What's Going On

"But who really cares? Who's willing to try... to save our sweet world?" Shadows and light. Chiaroscuro, in painting. The bitter and the sweet, in chocolate. It's the stuff of melancholy, of regret, worry, dark times ahead. Marvin Gaye's human pleas, genuine and earnest... to save the babies, up against a symphony that's filmic, romantic, in an almost 1001 Strings kind of way. An orchestral setting that Berry Gordy thought was too old, outdated, the kids will never dig, etc. etc. But it's the perfect backdrop– nostalgia– that gives us context for Marvin's anguish about the future. It's also personal. It's an album about his brother's letters to him from Vietnam... the anti-war protests that Obie Benson saw firsthand which lead him to write "What's Going On?"... his own dark struggles with his family, addiction. A changing planet. And somehow Marvin is perfectly positioned to help us understand. He doesn't preach, he doesn't condescend. He brings you into his inner world, and doesn't count you out. And it's a Motown album? Impossible. I can't imagine the whiplash from the American public when this came out. Motown? Song cycles? Dark subject matter? *That* Marvin Gaye? An album for a coming storm... and one to put together the pieces from a few very real personal storms in the 1960s. An amazing album. The soundtrack to so many people's lives, their own anxieties and dark places and chances for redemption. Music for a sweet world. 5/5

10/10 thanks, Marvin Gaye 👍 Inventor of Sex

Love the sound, but there’s a bit too much about Jesus.

So magnificent and bittersweet. You cannot listen to this album and not feel that sense of sweet sweet nostalgia. It's an album about living in the future, suddenly waking up one day and it's 1971, and there's this moment of clarity, like "wait, what's really going on here?" Somehow it perfectly captures that for me. So beautiful.

What's Going On? Not much honestly.

I think this is so beloved more for being \"important\" than for sounding great. I bought this many years ago but I haven't listened to it in probably 10 years. There are 2 almost-bangers at the end of the album, tracks 7 and 9. The title track is also pretty great. But the album is not very musically diverse. The second track sounds like a copy of the first, and most of the rest has a similar, slow soul feel. I think if this album mixed things up more I would like it better. That said, the lyrics are good, and I've always like Marvin's singing a lot.

Nice voice but album bored me. I hate 'Save the Children'. I don't hate children and if a child needs saving then yeah, let's save them but this song half makes me think we should just leave the children if it's going to produce more songs like this

Can't believe I've never listened to this album the whole way through. It's got a great feel to it and the whole thing is so cohesive. Reading the Wikipedia page about this album, here's one of the most random facts I've heard about a musician. "Around the spring of 1970, Gaye also began seriously pursuing a career in football with the professional football team the Detroit Lions of the NFL, even working out with the Eastern Michigan Eagles football team." That's insane - he would have been 31 and he just decided, ya know, I think I'm going to start playing professional football. Too bad it didn't work out, I'm sure my Lions could have used him. Anyway, back to the music. Going with 4 stars for this one.

Wow. This album puts you into such a specific mood. The rain on Marvin's face reflects today's weather accompanying my listen to this record. We start off this album with a political statement on "What's Going On" that is a very serious statement about police brutality hidden behind what sounds like jubilation and a very calming groovy bongo beat. Apparently when Marvin brought this to Motown they were appalled. Said it was way too political. I'm glad that Marvin stood his ground and argued that it was a very political time to be alive, pushing for the very real nature of this album. It feels visceral, like music that isn't made simply to make music. Lyrics like "Who Really Cares // Who's willing to try // To save a world that's destined to die?" are not the type of lyrics the label was expecting to hear, I'm sure. A lyric I deeply identified with. Save the damn babies. I absolutely love the way it flows, at least from the start through "God Is Love". Like I'm watching a movie. I will say that while the songs after "God Is Love" are still beautifully written and arranged, I wish that the entire album flowed together rather than dropping that concept midway through. Loved the drums on "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)". Loved all of the brass and woodwinds on "Right On". Loved the entirety of "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)". So many simple lines in this song that are just so great. "Panic is spreadin', God knows where we're headin'" As Marvin states on the final track, "this ain't livin'". We've made a lot of progress since 1971 but honestly this record could have been made yesterday and the themes Marvin's lyrics touch on would still be just as pertinent now as they were back then. The album cover makes sense to me now. It's not all sunshine and rainbows. 5/5.

Absolute classic from start to finish - such a beautiful unique sound

An immaculate and storied album. I listened to it a lot in college. I’ve always loved Gaye’s lyrics, thematic focus, and vocals on this album, but what struck me most today was the production and musicianship exhibited behind the man. And how well these songs flow from one into another. They practically compose a suite from “What’s Happening” through “Mercy” and from “Right On” to “Holy.” Simply one of the great, grooviest albums ever.

I want to like Marvin Gaye records more than I usually do after listening to them. I understand it…the cultural relevance, his fantastic voice…this is a great record, but I just don’t see myself listening to it very often.

it was ok, bit overhyped

9/10. Fellas, it is Gaye

This is one of the most powerful and heartfelt musical statements ever made, and would be a strong contender for greatest album of all time in my book. I have always admired the atmosphere he was able to capture and maintain throughout the record. Although it has its emotional ups and downs, it really is one big musical statement - like a symphony with different movements and recurring themes. The arrangements are bold and intricately layered, but never overdone. The tracks seem to effortlessly flow into one another in a way that just hypnotizes you. The music is obviously meticulously composed and constructed, yet it feels so natural and organic that it almost seems like it could have been miraculously collectively improvised somehow. As you know, right before our last jam, I listened to this on the way up and damn near had a religious experience in my car. I mean I had heard this album dozens of times before but for some reason this album, and everything he was saying on it, just seemed so relevant to what we're still experiencing today and it hit me so hard. I kept turning the volume up, and up, and up, and heard it in whole new way all these years later. This album is a cry for help in an increasingly complicated and difficult world, but it retains a distinct and heartbreakingly beautiful sense of optimism. An optimism that we so desperately need to hold on to.

good album that kind of just played through without any repeats. If I see this on a top 5 of all time list, I’ll assume two things 1. I had to be alive at the time to fully get this album 2. This person will ask me to open a pdf.

"What's Goin' On" and "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" are great. The entire tone of the album is relaxed and enjoyable. However, I found the lack of transitions between songs and the consistent blurring of each song into the next as distracting and a weird choice. 3.4 stars rounded down.

I land somewhere between you two on this one. What’s Going On, Mercy Mercy Me and Inner City Blues are top tier soul classics, but they’re the tent poles that hold this up when in starts to drag. The arrangements are great, and the recurring motifs do make this feel like a concept album rather than a collection of tracks, but it starts to wear thin at times, like he’s just scatting new lyrics over the same backing music. Lyrically it’s of its time (Viet Nam, ecological worries, racism) but it tips into self-parody in places. A three-star, mainly on the strength of those three classic tracks.

've never been able to get on with this album. Some definite classic Marvin in there, but Save the Children is so massively lame it drags the whole thing down

great reset to remind the people why we stay the people

Reminded me of Ozzy Ozbourne

There aren't many albums better than this.

No need to write anything here, it's What's Going On by Marvin Gaye. People who don't like this are empirically wrong.

A beautifully arranged and produced album with a powerful message that unfortunately never seizes to be relevant despite being over 50 years old. The way Marvin harmonizes with his own voice on the layered vocals is sublime and I've yet to hear another artist being able to do it in the way he does here. I give it 5 broken unsynchronized clocks, because it is timeless! 🕣🕜🕛🕖🕐

It's smooth, it's epic and it's important. What more could you really ask for. Marvin's estate really needs to take it easy on trying to sue everyone under the sun though. It makes them look bad. It would be an extremely sad thing to ruin this dudes legacy with such crap. Amazing album though. Score: 80 Art: 70

Social and cultural significance: 5 stars. Musically, I’m just not that into it: 2 stars. I would seek this album out to listen to again like I would with Sgt. Peppers or Sticky Fingers.

this album really only has two good songs on it i mean they are realllly good songs i really like those songs

It’s decent. A couple classic bangers, but there is a good amount of filler in there as well. Not a lot to say about it. Could be a 2.5, maybe? But I’m good with 3.

What's going on is iconic. I really disliked some of the songs though. Save the Children seems like a parody.

(5/5) Legendary, impactful, and so soulful. The three big ones "What's Going On", "Mercy, Mercy..", & "Inner City Blues.." warrant a '5' for the album just by themselves for their beauty and (scary enough) RELEVANCE. Here we are 55 years after it's release and the lyrics are still meaningful and relevant. That's so powerful and prescient (or it says other things about who we are that I don't want to think about right now...). Even the deep tracks have some staying power, notably "Right On" & "What's Happening Brother". Absolutely a 'must hear' and a deeply important and beloved album. I don't need to say much more, nor will I waste my time. Just listen.

Sad, that the more things have changed, the more they have stayed the same. Marvin Gaye's finest moment, in my opinion, is a protest album full of so much love, compassion and respect for the common man that if it was released today he'd either get shot by ICE agents or thrown in prison for inciting common decency! I heard this album for the first time a few years ago but loved revisiting it again today. The songs segue into each other beautifully giving the album a wonderful flow. The title track, the prescient Mercy Mercy Me and Inner City Blues are classic soul singles but the album could still be said to be greater than the sum of its parts. Outside of Stevie Wonder's Songs In The Key Of Life, this is a 5☆ contender for the greatest ever soul album, and is still hugely relevant today.

I often find myself looking for reasons to mark-down records in this project. It's probably a character flaw on my part but I'm very seldom dishing out the fives, even for music and artists I objectively love. This record isn't quite my favourite; although it's stunning, it only gets an occasional listen. However, can I find any flaws in it? I don't think so. A song suite full of understated, compassionate consciousness. As a reflection of the state-of-mind of a masterful artist at the top of his game, it's simply wonderful.

**Marvin Gaye – *What’s Going On* (1971)** In-depth review: lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, pros & cons --- ### 1. LYRICS – Conversations with America - **Voice of a Vietnam vet**: Every song is spoken by a returning Black soldier who finds his country still ravaged by racism, poverty, police brutality and ecological decay. - **Conversational tone**: “Mother, mother / There’s too many of you crying… Father, father / We don’t need to escalate” – Gaye addresses his family, his community and authority figures in the same breath, collapsing the political into the personal. - **Poetic devices**: Heavy use of anaphora, rhetorical questions, internal rhyme and repetition (“What’s going on… what’s going on…”) that make the words feel spoken-sung, almost sermon-like. - **No question mark**: The album title omits the “?”, signalling that Gaye is not asking for an explanation—he is *telling* us what is happening. - **Scope**: Anti-war, anti-brutality, anti-drug, pro-ecology, pro-love; yet never slogan-heavy. The absence of explicit party politics lets the songs age gracefully. --- ### 2. MUSIC – Jazz-soul suite - **Key signatures**: Mostly mellow F-major / D-minor grooves that feel like one long continuous suite. - **Groove science**: James Jamerson (bass) recorded most of his parts flat on his back with a bottle of gin—yet laid down sliding, syncopated lines that became textbook funk. - **Rhythm-section colors**: – Double-layered congas, shaker and triangle mixed *wide* in stereo field. – “Micro-percussion” (finger snaps, soft knocks on wood) creates a living-room ambience. - **Orchestral glaze**: Detroit Symphony strings arranged in long, non-vibrato pads—more Gil Evans than Motown. - **Saxophone as narrator**: Eli Fontaine’s smoky alto opens the title track; its phrases are *quoted* later by Gaye’s multi-tracked background vocals, blurring instrumental and human voices. - **Seamless segues**: Tape loops of city traffic, party chatter and rainfall knit tracks together; the final groove (“Inner City Blues”) mechanically *locks* back into the intro of “What’s Going On”, making the LP an infinite loop. --- ### 3. PRODUCTION – The first self-produced Motown record - **55 musicians, 10 days**: Cut live at Hitsville U.S.A. with only a 4-track recorder; Gaye bounced sub-mixes to free tracks, creating subliminal “ghost” layers. - **DIY overdubs**: Gaye plays piano, Mellotron, box drum and all multi-layered background vocals himself—unheard-of autonomy for a Motown artist at the time. - **Spatial mixing**: Drums dead-center, bass slightly left, strings hard-left/right; Gaye’s lead vocal *floats* 10 % off-center, giving the impression he is standing in the doorway between channels. - **Innovations**: – First R&B LP to use EMT plate reverb on *congas*—gives bongos a singing sustain. – Early use of tape-speed manipulation: final chorus of “Mercy Mercy Me” is +3 % faster than the take, adding subconscious urgency. --- ### 4. THEMES – A spiritual State-of-the-Union | Issue | Lyrical Moment | Musical Mirror | |---|---|---| | Vietnam | “Brother, brother, there’s far too many of you dying” | Military snare flams tucked low in mix | | Police brutality | “Don’t punish me with brutality—talk to me” | Bass line *descends* (feels like hands thrown up) | | Urban decay | “Rockets, moon shots / spend it on the have-nots” | Pocketed 7/4 bar slips the groove, mirroring social disorientation | | Ecology | “Oil wasted on the oceans and upon our seas” | Single sustained Hammond chord = toxic haze | | Spiritual plea | “Wholy holy—don’t you know we can make it happen” | Wordless 10-voice gospel cluster drifts in | --- ### 5. INFLUENCE – The template for conscious pop - **Immediate**: Stevie Wonder demanded (and won) full creative control a year later; Earth, Wind & Fire, Curtis Mayfield, and later Donny Hathaway all adopted the “social-suite” format. - **70-80s rock**: Paul Simon cites the LP as the spark for *Graceland*; Pink Floyd studied its tape-loop transitions while making *Dark Side of the Moon*. - **Hip-hop & neo-soul**: Sample source for 2Pac (“Thugz Mansion”), Kanye (“Otis”), Alicia Keys, Common; Janet Jackson loops “Inner City Blues” on her *Velvet Rope* interludes. - **Canonisation**: Rolling Stone #1 on 2020 “500 Greatest Albums”; U.S. Library of Congress National Recording Registry. - **Activist soundtrack**: BLM marches 2020 blasted “What’s Going On” in 30+ U.S. cities—lyrics still tweet-length relevant. --- ### 6. PROS & CONS (even masterpieces cast shadows) | PROS | CONS | |---|---| | 1. Seamless song-cycle flow—rarely duplicated. | 1. Uniform tempo / key can feel monotonous on Side One. | | 2. Lyrics still headline-news relevant 50+ yrs later. | 2. Jam-session sections (“Right On”, “Wholy Holy”) meander—some listeners find them formless. | | 3. Jamerson’s bass lines alone are a university course. | 3. Sparse melodic variation—hooks recycle the same pentatonic cells. | | 4. Production innovations (quad-ready stereo, tape loops) ahead of 1971 curve. | 4. Sparse melodic variation—hooks recycle the same pentatonic cells. | | 5. Opened Motown’s creative floodgates; without it no *Innervisions*, no *Songs in the Key of Life*. | 5. Over-romanticised “vets’ POV” concept—only 2-3 songs explicitly reference Vietnam. | --- ### 7. BOTTOM LINE *What’s Going On* is less a collection of songs than a 35-minute meditation—an album that dissolved the border between personal heartbreak and civic heartbreak. Its mellow surface invites you in; its layered poetry keeps you returning every time the nightly news matches a 1971 headline. Flawed? Slightly—side-two jams can dawdle, and sonic sameness risks hypnosis. Yet those “flaws” are also the reason it feels like one continuous breath rather than a playlist. Marvin Gaye proved that social protest could wear a velvet glove, and popular music has been trying to duplicate that balancing act ever since. > “Love, baby—love. That’s the only way.” > – Marvin Gaye, 1971

Oh I’ll TELL you what’s going on - Marvin Gaye’s putting out the #1 soul brother album of the 20th century and making it stick. So sweet and buttery smooth, so timely it’s timeless. Jesus he was only 45 when he died. Goddammit Marvin’s dad.

Yurp its a banger

I've never understood why people around here act like the mercury in the fish is news when Marvin Gaye knew about it in 1971. Come to think of it, all this shit was supposed to get fixed in the 70s. Five-star album, though.

Marvin Gaye: the world is a mess Also Marvin Gaye: just love one another This album is seamless, a work of art.

What an album...!

A groovy yet emotionally charged album, Marvin Gaye looks around and watches society crumble apart, with songs about kids starving on the street, families being torn apart by the Vietnamese war, the aftermath trauma on those veterans, drug addiction, and the environment literally threatening human existence. The lyrics are simple enough that you can follow along and understand the messages he sends, never dragging too long or going on unnecessary tangents. Everything is relevant and to the point. It's hard to find a more consistent album. You really can't tell when one song ends and another begins. The mood flows perfectly and gradually shifts with the songs. Themes persist and are revisited but twisted. This creates a pretty fun experience, with the audience watching how the same melodies can be altered to create different effects and tell different stories. Marvin Gaye's vocals are top notch, smooth and sincere, easy to listen, clear, and yet has a lot to say. But not too much. The instrument is sparse and light enough to relax you and immerse you in the music, especially due to its atmospheric and diverse sounds, with all sorts of instruments (including woodwinds, brass, different percussions), synth effects, and back vocals. It's at times funky to sing or dance to, and at times like a beautifully happy or sad movie soundtrack. I'm also incredibly impressed by the production. Very few soul albums from the early 70s are up to par in terms of the clarity and mixing, as good as Stevie Wonder. This album flies by in 36 minutes. You couldn't argue that any track on here is unnecessary or could be cut. In fact, any less and you'd be complaining it was too short. Melodically, every song transitions well from one to the next. Of course, you got your hits ("What's Going On", "Mercy Mercy Me"). You got your interlude ("God Is Love"). You got your epic ("Right On"). And you got your satisfying closer ("Inner City Blues"). I don't have the faintest clue how you could improve this record.

I hadn’t heard this uninterrupted for over 20 years, and am thankful for being given a weekend for this. Perhaps the only song cycle/concept album that I consider flawless. A student flatmate once complained that the record was samey, which I worried over, but now doesn’t bother me. Its consistency is a marvel.

I've thought highly of this for a good while although don't really listen to it that much. Reading its back story, and that of Marvin Gaye in general, surprised me how radical this album actually was. Of course, it also contains some great tunes. A bit preachy but can't really ding it for that. And, what a piece of shit David Ruffin was! Full marks here

What's going on? You are listening to one of the top ten albums of all time. That's what's going on. A collection of marvelous songs. of a legend in his peak and with an astonishing production. All songs go on in one flow talking about love for people and more important the world we live in. An album stating concerns about our behavior towards nature in 1971. What a visionary and too bad how we failed him!

This is a MOOD

I wish I could hear what makes people think this is one of the greatest albums of all time. I’m told this is a remarkable album. Rolling Stone currently has this atop their 500 greatest albums of All Time, Number One. And I just can’t connect with it to that degree. This is my first listen of this album, and I listened 3-4 times. It never landed until the track “Right On” rolled around. That was easily the best track for me and the axis of the entire album. Initially the six tracks before it all ran together and seemed like preamble, I kept waiting for a song to start Ultimately, the album is fine, with soulful vocals, but for me it simply defies review. Like actively. Each time I tried to listen my mind would wander away to other things. I wish I could hear what makes this album so special but it never kept my attention long enough. The themes contained within of injustice, poverty, drug-use, and inner city suffering are a laudable effort. Along with the solutions of love and peace make for a wonderful message that carries the album for me more than the music. I’ll land at a 3.5 that I will round up to a 4 because of this album’s place in history and the wonderful message of peace and love being the answers

From the first track that warm classic motown sound we've all grown to love wraps around you like a comforting weighted blanket, you can't help but be enveloped and sucked into the world of this album. Transitions like Save the Children into God is Love are seamless, I can imagine that this was groundbreaking stuff back in the day - it's as if the listening experience continues and it just keeps on going, really nice jamming to this. Every track has a richness of sound to it, each listen reveals something new - be it bongos panned quietly to the left, horn patterns at the right, a quiet piano, strings playing their own melody. Then into mercy mercy me, wow - this transition really makes you smile, from the brightness of god is love, including the bright bass tone and "harsher" quality of god is love - into mercy mercy me where the entire tonality drops down akin to a warm hug, dropping the bass into the background with a much warmer tone, letting the percussion with reverb take centre stage. Throughout, Marvin's vocal performances are next to none, it doesn't even seem like he did double tracking - his voice carries itself with little help required, the same can be said of Jamerson's bass riffs, the famous story of him even playing one of the songs drunk after being dragged from a bar to perform. Right on is a hypnotic jam, reminds me of a latin track with the percussion going on in the background, near the end of the track when it drops out for a few mins and the drums kick in crispier than fried chicken, how can you not smile?? A definite solid addition to my library I'll listen to again and again.

Firstly, this album looks super short, only 9 songs and 35 minutes long. I really like it - it's super vibey but not too low energy where i'm falling asleep.

Marvin’s soulful plea of “why can’t we just get along?” Political, funky, and oh so smooth.

Mercy mercy me ( The ecology) was my favorite. Groovy and fun. Smooth

Heard it before. Listening to this album is always a pleasure 4/5

Timeless, lush record. Every track is a winner on this one. Only track that I'm not super hot on is Save the Children. A little too on the nose for me, but still good music wise. Don't got a ton to say about it, other than I appreciate that this album has two inductees on the "Marvin Gaye's Clueless Ass" playlist with What's Going On and What's Happening Brother.

This album has paces very well and plays like a seamless medley, in a good way. Not in the way that it all sounds the same, it just connects and flows very well between songs. On top of that, it has the two timeless hits that have been smooth R & B hits for decades.

Nothing bad about it it’s just not really my thing.

first two songs FIRE, third i felt like i was listening to frank ocean, the rest is really mid

Ok je commence à mieux cerner ce qui me plaît et ce qui me rebute un peu dans la soul. Les alliances choeurs - percus sont parfois tout à fait savoureuses, le groove est bon avec de super solos de saxo et même de flûte traversière, une belle basse qui soutient le groove ; mais je suis pas fan du côté un peu féérique porté par le son xylophone / triangle, les jetés au clavier, avec des accords parfois un peu entendus, les vocalises trop langoureuses... Cette dimension qui sonne un peu comédie musicale et joie facile Au total je passe pas un mauvais moment, c'est doux et c'est quali, parfois positivement enveloppant et dansant, mais y a un truc un peu mielleux qui se retrouve aussi dans les paroles et qui me laisse un peu indiff voire me saoule. Voilà j'y vois plus clair sur la soul ça fait plaisir ; je vois bien que l'album est très bon et je suis contente d'avoir enfin découvert Marvin Gaye ; je laisse un 3 pour le compromis, qui reflète bien le sentiment très ambivalent que j'ai avec des moments où je me laisse vraiment emporter et d'autres où je décroche, et au global une couleur qui est pas celle qui me parle le plus je crois Typiquement dans Right On il y a vraiment les deux : les percus sont originales et au poil, genre ça gratte l'oreille en rythmant le tout c'est excellent, le passage solo de flûte en duo avec le clavier c'est génial ; mais les moments plus langoureux avec les cordes traînantes et les notes de xylo genre comédie romantique en accompagnement du chant du même registre ça me termine

Very chill and enjoyable

Whats going on 4 Whats happening brother 3 Flyin high 3 Save the children 3 God is love 3 Mercy mercy me 4 Right on 4 Wholy holy 2 Inter City blues 3 3.22

What's going on is I had a spicy goddamn burrito last night and was up all night with ring sting. I had the album on in the background in the living room but the songs were punctuated by my flaming asshole

110. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye (1971) 6.12.26 Variety: 3 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 5 Uniqueness: 5 Emotionality: 5 = 4.6 rounded up to a 5 "Rockets, moon shots/ Spend it on the have-not's/ Money, we make it/ Before we see it, you take it" This one is a big blind spot for me considering how well regarded it is. I've certainly heard the big tracks from it before, and have heard the less popular ones, but never experienced as an album all in one sitting, and never around the same time. So this one exists as a sort of unassembled puzzle piece I've engaged with at a distance. I have read that this was conceived as a concept album, and I'll try and keep that in mind as I go in. I generally love most everything I've heard from the man, and would chalk this oversight up to just not ever being mindful of him and his career. When he pops up on the radio or in a movie or something, either with one of his hits with Tammy Terrell or his later solo stuff, it's always a pleasure. I can't promise to love these other tracks as much as the hits, but think we'll be in good hands on this one. THE TRACKS "What's Going On" - There are better singers, there are bigger singers, more soulful singers, and there are singers who are more unique. But I'm not sure there is anyone who makes it seem as effortless and casually charming as Marvin Gaye. His voice washes over you like a warm bath, and his phrasing has the confidence and intimacy of a close friend. You feel like he's talking to YOU. Few entertainers have had the charisma to pull that off. There's a plea and concern in his voice that is genuine on this track, and it's buoyed by the emotional string arrangements and given flavor by the lovely, subtle latin percussion. Beautiful. "What's Happening Brother" - If the first track was shock, then this one is strong with a sense of questioning despair. The listener is moved along by the lovely melodies and instrumentation, and it's almost too gentle, given the content. Solid stuff, and very much of a piece with the first track. "Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)" - If we can take this one as our narrator giving into the despair that's built up over the last couple of tracks, this is the escapist drug song ( which I think Gaye himself verified at one point). It's doubly sad though as he realizes that the drug fueled escapism is just another form of trap, and lament's his newfound imprisonment. The instrumentation here is almost like some sort of jazz gospel. Airy, but at the same time very emotionally weighed down. Have to say at this point, this album is light years ahead of The Who's Tommy as far as being a successful narrative. This has the added bonus of being good largely independent of said narrative structure though. Gaye's engaging vocals manage to be beautiful and meloncholy at the same time. "Save the Children" - In spite of the subject matter the opening of this one worried me as I thought the strings were overcooked to the point of schmaltziness. It very quickly comes down to the serious level of the lyrics though. The call and response vocals here are pretty damned effective with Gaye having a conversation with himself in real time. Musically this one is less effective for me, but soars narratively as the narrator seems to find purpose and hope by the end, maybe finding the answer to the question of what's it all for and why is it worth trying, before once more lapsing ( hopefully briefly) into woe and pessimism. "God Is Love" - Maybe spiritual love is the answer? This one seems to juggle that one and it's never narratively decided, but the rays of sunshine are welcome at this point. Musically this was also bit more upbeat, and slightly less weary sounding. "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" - I never picked up the ecological message in this one as a kid, as it was so much background noise and I was always super focused on that refrain and the music itself. A brother song to "What's Going On" in my mind, but Gaye turns his eye to the planet itself. This must have been pretty danged forward looking in 1971. My one issue with the song is a bit paradoxical as the thing I still love most about it is how damned pretty it is. This distracts I think from the message in a way maybe not intended? Gaye wants his message to go down easy, and I can see why this helps, but... That said, still my favorite track and the centerpiece of the album in my opinion. Side two "Right On" - The jazzy latin infused instrumentation on this one makes this track for me. The croaking guiro, and the flute give this a life that rises above the still lovely message of acceptance and solidarity through hardship. At this point in the story I can see our narrator starting to maybe crawl out of his funk, realizing he's not alone. My runner up for favorite on the album so far ( helped by the fact that have not heard it a zillion times). "Wholy Holy" - the spiritual questioning of "God Is Love" and message of togetherness in "Right On" come together here in a sort of realization that dawns on the narrator and is mulled over. The very pretty string arrangements along with the sax give this one a dreamy, even more internalized monologue sort of feel. Less of a song than an interlude though, if a long one. This is all vibes. "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" - If Gaye has found an answer of sorts finally in the previous track, then this one is a more hard nosed assessment of the maze of problems that lay before him still. It's much more assertive and as angry as Gaye has gotten in his vocals, which gives this one a determination and a focus everything before it lacked. It's open ended though, and all the social ills, financial hardships, and artificially imposed handicaps are not going anywhere, but it ends on another strong nod to solidarity with the "we" and "our." That determinism and hard edge comes across in the instrumentation as well, as this is easily the funkiest track. That key change up during the chorus is the special sauce here. HIGHLIGHTS - "What's Going On" - "What's Happening Brother" - "Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)" - "Save the Children" - "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" - "Right On" - "Wholy Holy" - "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" MIDLIGHTS - - "God Is Love" LOWLIGHTS - FINAL THOUGHTS This was a beautiful, soulful, and emotional journey that is full of the ups and downs you'd expect from any album meant to be a narrative, but this one is told with such commitment and personality that it lifts up even the moments where my mind began wandering away from the arrangements that were so similar between songs that made it sometimes feel like one long track. It's a lot to take in and Gaye's voice guides us expertly along the way, picking the listener ( and himself sometimes) up and holding their hand as they get stuck in the brambles and weeds, and pushing on through. As a concept album this holds together thematically so much better than a lot of the so called rock operas I've heard. Mainly because the narrative feels so natural and easy to follow despite how impressionistic and internal it all is. Like if this was a stage production you might be able to get away with a dude just walking the whole time, singing one nonstop song about and to the people he sees along the way. It's very easy to see why this consistently makes it to the top of a lot of best ever lists, and if I could fault it for anything it would be how unconcerned Gaye seems at finding easy enough answers to all his questions for it to percolate down to the wide basin that is the mainstream. His message is one of love and peace, but he's unwilling to ignore the nasty brutishness that makes the love and peace so very necessary, and I can see this being a super bummer of an album for a lot of people. For that reason it's one that I'm not sure will ever be in constant rotation for me. And while not a problem for me on this, I can also see a lot of people feeling that all the tracks kind of run together into a samey sort of stew. That's a feature not a bug for me, but worth mentioning. A note on formats: I highly suggest finding a way to listen to this without the song breaks as the original vinyl release some of these flow directly into the next and listening one track at a time can result in some abrupt, halting pieces which really disrupt the flow. There are a few vinyl recordings or each side available on Youtube for example. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Nope FURTHER LISTENING - Curtis by Curtis Mayfield - Innervisions by Stevie Wonder - Pieces of a Man by Gil Scott-Heron - "Is It Because I'm Black" by Syl Johnson - There's a Riot Goin' On by Sly and the Family Stone

This is one of the greatest.

he is a terrible human being but man can he make music

What's Going On flows like a singular piece of music, eschewing the more standard soul music of his Motown days. Certified classic. I'm not taking any other opinions.

nothing is better than this, this is the blueprint

This is a very intimidating album to review. What's Going On is increasingly becoming people's go-to "Best Album of All Time", and when I checked it out on my own some time ago, I didn't fully get it. Although going in now, I've been through a few hundred albums on The List (TM) and my perspective is fresh. And I will say that, even though I was skeptical, I now *get it*. Even though this is often considered one of the best albums ever, people won't often tell me why, and I kind of pieced it together as I listened. Firstly, this is a capital "A" Album. The themes here are incredibly coherent, this really feels like the decisive "early 70's protest album". Marvin Gaye touches on The Vietnam War, poverty, civil rights, the environment human dignity and more in an incredibly grand and conclusive way, touching on things both very specific and incredibly universal. There's also some really interesting influence from Christianity here. It feels like Marvin Gaye has really taken to heart the idea that all people are made in God's image and taken this to the conclusion of truly admirable radical empathy. What's Going On is also incredibly coherent from a musical perspective. These songs share grooves and motifs, which morph slightly as the album progresses, I'd like to note a particular minor key run that occasionally offsets the joyful sound of this album. These songs also share a sweet and sour approach to melody and attention to detail, not to mention Marvin Gaye's gorgeous vocals. The mix here is full of keys, sax, background vocals, dramatic strings, hand percussion and more, and everything weaves in and out of itself, making it feel like the music is alive and evolving. The cumulative effect of this makes it almost feel as though this album could be listened to as a single song. Like it honestly feels like the whole first side here is a huge crescendo up to the magnificent Mercy Mercy Me. Then The run of Right On, Wholly Holy, and Inner City Blues brings us back down to reality, ending on the driving and bittersweet Inner City Blues. This album sums up it's place in time perfectly. This is a mix of joy, mournfulness, and real anger. And Marvin Gaye pulls staggering beauty out of the brutal world we live in. This still might not be my favorite album of all time, but What's Going On is pretty much perfect.

5/5

Unquestionably one of the greatest soul albums of all time. The instrumental are gorgeous, combining strings, horns, and gentle percussion to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Something this gentle sounding could easily become boring, but the layers of different instruments give this album so much texture and character that it becomes an extremely immersive experience. This warm atmosphere provides the perfect compliment to Gaye's politically charged lyrics. He addresses a lot of very fraught topics, from war to environmentalism to religion, but the gentle instrumentation and his buttery smooth vocals make everything he's saying strangely comforting. It's like he's telling you that, in spite of all the issues, everything is going to be alright. His lyrics rely on observations more than complex analysis, making it sound more like a friend venting his frustrations with you rather than a lecture. He takes on a very everyman role, making it even more approachable on top of the smooth sound. What's Going On, above all else, feels like a reminder that you're not alone in this world, and other people are going through the same problems that you are.

Are you feeling liberated?

fire album listened to it before

An absolute gem

Absolutely beautiful, and it's the perfect album length so that you won't get bored, which is a common issue with these slower albums. Favorite track(s) What's Going On What's Happening Brother Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)

Yeah, that's an easy five.

Super Dope

I got two days of mercy after the terrible album I got before. Wow, where do you even begin with this one... I'll share a small story. I've been listening for this album for many years, and in the beginning I didn't get quit the reasons for it's critical success,. I mean, I did for the first side. I understood immediately that it's a singular and incredible suite of connected songs and it definitely blew my mind. But with the second half it took me more time. Only when I got the longer, moodier song there it all clicked to me. An album that not only defined a time, but manages to cross time while doing so. Unique, one of a kind. A true masterpiece A 5

I can see why Rolling Stone considers this the best album ever. It'll probably take a few more listens to really click for me, but god damn is it good. With every single song flowing into the next it's just a non-stop journey, and it really takes you places. 9/10. Highlights: Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology), Right On, Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

Many years ago, my roommate and I swapped our favorite records with each other to listen to. He game me "What's Going On," and I gave him "A Love Supreme" (John Coltrane). He didn't like Coltrane, but, then, he didn't like jazz and "A Love Supreme" is not the easiest entry into jazz. Regardless of whether that particular roommate liked jazz, he was on to something with this album. "What's Going On" is fantastic.

A phenomenal, singular concept album with an unparalleled vibe.

Today’s Marvin Gaye gets a low 5 from me, it’s so smooth, i love the way the tracks blend into each other creating a sustained mood and I dig the conscious lyrics.

This is pretty close to a perfect album. From the beginning track to the end it's so well performed and composed. Really love Marvin Gaye's first real social statement. I knew it was five stars when it popped up but will definitely take the chance to listen again.

Evergreen. 5/5

Classic ❤️👌

meu deus do céu quase que eu virei cristão, pq nao tem outra explicação a nao ser que esse album é um MILAGRE pra raça humana

o melhor álbum de todos os tempos, sem brincadeira

For all the years I've listened to this, I completely missed it was a 'concept' album of sorts. Excellent voice and backing vocals. Lush orchestrations. Top notch writing. This is an all time banger.

Simply gorgeous, ambitious and true to its artistic style.

Somehow I had listened to this years ago without realizing it was a concept album, and in many ways a seamless piece of music. That alone pretty much seals my feelings on this record, without even entertaining the stunningly spiritual vision of Marvin's work. He distilled some of the headiest topics in human experience into pure R&B, raising consciousness and grooving at the same time. It's pure bliss and it's never done with any ill will or offense. An absolutely breathtaking piece of music, so happy to revisit it.

Someone didn’t give this a perfect score?

George Costanza får i ett avsnitt för sig att han ska ”read a book, from the begining to the end in that order”. Oklart om planen genomförs (Antagligen inte). Men precis så är det med What’s going on. Den ska lyssnas på från början till slut i den ordningen. Trots ett tillbaka litat sound är det ett grymt groove Gaye får till. Så jävla snyggt. Trots att texterna kan upplevas banala (som t ex Save the children) framför Gaye dem med en angelägenhet lika självklar som i dess budskap. Världsklass från början till slut.

When Rolling Stone redid their top 500 albums list they put this at the top spot and it’s kind of hard to argue with that choice. A perfect album

Absolutely loved this all the way through.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pre Listen: First album on here that's actually been on my radar as something I want to listen to, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I got a few of Marvin's songs on my playlist already, and if he's consistent, I'm sure I'll enjoy this. Expectations higher than usual. Notable Tracks: What's Going On - Instantly pulled me in to the album, I love the beat, love the crowded sound, everything harmonizes incredibly well. Super sweet message too with the lyrics. What's Happening Brother - Favorite track on the album. The lyrics resonated with me the most out of any track. Wholy Holy - Least favorite track on the album. Still musically very solid, I just dislike the lyrics. They're rather lazy, simply making short statements about your religion's most surface level messages to a slow jive isn't very compelling. Felt out of place too, considering his "God Is Love" felt much more fitting with the overall album, and had essentially the same message. Inner City Blues - Incredibly close to being my favorite track on the album. The last minute of the "Mother" part took it away, it should've been a separate track methinks. Post Listen: What a cozy little album, I enjoyed it a lot, and struggled to find a favorite song due to the high quality each track held. The violins were my favorite instrumental group throughout, the flute very close behind. The percussion too, with the chimes and various drum types were much appreciated. Marvin's vocals were incredibly consistent, had good range. The lyrical work especially deserves praise I think, they mostly had messages I can get behind, and felt relevant. Considering this album's from 1971, and the lyrics still feel relevant, I'd call them timeless. I love when albums create a flow from one track to the next with minimal breakage, it makes me want to get it on Vinyl. The majority of songs on here will likely make it to my playlist, they all had so much soul behind them. This will be the first 5 I'm giving on here to an album I haven't heard before. Glad I found out exactly What's Going On, 5/5

Very fitting for boiling weather

One of the greatest records ever made. A personal top 5, maybe even top 3. Such a perfect mix of the soul explosion of the time with influences of the rock word. A soul concept record with plenty to say and some of the best playing you'll ever hear. Such a perfect record.

I love this album. I started listening to it during my last semester at college, and each time I started it, I always listened to it all the way through. It's like a lot of Pink Floyd albums for me because I can't listen to a song individually. It's gotta go with the rest of the whole. The album just flows so insanely well. The production is amazing. It's groovy, it's jazzy, it's soulful, it's effortless. Marvin Gaye's vocals are heavenly. He just sounds so amazing throughout it all and you get so much of him from his multitracks. James Jamerson on the title track is insane. I really do think my favorite aspect of the album is the flow. It's so complete, and it's one of the best albums to take advantage of the medium. Wholy holy indeed.

I love soul. I love concept albums. This is not only great at being both of those, but also as an era-defining time capsule of gorgeous music. Bass!! Favourite tracks: What's Going On, What's Happening Brother, Right On, Inner City Blues

The magnus opus of Motown sound albums, it is a lush, beautiful, sexy experienced that nonetheless, carries with it meaningful social commentary through very potent symbolism. 10/10 [KEEP]

What's Going On? A masterclass in soul and a masterpiece of a concept album is What's Going On. A 5 star album is What's Going On.

Some say this is the greatest album ever made. I have my own list but this would definitely be on it. Perfect example of what soul with a heart sounds like. Marvin Gaye at his best and that's saying a lot.

Classic.

Listening to the conversations at a "woke" party in the late 60s, Marvin Gaye musically comments. Brilliantly. I cannot listen to this album enough. 5/5

Easy 5, not a more beautiful soul album out there that I've heard.