

Who to Contact

GG
Marvin Gaye (Tamla)
The confirmed songwriter of record
Confirmed · checked Jul 2026
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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References

Every source cited on this page — 4 in total

Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 24)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass
Last checked Jul 2026 · Compiled from Wikipedia, Wikidata, Discogs, MusicBrainz, Nolo, Stereogum, Songfacts.
This page is informational, not legal advice — always confirm current rightsholders before release.
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