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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.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
93 of 98 people found the following review helpful
Format: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
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
Format: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!
60 of 62 people found the following review helpful
Format: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.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Make Me Wanna Holler...
Wow what hasn't been said about the great Marvin Gaye the man was a Talented Singer with a powerful Voice, so when What's Going On was Released in 1971 people really started to... Read more
Published 5 days ago by Roger Rabbit
What's going on?
This is going to be my second Marvin Gaye's What's going on CD. This album is so contemporary, even though the wars have changed, we are still dealing with the issues of war today... Read more
Published 11 days ago by Glen
whats going on
I have always loved them album yet it seemed different than what i recall but its working for me very well.
Published 2 months ago by charles
Best in Sound, but not this one ...
'What's Going On' is my favorite album and always will be. About the music is probably all been said and written (I've even once many years ago a long article in the weekly... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Music Lover
is it an SACD or only CD No diffrece for me...?
Sorry Marvin but this SACD Version seems only in Stereo and kinda Boring without full All Speaker Surround Effects...? Read more
Published 3 months ago by Andreas Kulus
DISAPPOINTED LADY
WARNING....I BOUGHT THIS ON MP3 VERY DISSAPPOINTED I'LL TELL YOU WHY...THE END OF THE SONGS ARE CUT OFF...ON SOME OF THE SONGS THEY HAVE A CHORUS ENDING AND ITS NOT THERE.. Read more
Published 4 months ago by TANGO
The Greatest Album of All Time
Marvin Gaye / What's Going On:
Marvin nearly drove the leadership of Motown crazy then he presented this album to them. Read more
Marvin nearly drove the leadership of Motown crazy then he presented this album to them. Read more
Published 5 months ago by J. Bynum
not funky but ballads galore..
THis was a adult listening top of soul cd. It's about a theme of brotherhood and was not supposed to be a funky release of dancable songs. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Michael P. Dobey
MUST HAVE!
I never saw the urgency to get this album...until I read Rolling Stone Magz Top 500 Albums. What's Going On ranked #6 and it got my attention. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Surjorimba Suroto
The Question Is Still Relavant?
I was exposed to music at a very young age and my older brother told that music is more than just sound it has to tell a story
he told me to listen to this album and tell me... Read more
he told me to listen to this album and tell me... Read more
Published 10 months ago by DJ Bruce Wayne
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