What's Going On [Extra tracks, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Deluxe Edition]

Marvin Gaye | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 27, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1971
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Deluxe Edition
• Label: Motown
• ASIN: B000059RL3
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (268 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,537 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Sly & The Family Stone might have psychedelicized soul music, but Marvin Gaye personalized 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, 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. 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. Recommended reading: Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye by David Ritz (McGraw-Hill, 1985). --Don Waller

Product Description

Limited edition Japanese-only 200 gram vinyl LP pressing of this classic 1971 album complete with OBI strip. Universal. 2007 --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

82 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brother, Brother, Brother..., October 23, 2006

By 

John P. Morgan "Light Coach" (Beautiful San Dimas, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What's Going on (Audio CD)

In 1971 I lived in a very well integrated neighborhood. We had the Romants who were Puerto Rican who lived a few doors down from us, the Sakai's, who were Japanesese, lived next door to the Jones and the Jones who were a black family lived next door to us. Mr. and Mrs. Jones were my mom and dad's best friends'. we did everything together. I'm sure we got stared at quite a bit because I guess there were still a few people who couldn't handle seeing black and white people being friendly with each other and even letting their children play with each other. I can assure you, none of us were hurt in the process. In fact, we learned a real "silly thing". We learned that all people are pretty much the same. That no matter what you may look on the outside, your soul still looks the same to God who made you out of "His" Colorless Self...because as my mother would say, Love has no color...

But anyway, flashing back to 1971, we were at a barbecue at the Jones' house, and Alicia, their oldest daughter, who was 15 at the time (and who I had a mad crush on)came out of the house wearing this pretty yellow sundress and holding this record. She carefully took it out of its cover and put it on. I just remember it getting very, very quiet. It was like each and every song took our breath away. I remember after the record played, Alicia wanted to play it again, and Mrs. Jones wiped a few tears from her eyes simply said, "Another time, dear...another time..."

This album is heavy. It's not party music. It really makes you think and feel about your place in the world. We have become such a plastic coated society. It is like we are numb to everything that is going on in the world. Oh, I see North Korea has a nuclear weapon that they want to test, ho-hum...pass the butter...WHAT? PARIS HILTON GOT ARRESTED FOR DRUNK DRIVING! OH, THE INHUMANITY! It's a weird world in which we live in. There are somedays I am just thrilled to the bone to be a part of such a lovely world and then there are other days when I just want to stick my head in the sand.

I consider Marvin Gaye a prophet, a very unlikely prophet, but if you really think about it, all the truly great people didn't look like they would amount to much, at the time..."Oh, you didn't invite that Jesus kid from Nazareth over, did you? He's always making the water taste funny..." But Marvin sang about what we all wanted to sing about. He talked about the war, about the ecology, about people that felt oppressed and lost and confused and I don't think he was just singing to people of his own race, I think he was singing to all of us.

This record will be 36 years old in 2007 and it is still just as relevant. And even though I haven't lived in that old neighborhood of mine in years, I still feel very lucky that I lived in a "world" where I was exposed to different ideas, different beliefs, different ways of being in the world because it just makes me realize that the only thjing that we all have in common is that we are all so diverse and it's a beautiful thing.

Peace and Blessings

95 of 101 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST R&B ALBUM EVER!, August 12, 2000

By 

T. Henderson "filmphan" (The Sands Hotel) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What's Going on (Audio CD)

Marvin Gaye is without a doubt one of the greatest singing talents to ever grace the sound of music. His lyrics are poetic, philosophical, and quite simply, beautiful. I have no real way to describe this album other than to say in the four years I have owned it I make it a point to listen to it once a day. My day is not complete until I hear the sweet sounds of "Inner City Blues" or the painful lamenting of "What's Going On?" Marvin's message is loud and clear: "come on talk to me, so you can see, what's going on...." Those words from the highly emotional title track speak to generation after generation and screams that violence is NOT the way! Love, peace, and great soul music from my favorite singer of all time are the tools for a better future. Truly a concept album in every sense of the word, "What's Going On?" should be one of the albums that everyone on this earth should own, along with Johnny Coltrane's "Ballads", and Pink Floyd's "The Wall." An album like this only comes along once in a million years, and it's luster will never tarnish. Marvin Gaye was a beautiful human being, and he literally poured out every emotion onto this record. When listening to a concept album, one can usually see what is inside the artist's head. With this album, we see Marvin's mind, soul and emotions. We laugh with him, we cry when he sheds tears, and we get chills when he tells us of how simple and free peace is. Marvin Gaye is not just an artist, he is the single most important R&B singer of all time. Out of respect for him, and his evolution of soul music, you should own this record. Fans of hip-hop, soul, R&B, oldies, and pop will all love this masterpiece of finely crafted music. Marvin has truly enlightened me and expanded my world of music. I thank him so very much for creating, in my mind, the single most important album ever created. 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. If only people had listened to his tortued voice the world might be happier. Marvin's voice still brings tears to my eyes when I think of what was and what could have been. I am so sorry for rambling, but please listen to this record, I think that you will be extremeley satisfied. Don't just listen to it though, LISTEN to it!

59 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Musical & Social Landmark, December 22, 2000

By 

Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: What's Going on (Audio CD)

By the time 1970 rolled around, Marvin Gaye had grown tired of his singing career. Although he was a major star, having huge hits, he felt disenfranchised from the business. The death of his close friend and singer partner Tammi Terrill had thrown him into serious state of depression and anger. He became serious about football and tried out with the Detroit Lions and he also had a hand at boxing. He, of course, never made the cut with these activities. His brother Frankie had recently come back from Vietnam and the stories that he related Marvin, helped spur him out of his funk and into the recording studio. He turned those feelings of detachment, melancholy and anger into one of the landmark albums in musical history. Gone were the days of Mr. Gaye singing about love and happiness, What's Going On explored the situation and status of the black man in society as well as the problems facing the world as a whole. The title track opens the album and he ponders the question of what is going on in the world today. It was not just about the brothers dying in and mothers crying about the Vietnam War, but about the wars of everyday life in Urban America. The next five songs flow in and out of one another forming a musical suite. In "What's Happening Brother" he questions why the inner city is decaying while "Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky)" is about Mr. Gaye's drug use. "Save The Children" asks for us to get together and make the world a better places for our kids and he provides a possible solution by looking to higher powers in "God Is Love". "Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)" is his take on the polluting of the world. "Right On" is a what one might call psychedelic funk and "Wholy Holy" is a sermon from the son of a preacher. The album closes back where it started with "Inner City Blues (Make Me Holler)" where Mr. Gaye rails against the problems of the ghettos. What's Going On was deemed so non-commercial by Motown, that they refused to release it and it sat in the can for almost a year. Mr. Gaye threatened to leave the label and they relented and finally released it in 1971. The album became a huge hit and Marvin Gaye was hailed for his ground-breaking work. The album is more than just music, it is a honest and open look at the ills of society. The album opened up many people's eyes and made them think about alot things they wouldn't have normally paid attention to. Unfortunately, most people didn't pay attention as most of the problems the album addresses are sadly still relevant today.