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From Amazon.co.uk
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
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
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect record! Near perfect sound!!,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: What's Going on (Audio CD)
This is by far the best album Marvin Gaye ever made. It is also a record that people need to hear today! This record deals with war, unemployment and personal demons. When he first brought the master to Motown Barry Gordy and his management laughed at it and said it was going to flop. How wrong they were. It was a huge hit and today is Motowns top selling record ever. Mofi has done an excellent job with the remaster and transfer. Like the Band SACD's they have gone for a warm anolog sound instead of trying to make it sound like a record recorded with digital equipment today. So if you thought you were going to hear something that Sounds like "Brother in Arms" it's not going to happen. I really hope there are a lot more SACD's coming from Mofi. Besides I can't afford the ones from Japan.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Way Ahead of Its Time,
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This review is from: What's Going On (Audio CD)
I bought this CD not because I'm a big Marvin Gaye fan. (although I respect his work) Nor did I buy it because I'd ever heard the entire album before. I simply bought it because it's one of the highest rated albums of the 70's. And for good reason. Listening to the cuts, I couldn't believe how environmentally aware Marvin Gaye was at a time when very few people were even aware of 'environmental issues'. Listening to it, you'd think it had come out since the millenium! Not only are the lyrics thought-provoking, the music itself is classic! If you're looking for a classic album, maybe something out of your norm - you have to pick this up! I think this is where to start if you're not necessarily a fan but want to know what the man was about.
5.0 out of 5 stars
simply one the BEST musical compositions of all time,
By "compupaulie2" (Iowa) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Whats Going On (Audio CD)
This is simply put the greatest body of work ever written for the public to enjoy, and yet to learn from too. He was not just writing for one person, he wrote this for all of us.It stands alone in the music world, in high demand still, even after its 1971 release. Motown did not want this album, it was too volitile to release in 1969, so it sat for a year and a half. Yet it revoloutionized music, it was an album, a concept album when America was into singles still. It is simply one the BEST musical compositions of all time. Timeless and powerful, a piece of love from a man who was so troubled in his own life. He gave us a message from God, a gift he could not ultimately find himself, peace and love.
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