Marvin Gaye – What's Going On

Album Revolution #1:

When I decided to revamp my "Marvin Gaye" reviews, I at first struggled on how I was going to do it...I only had two of his '60's albums, so at first I wasn't going to concentrate on that era...But for once in my life I stop being predictable, only focusing on the two albums and then jumping to the '70's, and bravely reviewed his albums starting with "That Stubborn Kind Of Fellow"...I am so proud of myself...Back in the days, I wouldn't have done that...I also thank you guys for hanging in there with me...

When I first restarted doing this again it started with "Marvin Gaye's" "What's Going On"...I started by saying some jazz about me stopping reviewing records for a while because at times I felt that I have been harsh in some of my reviews....But you Guys continued to give me the courage to write, and for that, again, I thank you guys!!!!!!

With getting that mumble jumble out of the way, now it it time to get down to business!!!!

I know that this album has been reviewed millions of times, and even though "Marvin Gaye" had tons, and tons, and tons of great songs before "What's Going On", none, and I do mean none of his albums ever came close to this one!!!!!! The fact that "Marvin" was so defiant of "Berry Gordy", to go ahead with this bombshell of just great music, stuns the mind!!!!

We all know the story: "Marvin" was tired of being a pretty boy (just like "Stevie Wonder" was), and after talking with his Brother about Vietnam, and the tragic death of "Ms. Tammi Terrell", "Marvin" could not take it anymore!!!!! He had to let it out, and what better way then through music!!!!!

It starts off with the mind boggling "Title Track"...Every time I listen to this song, I have to just in...It talks about all the ills that we still see some 50 years later...The music behind it as well, just reels you in...My Wife has seen me sing along with so many songs, but she says that she has never seen it like with this one!!!! This effects me so deeply, and I had to come to grips that it is my favorite "Marvin" song of all time (And it was a Hummugest #1 Hit)!!!!!

"What's Happening Brother", is the song with from the result of the talks he had with his Brother about him coming back from Vietnam....

"Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky)" is an outer this world experience...The way he described a individual on drugs is spell bounding!!!!! From how the Music flows around "Marvin's" Vocals, Man!!!!! It was at first a B-Side of a 45 and it was called "Sad Tomorrows".....That is also Spell bounding, and if you ever get a chance, please check it out!!!!

"Save The Children" is an emotional plea for Children, that once again could apply 50 years later, with all the tragic crimes against Children!!!!!

"God Is Love" is a nice Segway, and the first time (I believe) he expressed himself in a Spiritual way....

"Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)", is that almost shouldn't have been a Hit, because it was so deep....But it hit the nail on the head on how we treat this Planet....

Now the next two songs, "Right On" and "Wholy Holy", I it are not in the same class as the other songs mentioned....But they are still very good, and do not diminish the album...

Then there's the perfect album closer, "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)"....Putting the ills of the city on blast like he did, and believe me, at that time, it was a welcomed and needed "Inner City" anthem....

If you noticed, I haven't named any Crown Jewels, because, this is one big Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate, Ultimate Crown Jewel!!!!!! This is beyond an album, it's a Documentary!!!!! The production of the record was also stunning, having it as a complete suite was priceless......

It also took "R&B" into another stratosphere, and it also had "Marvin" as the first "Black" artist on the cover of "Rolling Stone Magazine" (I believe)....It also shut "Berry Gordy" up, and after that, he left "Marvin" alone (for a little while anyway)....I could go on and on and on!!!! But why? You all know the deal about this album.... It is worth you time, your attention, and allllllll the listening!!!!!!!!

P.S.: Yes, this started the Album Revolution for "Marvin" as well.......

This is such a beautiful album with a worthwile message for humankind. Marvin's voice is just so heavinly, and along with Stevie Wonder, one of the few voices out there in the world of music, that makes the ears go all spritual in harmony.

The message is still relevent today, as it was and before the album came out. The concept of Peace, Unity and Hapiness is expressed here through the lyrics, and also the musicianship of the Funk Brothers.

Absoulutely wonderful.

This is without a doubt the greatest Soul and R&B album in music history, a must-have masterpiece that should be in every record collection. Yes "Sgt. Pepper" was influential, but "What's Going On" was a different kind of influence. Not to open your mind to drugs, and new experiences, but to open your mind to love and peace. Sly & The Family Stone might have psychedelicized soul music, but Marvin Gaye personalized it, and he literally poured out every emotion onto this record.

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, flavoring it with layer upon layer of his own multi-tracked vocals, oceans of hand percussion, strings, flutes, and jazzy horn solos. Spacey and loose as a spliff-fueled Sunday afternoon jam in the park, the nine songs all played like a hit single. There are no pauses between the track, the rhythm section just keeps going & flowing and the whole record pushes forward as a real soultrain, weaving songs seamlessy each into another.

I originally bought this album once upon a time because it featured three of Gaye's biggest hits [the title track, "Mercy Mercy Me”, and "Inner City Blues"(Make Me Wanna Holler)] all under one cover. However, from the very first time that I listened to the album, the fact that those three songs were included on it became an afterthought in light of the album as a whole. The album is unquestionably an entity in and of itself. Headlines from the early 70’s (the ecology, drug addiction, poverty, the plight of the Vietnam veterans) weave together the backdrop for this album but the album's underlying theme is always one of a hope for a better tomorrow.

Listen to it if you don’t know it yet, I'm pretty sure that you’ll be extremely satisfied. Don't just listen to it though, LISTEN to it! (or make love on it :)

If one day I would be condemned to spend the rest of my days alone on a deserted island and I could take just one record with me, this would be it, without any doubt.