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Marvin Gaye - What's Going On .jpg) .gif) By Don Waller
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).
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Tracks |
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| 1. What's Going On | 6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) | | 2. What's Happening Brother | 7. Right On | | 3. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky) | 8. Wholy Holy | | 4. Save the Children | 9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) | | 5. God Is Love | |
Share Your Memories!Is What's Going On one of your favorite albums? What interesting or amusing stories can you tell? Wanna write a review? Share your stories (or your reviews) with the world! (We print the best stories right here!)
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Your Memories Shared! |
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"Marvin Gaye's What's Going On album is by far the best politically, socially and spiritually musical concept ever created by an artist. Marvin Gaye has set the standards for what music should be. Your review was on the money." --Marvin's #1 Fan | "Marvin really showed all of Motown's executives. He even inspired me to develope the same mental attitude at the right time." --Smokey Styles |
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Looking for a rare import-only single, a gold record, world tour book, hard to find magazine, an autographed guitar, or simply this CD? You'll find them at eBay!
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