Midnight Love

Gaye’s final studio album, 1982’s Midnight Love, saw him transplant his sultry finesse to the new decade. Steeped in prowling synths, sticky basslines, sparse drum machine, and spine-tingling guitar licks, these late-night jams reconfirm the R&B icon as both a soft-spoken loverman (“‘Til Tomorrow”) and playful party animal (“Midnight Lady”). For all the earworm endurance of “Sexual Healing,” “Joy” and “My Love Is Waiting” are just as sensual and celebratory. In fact, these are some of the smoothest, funkiest sounds of Gaye’s entire career.