Customer Reviews

Marvin Gaye: What's Going On and the Last Days of the Motown Sound

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I've read all of the books written about Marvin and picked this up to add to the collection, expecting it to be little more than expanded liner notes for the album. Wow. Very wrong. The book ends up encompassing Marvin's entire life through the scope of his most acclaimed work. It's beautifully written, unfolding more like a novel than you'd ever expect. It's a genuinely moving look at a true artist taking the boldest step of his...and arguably any other musician's...life. I can't recommend this highly enough, both as an admirer of Marvin's and as someone who just likes to read a great book.

This looks like a biography but isn't. This is my favorite music biz book ever. Great story, great writing. Mercy me. The record will never sound the same after you read this book.

The subtitle to this book is the key to its success. Author Edmonds spins a novelistic story about how Marvin Gaye had to fight every aspect of Motown's mighty production line to get this album made, from breaking out of the "rock 'n' roll singer" mode that the label tried to force him into, to his reinventing himself as a songwriter/producer, to insisting on the single's release over Berry Gordy's objections by going "on strike" until it was done, to completing the album's month-long time limit on recording by trying to win a bet with Gordy. By doing all that, and winning financially and creatively, he started to break down the production line that made Motown run so efficiently and led to the end of the label's glory days. So it's a bittersweet tale, but one so compellingly told it becomes one of the most valuable books on the Motown system, why it was great, and why it wasn't.

This book is wonderful! It gives a full account of the concept behind this wonderful album, which stood the test of time! To get the full effect, order the "What's Going On" Deluxe Edition!

should be more like it.what can you say about the Album "what's Going On"?Mind Blowing to this day.solid all the way around.the kind of Album that is timeless&moves you especially now in light of recent events.Marvin Gaye is one of those Artists in His League&this Book showcases that.also Madd Props to all the Great minds that Contributed to this Classic Album&it reflected then as it does now.War,Sex,Race,Religion,Class,&The World&it's Surroundings.Read the Book&Listen to the album they both will grab your full attention.

All Marvin Gaye Fans Should Have This Book. Alicia Keys Turn Me On To This Book, Thank You Alicia