[2] Written by Gaye and his co-producer Leon Ware, the song narrates a moment where the author noticed a woman on Soul Train and convinces her to "get together" after the two shared a dance.

[4][5] The song also served in a funky instrumental, which included a synthesizer solo performed by Gaye[1][6] just days before the master mix of the I Want You album was due at Motown.

[9] The song was Gaye's lowest-peaked pop single for the first time in 13 years since the B-side of his "Can I Get a Witness" titled "I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby", peaking at number 74,[10] ironically three places higher than "I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby", while it was a bigger success on the R&B chart, peaking at number 14.

[1][6] The basic track of "After the Dance" was recorded for Gaye with the working title "Don't You Wanna Come?"

[11] Their version was released as a single that year and re-introduced newer listeners to Gaye's original.