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Product Description
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
Product Description
(1970/71 'Tamla Motown') (40:55/11) Eins der faszinierendsten Soulalben jener Tage! Gaye war der erste bei Motown, der sich in seinen Songs mit gesellschaftlichen Themen wie Krieg, Drogen und Umwelt auseinander setzte / One of the most fascinating soul albums of the era. Gaye was the first vocalist under contract to Motown who expressed topics like war, drugs, and environment in his lyrics.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is the soul album that conquers all due to the fantastic combinations of highly orchestrated and almost otherworldly beauty of the instrumentation and melodies, the relevance of its subjects and the marvel that is Marvin Gaye's vocal stylings and impeccable range. The title track is the obvious highlight, but close competition for best track comes from "Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky)" and "Wholy Holy" although the whole album is a lush, sedated and simply groundbreaking achievement for a black artist, who helped create more independence for the artists at Motown, paving the way for Stevie Wonder's fabulous 70s work and his own erotic masterpieces. Marvin Gaye's masterpiece should be listened to eternally
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Brilliant album, of its time but as valid now as the same problems exist or have got worse today. I read a review stating Marvin's high regard is through his untimely death - well I think I fell for this album before I knew he was dead! He produced a lot of good work before and after 'What's Going On' but for me this is the pinnacle, a mature album that is strong throughout and it's a real feet up on the balcony, chilling out with a large glass of your favourite spirit type album. Buy it, sit back, relax, then start trying to change the world for the better.
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is one of the first albums I bought when 'going CD', after falling in love with my mother's vinyl copy. 'What's Going On' is a stunning album ,and though 30 years old, as contemporary as if it were recorded yesterday. This is undoubtedly the high point of Gaye's career, between the Motown mush foisted on him (such a waste of his angelic voice) and the rising of his personal problems. I cannot recommend this album highly enough, even to those unacquainted with Marvin or not connoisseurs of this type of music. Beautifully orchestrated songs on themes ranging from peace, religion, ecology and the plight of black americans, all delivered in that peerless voice, make the album is a fantastic listen. From the laidback lament of the title track through to the ominously plaintive 'Inner City Blues' (the segue between 'God Is Love' and 'Mercy Mercy Me' still makes me shiver even after a thousand listens), Marvin holds forth on those things dearest to him, underlining how pointless and vacuous some of today's efforts are by comparison. Every collection should have this album, which stands alongside 'Innervisions' as one of the first occasions a black artist verbally confronted some of the ills that ailed black America. And given what happened some 13 years later, it is almost painful to hear him sing lines like 'love your father' and father father, we don't need to escalate.' Great album, great loss.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Haunting soul
I'm a rock fan in the main, but some albums transcend genres and this is one of them. I had to get it purely because of its reputation, which is sometimes a mistake, ('Astral... Read more
Published 1 month ago by D. J. H. Thorn
What's Going On [Extra Tracks, Original Recording Remastered]
Much has been written about the soulful voice of the late Marvin Gaye, none more-so, it seems to me, than this particular album.. What's Going On? Read more
Published 1 month ago by Reprobate :)
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 3 months ago by Music Lover
Not Marvin Gaye at his best.
This is OK, the tracks that were the main singles are alright but this isn't the great album some would have you believe. Read more
Published 7 months ago by G. E. Gilbert
'Motown grew up'
I understand that Motown didn't want to release this album because it was too far removed from their stable sound & ethos,thankfully they saw sense ,influenced by Marvin's brother... Read more
Published 8 months ago by D. S. Sample
Vastly over-rated.
I have tried hard to like this album and have wasted too much time doing so. There are a few times when it is pleasant enough as background music but I am glad to give it away to... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Ray
Unreal
This album is up there with the best of all time, top five at least. The feel of the album is mind blowing the first time i listened to the album on my own in a student hovel in... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Dixa
One of the best albums ever
I suppose that you 'heard it through the grapevine' that this album is good?
Well believe me it's true.
This has to be one of the greatest albums ever made. Read more
Well believe me it's true.
This has to be one of the greatest albums ever made. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Shed
A Motown Masterpiece
One of only a handful of albums I have on CD and vynyl, the only thing dated are some of the phrases in the lyrics.
The musicianship is outstanding. Read more
The musicianship is outstanding. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Christopher Coates
Probably the greatest album of all time.....
I'm not going to go on and on about what a funky, soul ridden, all time classic, an essential, cool album this really is and no matter how down your feeling it will pick you up, if... Read more
Published 20 months ago by L. D. Overton
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