Burning The Ground Exclusive 1985
Celebrating BLACK HISTORY MONTH
“Sanctified Lady” is a song by American soul singer Marvin Gaye, released posthumously in 1985 by Columbia Records.
The title of the track was originally “Sanctified Pussy”, a phrase which Gaye can be heard mumbling (appearing somewhat unedited) during certain parts of the updated chorus provided by The Waters, chants of “sanctified lady”. Along with “Masochistic Beauty”, the song was an outtake from the Midnight Love sessions, that remained unfinished due to the singer’s death in 1984 at the age of 44. Despite being incomplete and omitted from the album, the song was planned and expected by the singer to become his next big record and follow-up to ‘”Sexual Healing.”
The lyrics explore the singer’s longing to find “that one woman who is untainted and incorruptible.” Regarding the earlier receptions of the song and its title, Gaye once stated to ex-wife Janis that “Some say the song is beneath me. And yes, there is humor implicit in the title. But it is no joke. To find a church girl, pure and innocent… I need a woman as flawless as my own mother.
Years later, guitarist and longtime collaborator Gordon Banks (Gaye’s brother-in-law) helped to finish the track by adding a choir and an electronic beat throughout the song, plus a vocodered chant of the title at the beginning.
“Sanctified Lady” was issued as the first release from the singer’s posthumous album Dream of a Lifetime, and despite the mumbling of Gaye’s original title became a modest hit upon its release, reaching #2 on the US R&B singles chart.
SIDE A:
Sanctified Lady 5:29
SIDE B:
Sanctified Lady (Instrumental) 6:26
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
U.S. CHART HISTORY:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Sanctified Lady | U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles | #2 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Columbia – 44 05188
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Single, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Funk / Soul
Style: Electro, Funk
CREDITS:
- Executive-Producer – Larkin Arnold
- Producer – Gordon Banks, Harvey Fuqua, Marvin Gaye
NOTES:
Taken from the Columbia Lp: Dream Of A Lifetime
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net
THE GEAR:
Turntable:Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!
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Many thanks!
Thank you
Thank you for this one, as I don’t have the instrumental of this!
Sanctified Lady was the centerpiece of the album Dream of a Lifetime, which is the first posthumous release of Marvin’s, and one of the first Marvin CD’s I bought. I always loved this track, plus Symphony and Ain’t It Funny (How Things Turn Around).
They were all either shelved or unfinished tracks, and some dated back to the early 70s, so it’s a mix of styles and genres. But several of the tracks are worth hearing, especially if you love Marvin’s 70s and 80s periods.
I’m familiar with this, but I have yet to really listen to it. Thank you Paul for keeping us on our toes!!
I do not remember this at all! Thanks, look forward to checking it out! interesting he ‘needed that kind of woman,’ but failed to be that kind of man. Still his death was a tragedy! 🤯
Thank you, Paul. Wow, I had forgotten that Marvin Gaye died so young. It was such a sad time when you think about the legacy, he left at such a young age. This song is new to my ears, so I’m looking forward to it. Interesting background too.
Jeff
You’re welcome, Jeff it’s a fun record.