What's Going On

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Sly & The Family Stone might have psychedelicised soul music, but Marvin Gaye personalised it. Although the powers-that-were Motown didn't even want to release the record, the unexpected success of What's Going On, issued in 1971, inspired Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, and just about every other black artist on the planet to take greater responsibility for their music and its meaning. Gaye co-wrote the songs and produced the album, flavouring it with layer upon layer of his own multi-tracked vocals, oceans of hand percussion, strings, flutes and jazzy horn solos. Spacy and loose as a spliff-fuelled Sunday afternoon jam in the park, the nine songs all played like hit singles. The title track-- inspired by his brother's return from the Vietnam War--and the obvious social commentary of "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" and "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" actually were hit singles. Two other tracks ("Wholly Holy" and "Save the Children") would inspire hit covers by Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross, respectively. Nevertheless, What's Going On sounds as fresh today as it did the week that it came out. --Don Waller

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Description
Originally released in 1971, WHAT'S GOING ON remains a landmark album, one that redefined music with powerful, anthemicsongs that remain pertinent to this day. Before WHAT'S GOING ON, R&B albums were collections of singles, with secondary"filler" material rounding out the LPs. Marvin Gaye changedall this by releasing a concept album that went beyond the usual boy-meets-girl scenario, weaving together an aural collage of societal ills. "Crime is increasing/Trigger-happy policing", from "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)", is as potent a line today as it was over 20 years ago, and withthe country still divided over the Vietnam War, the title track became a rallying cry for peace.
Dark, mercurial, and jazzy, WHAT'S GOING ON was as radical musically as it was conceptually. Layered with lush orchestrations, heavenly background vocals, and loose, fiercely grooving arrangements, WHAT'S GOING ON so surpassed anything previously known as soul music that it virtually reinvented the genre. The criticaland commercial success of Gaye's opus also enabled other artists to break free from the creative shackles imposed by Motown and other companies, and to experience more autonomy inmusical and thematic expression, thereby changing the industry. In short, the musical and historical significance of WHAT'S GOING ON cannot be overestimated; it was Gaye's masterpiece, and still stands as one of the greatest soul albums ofall time.

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Customer reviews

review by: Al date: 2008-05-08 rating:
A work is genius is what's going on.
This album blew my mind when I first heard it 15 years or so ago. From the first to the last this album reaches the pinnacles that other artists just cannot. To think that it is over 30 years old to me it sounds fresher and more vital than most of the bland R&B that is being offered up today. Also it's political message still blows me away.

This album is so good that everyone should own it. Infact if you know someone who doesn't get them a copy. It would count as a genuine act of kindness on your part.

It's just a shame he's not still with us.

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review by: WildChild date: 2008-03-18 rating:
You can't afford not to own this record
Probably the best LP ever released by anyone, anywhere, and certainly the best on Motown.
Beautiful in it's conception, writing, recording and production. Simply beautiful.

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review by: Bill Peter date: 2008-01-03 rating:
A Desert Island Disk
Sadly, when this album was released, Motown was "uncool", and I was listening to Mahavishnu Orchestra and Chick Corea's Return to Forever. Both good bands, but don't get played too often these days. However, since eventually buying it, it's never failed to get the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up. The title track is as relevant today as it was when it was written (Vietnam and Iraq), and is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It's just very sad that Marvin is no longer around to sing it.

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review by: date: 2007-11-06 rating:
Wonderful Marvin
The sign of a truly great album is if it stands the test of time and "Whats going on" certainley does.It still as meaningful now as it was in 1971 if not more today.Marvin was a truly great artist and this album is a testament to his greatness.Great songs that make you think.A brilliant album.


review by: Bishbaby date: 2007-10-16 rating:
Marvin Gaye's Best Album
Marvin had been on the Motown production line for nearly a decade. Now I have nothing against the traditional Motown sound, on the contrary, I live breathe and sleep it, but Marvin was ready to trust his own creativity, and try something new, of his own.

Some have described the album as a 'black American' album. Listen again, you will not hear the word 'black' once! The album speaks to all of humanity, like great art should. The concept is timeless. With the current growing concerns about pollution and global warming, 'Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)' could have been written tomorrow.

There is a lot of jazz in the music. The chords and changes are very pleasing, and thoughtfully complex if you listen closely.

This is Marvin's best album in my opinion. At the time of writing it is so cheap, and repackaged with a bonus track. It should be irrestibible to anybody. I believe it belongs in every serious collection.

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