Later in the same recording sessions, with help from his sister-in-law, Gwen Gordy Fuqua, Gaye composed more lyrics and gave it its title, "Distant Lover".

One of the alternate takes was later issued on the deluxe edition re-issue of Let's Get It On and featured the saxophone intro by Eli Fontaine as the "Head Title" versions had done.

In the finished version, Gaye sung in both a falsetto and a tenor voice, begging and pleading for his lover to "come back home" in a raspy growl.

Of the studio version, an Allmusic reviewer wrote: Marvin Gaye's studio recording enhances the dreamy style of the song with stately horn and strings, tumbling drum fills that gently nudge the song along, and mellow, doo wop-styled background vocals that echo "love her, you love her" under his romantic pleas.

Gaye fulfills the song's promise with a rich vocal that builds from a heartbroken croon to an impassioned wail.

[2]The original 1973 recording was later sampled by Kanye West on his The College Dropout album in 2004 on the song "Spaceship".

After a small introduction, Marvin begins to sing the song, leading female audience members who attended his live show at the Oakland Coliseum to scream in delight.