MARVIN GAYE & STUDIO RIO - Sexual Healing - 7" - Black Vinyl [OCT 31]

7" - Black Vinyl

Following Mr Bongo's reissue of Studio Rio’s exquisite Brazilian-infused take on Bill Withers’ Lovely Day, which was one of the standout hits from last summer, we shine a light on another of their superb remakes.

Masterminded and produced by the German, Grammy Award-winning Berman Brothers, and featuring the same all-star cast behind the Lovely Day reinterpretation, they put a joyous Brazilian twist on the Marvin Gaye classic Sexual Healing. Rich in positivity and a pure end-of-the-night classic, this is another surefire winner to light up any occasion.

A project born out of Christian & Frank Berman’s (aka the Berman Brothers) passion for Brazilian music, the idea began with a simple question: what would some of the all-time classic US soul songs sound like if they had been recorded in Rio de Janeiro with Brazil’s finest musicians?

"The idea took root in the vibrant streets of Rio de Janeiro. Beyond the city's main carnival, countless neighbourhood block parties pulse with live samba drumming, colourful costumes, and a joyful mix of freedom, music, and cultural expression. The goal was to capture this spirit and channel it into Sexual Healing," explain the Berman Brothers.

Heading to Rio in 2013, the brothers assembled a team of top-tier Brazilian musicians, including many sidemen to the legendary Tom Jobim. They enlisted Torcuato Mariano, known for his work with Djavan and Gilberto Gil, to arrange the songs, taking inspiration from classic '60s and '70s Brazilian samba recordings. Another key contributor was Pretinho da Serrinha, one of Brazil’s most acclaimed samba musicians, who has worked with Seu Jorge, Caetano Veloso, and Lulu Santos. His masterful percussion and cavaquinho playing infused the track with irresistible summer energy.

After sharing their concept with Sony, the brothers were granted access to the original multitrack tapes, allowing them to retain Marvin Gaye’s original vocal performance while reimagining the instrumental setting with authentic Brazilian flavour.

"Our goal was to create an authentic samba recording to accompany Marvin Gaye’s vocal performance. We wanted to honour the original while creating something fresh, hoping people would feel as if the song had been recorded this way from the very beginning."

Remoulding Gaye’s iconic lovers’ anthem from 1982, the brothers flipped Sexual Healing into a joy-filled, smouldering samba-driven beauty. It’s a breezy, light-hearted remake, with Marvin’s sublime soul delivery nestled perfectly within the shuffling cavaquinho and cuica groove. Uplifting horn stabs, building melodies, and heartfelt harmonies elevate the song to an ecstatic climax.

Tracklist: 

Side A

Sexual Healing (Studio Rio Version)

Side B

Sexual Healing (Studio Rio Instrumental Version)