What's Going On

Peak

3.5

I have Let's Get It On, the other Marvin Gaye album I've heard for this already for this project, just a smidge higher than this one. I do think though the message on this is King it is actually message wise one of the best protest albums ever written. My personal favorite song of his all around is "Mercy Me" which absolutely Shines on this even with its kind of orchestral psychedelia that it does towards the end. It's too dark to be Soul strings but really fits the mood of the conflict. If I got to say why this one's probably a little bit less it's mainly because most of the sounds sound very similar on this whereas on let's get it on there's more of a variety but I do think on this one the message is King and it is a good album even even though it's a bit samey at times. 9.6 ★★★★½

A really nice and important soul album. The bass playing is especially great. 4.5 stars

I think this is a really good album. The title track, "Mercy Mercy Me", and "Inner City Blues" are all great, but some of the deeper cuts like "Save the Children" and "Wholy Holy" I'm much less high on. 4 stars.

4.5

Very luscious, soul-searching, mankind-saving vibes on this one and an outright classic fo sure in lots of ways. It would be a 5/5 for vibes but maybe only a 3.5/5 in terms of actual iconic, heavy hitting bangers. There are 3 different ones (oink) - one right at the start with the title track, right in the middle with Mercy, Mercy, Me and right and the end with Inner City Blues. The other tracks tend to blend together into this groovy but gloopy elevator motown gravy. First side is a suite of increasingly elevatorish versions of the same song and on side two you have Wholy Holy as the most elevatorish nadir. Despite the elevatorish drawbacks I have to say because of the high points this is still a quite splendid listen.

Anyone who gives this fewer than four starts is either racist or dead inside—or, sure, has some incisive and thoughtful critique that eludes me because I don't really know shit about music. To that point, I don't think I ever realized before today that this album is kind of just one long amazing song. That's neat.

Anymore I get annoyed when the albums are this obviously "save the world", "everybody love everybody", and "will someone please think of the children", but when it sounds this damn good with peak Motown productions and put through Marvin Gaye's sultry voice it plays. Orchestras add such depth to anything they're on (see Gordon Lightfoot before and after stringed production). Half-assed internet research also reveals that three Detroit Lions sang backing vocals on the title track. How about that.

Can't go wrong with mr Gaye, no bad songs but a few didn't hit as much as his more popular songs did

This cat knew EXACTLY what was going on. Highlight was "right on" even though everything here was silky and soulful. My one off put was the more religious leaning parts, not that the content was bad, just felt like they didn't hit quite the same. 4.5

Got to listen to this in Spatial Audio. A true masterpiece. Wow his voice is so good.

Very soothing with some powerful messaging.

Very Christian

The king of baby making music

Very chill and groovy, with great messages/lyrics. What is actually going on??

This dude is confused asf Favorite Track: Inner City Blues

i enjoyed this it was nice and smooth and he has a really good voice - don’t know if i’ll listen to it again but i thought it was a really enjoyable listen

Lovely

Just a great unified progressive soul soundscape, almost a play of progressive soul

01) What's Going On - 10,0 02) What's Happening Brother - 8,0 03) Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky) - 7,0 04) Save the Children - 7,0 05) God Is Love - 7,0 06) Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) - 10,0 07) Right On - 7,5 08) Wholy Holy - 7,0 09) Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) - 8,0 TOTAL: 7,94 (79/100) Current ranking: 220/714

First listen, but listened to it again later in the day. I think I'm a lot worse at describing what I do like about an album than what I do like about it. What's Going On has been on my list for a while, and I'm glad it was recommended; it's a stunning record! Gaye's voice, and the harmonies on the strings are absolutely beautiful. The sound overall is measured, and tasteful, but not to the extent that it becomes dull in the slightest. I also love the contrast between the haunting, angelic sonic palate, and the often plaintive lyrics. There's an intensely bittersweet yearning to the whole thing, and although it overflows just as readily with faith, and hope for a better future, it never comes across as naive about the sorry state of the world it is criticizing. What's Going On is also superbly paced. The first six tracks flow into each other nicely (I love it when an album does that, it's so exciting!), and Right On being a groovier, more rhythmic track than the ones that precede it saves the whole thing from becoming perhaps a little bit too languorous. Overall, the last three songs are certainly more understated than the rest, I feel, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, though I do like the first six a smidge more. I actually enjoyed my first listen better than the second, which is kind of rare for me. For that reason, I'm not sure if it'll grow on me over time to the extent that most albums do; but thankfully, I already like it a lot. Fav. Track: What's Going On

I like Marvin Gaye for the cultural relevance, the emotion and depth of the lyrics and his fantastic voice. This is a great album, but I just don’t see myself listening to it very often. 4⭐️

Hard not to bump this one up based on his talent alone

Already knew the artist and part of the album. Relaxing, souly, the lyrics are kind of cringey sometimes. Nothing really bad to say about this one though. Not the best album I've ever heard, too.

A bona fide classic. Not much else to say.

it all flows together perfectly like a big orchestral piece and feels more like a meditation on the thesis of the album as defined by the opening titular track, than it does an album with many distinct songs. for that reason many of them blended together and i couldn't always tell that the song had ended and changed to a new one, but once i let go of the expectation that it would be a conventional album like that, then i really enjoyed it and appreciated it as a whole. this definitely has to be listened to in full and in order. Fav tracks: What's Going On, Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

A good album that's a nice listen with messages that are honestly still relevant today. Can't deny that Marvin Gaye is an icon, but through no fault of his own this isn't really my type of music so it's not quite 5 stars for me.

A little too religious at times but a great album

Fun, timeless soul. As always, still relevant. Great singer and artist. Gone too soon.

This album is a 35-minute-long song in the best and worst sense possible. It is a kick-ass song indeed, but it lacks the tonal diversity that I believe all five-star records require. I'm ranking this as a four-and-a-half-star album because of its musical excellence. However, I must admit that I believe that its social relevance has a greater weight than its music when we think about this album. It is not bad per se, just felt it was something important to point out.

This is a short album, but somehow it still starts out stronger than it finishes. It's a great album, but not a 5.

Enjoyable overall, but doesn't do enough to absolutely love it.

What's Going On is a very good album worthy of many accolades. However, I do have one bone to pick which is with "Save The Children," which contains one of my most disliked song topics: children. I will simply have to defer to Norm Macdonald for the rest of this review: When I was a child, they said 'The children are our future.' Then I grew up and they said, 'No, actually, it's these other children.' I know a Ponzi scheme when I see it.

C'est étonnant la décontraction de cette album Le mec est trop chill mais les sons sont oufs et politiques (parfois)

I have dipped in and out if this before and found some of the production quite overblown... However...when it hits its groove it's incredible.

Smooth easy listening, no standouts though.

Really cool love the music and the vibe the only thing that’s holds it back for me it how much religious songs there were

Captures the mood of the early seventies with some great vocals and arrangements. The title track is still the standout for me on a very soulful album.

Very good album

Still missing you, Marvin ♾️ What's Going On ♾️ Mercy, Mercy Me

This was a nice classic sound. Felt like i was sat in a conversation pit having a cocktail

Nice. Very mellow protest album

excellent listen

His eleventh album. Soul. The themes are powerful and Gaye seems very heartfelt. The album is cohesive and the vocals are wonderful. There's no stand out track for me. Theis album requires listening to as a whole. Beautifully done !

Classic for a reason, really love the production and songwriting, the voice at times a bit too melodramatic for me.

This man’s voice is absolutely gorgeous. Mercy Mercy is one of my favorites of his. That said, there are some tracks on this album that I don’t enjoy all that much, which stops it from getting all 5 stars.

Great voice, needs another go.

Marvin Gaye singing about praying is surprisingly almost as compelling as Marvin Gaye singing about fucking.

4 stars

Slightly weaker than other Marvin Gaye albums, but still really good.

Great album full of soul 4.5⭐️

It is a classic for sure. I didn't want to replay it as soon as it was over, and a little bit too much Jesus for me. 4.5 stars.

I mean it's Marvin Gaye. How could this not get four stars?

was good. this one should probably be on this list.

Smooth music. Good sound.

Always hits

Still holding out for the same optimism now. I enjoyed it but it wouldn’t be an album I’d listen to a lot but great singles off it.

Starts on an incredible high and kinda floats along musically at this blissful high point for the whole album. It delivers when it touches on explicitly political elements, the commentary is moving and doesn't take you out of the music at all. It really does feel (perhaps unfortunately for us) like everything talked about here could be relevant for today. While that's very depressing it seems like this record will be timeless.

A truly remarkable album by one of the most attractive voices to ever pick up a microphone. It might sound corny but as I hear the first lyrics of "What's Going On", I feel parts of me start to calm and melt a bit; I feel a warmth and a joy and my early morning restless leg shake start to relax. As the song builds and energizes, I'm feeling my eyes wander away from my work laptop and onto the album art of this beautiful man sharing his craft. This music is taking me away from my stresses, and I am thankful. I love the jammy "Right On". It's a great little laid back track to groove to. This album has a nice blend of songs that groove on by and then songs that stick around in your head. This is a difficult one to rate for me. "What's Going On" is a really special song, and there are no other weak points on the record as far as I'm concerned. Marvin Gaye was a special artist, but I feel that this isn't his best work- and that "United" is. With that being said, I think this is a strong 4, and just short of being high enough for a round up to 5/5.

Great, easy-listening album

Marvin Gaye always trying to grasp what is happening... Love it

So light and deft while also being socially conscious - and interesting mix

I loved the song “What’s Going On” as a kid. I remember my Dad explaining what he was singing about to me, and learning that music could be political and have important messaging.

Sublime. 4/5

Это отличный альбом и я его буду точно переслушивать еще много раз. Такую кайфовую музыку мало кто может сделать! Закрываешь глаза и вот ты едешь по серпантину вдоль лазурного побережья средиземного моря на красном кабриолете. Это прекрасно. Тем не менее, темы в текстах затрагиваются серьезные и за это тоже выражаю респект. Отличная запись.

How the hell did we go from this to what passes for music in 2 generations? Pure Motown. Is it the greatest album of all time (per Rilling Stone) no, but it is damned fine and thoroughly enjoyable, as well as historically relevant.

It's definitely good, I'm a little dubious on being #1 all time Will I listen to again: 84%

Classic. Bought this at the Rideau place mall (?)

Good soul album

Absolutely amazing!

Great stuff, didn't realize it was kind of a theme album

Muy lindo.

226/1089 - Very lush and rich, a bit too much sometimes with the strings and choir. Singing is impeccable and the backing band is great, especially the bass player.

Not so long ago, about four and five months, I listened to the track 'Ain't no Mountain High Enough'. An incredibly sweet track, but I thought it sounded a bit crispy, probably because the technological limitations from that time. This made me wonder if this album could suffer from the same issues. Nothing could prepare me for how good this album sounds. In fact, it sounds so good, it made me question if this record was produced in heaven. Everything is so clear and beautiful. The singing, the bells, the choirs... The lyrics too! with the main subject being to love and care for everyone. A very sweet and groovy album. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because there is still room for it to grow on me and I don't think it hit me like other records in the 'favourite' category did.

It's a seminal and massively influential album, full of soaring melodies and layers of beautiful instrumentation. It does stray into the "cheesy" from time to time, that's for sure. I don't think it's Gaye's strongest work, even if it is his most famous and praised.

Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On is more than just a collection of songs, it’s a full damn experience. The tracks flow seamlessly into one another, pulling you into a story that feels both deeply personal and universally relevant. It’s no wonder this album is often called one of the greatest of all time, as these are some of his most iconic songs, and they showcase his genius as both a vocalist and storyteller. You can feel his passion and purpose in every note.

Good album. Despite how bad the world can get, just spread love where you can.

4/5 - I needed to hear this because I know it’s one of those “soundtrack to people’s lives” albums, and it has a beautiful, smooth sound with darker subject matter than the earlier Motown records. Enjoyable listen for me, but I hadn’t listened all the way through before, and I didn’t really connect with it.

I enjoyed this. Cheesy at times, but he's a good singer.

Here we go, the "why is he so clueless?" album... Jokes aside, Marvin Gaye's What's Going On is a (still) brutally modern album in its themes. To think that in 1971 he was preaching for the end of atrocities such as war, environmental destruction and financial struggle and none of these themes got even remotely better in 2025 makes me sad. This album is a love letter to love (no pun intended) and should be a manifesto for a better world. Marvin has one of the purest and most angelic voices I have ever heard, capable of soothing you even if he's really singing about horrible things. The arrangements are relatively simple yet so lush. The bells (or I at least think these are bells) that accompany almost every song create a Christmas-like vibe which makes you develope hope in humanity while listening to the album, all of this while adding nice texture to the songs while never really being out of context. This album also has an incredible pacing, for sure it is short (35) minutes, but in such a short time (time that absolutely flies by the way) he manages to pack SO much thematically and does so while having the songs flow into each other seamlessly, adding to the the album a nice consistency and, again, a great pacing. My only "problems" with this album are the "aaahhhhh" choirs being slightly overused and the entirety of "Wholy Moly": a slow tempo song that doesn't add anything to the album, musically, vocally or even thematically (we already had God is Love about religion), but other than that, this is really a flawless album. One last thing I noticed is that the album feels recursive to me, let me explain: the ending of Inner City Blues mimics the sound and the lyrics of What's Going On. To me this is Marvin Gaye's way of saying that all of the problems he talks about seem to have no end and, like history, the evil in the world is cyclical. It's like he knew the world was not gonna change for the better, but he decided to bless our ears and try to purify everyone's hearts nonetheless. Either way, this is just my opinion. So try not to pay too much attention to it.

FANTASTIC! One of the few albums on this list that you really should listen to before you die.

awesome

i like 👍

Smooth anti-war music is a big thumbs up from me. Unlikely that I’ll listen to this again but definitely worthy of being on this list.

4*

Jako mi je drag ovaj album, onako smirujuć i wavy 🤗 4/5, 8/10

The album flew by. After I finished it I went back to listen to the title track again and ended up letting most of the album play through a second time.

god what a beautiful album. he’s got an incredible voice. keeping this one. still relevant, which always hurts my feelings

Très chill, des tubes connus, good vibe, king

#1 album of all time??? Not quite. It’s good but come on, people.

It sounds like a soft blanket and a hot mug of chocolate in a cold day.

It's a classic. I don't generally listen to soul, especially from this era, and I've still heard What's Going On and Mercy Mercy Me, both of which are all time great songs. But it gets a little preachy, and I just wasn't feeling half the tracks, so it's a 4 instead of a 5. What was the deal with Save the Children? Good message, really bad song.

This album proves that I don't always listen closely enough to the lyrics which are a lot more interresting than I at first. Did know Mercy Mercy Me but never really listened to the lyrics. As an atheist the frequent referals to God and Jesus seem like a cop-out to me but if it helps you navigate this life then who am I to judge.

A classic

Not my favourite, but great vibe, some great songs, definitely see why it’s here

Very pleasant listen. The overall messages of the album are very straightforward, and the music is delightfully smooth. "Whats Going On" and What's Happening Brother" were my favorites, both from a musical and a thematic standpoint. Makes me think I probably like soul music in general.

Great

I think that there's a difference between having lived in the time and listening to this when it was new and playing on the radio and listening to this same music now. I'm looking at this through the lens of when this used to be the vibe of the day but it plays well both then and now. I liked how the songs blended into one another though there was a span where I was thinking that it was a very long song but 2-3 songs had actually passed. Overall, excellent stuff!

Incredible passionate work, I’m not the biggest fan but man is this album gorgeous. Emotionally the lyrics hit and I resonate with the message. Unfortunately, the music doesn’t resonate much but I think that could change with more listens. 4 for now but could improve!

Has some amazing tracks and the whole album flows very well. Found the middle tracks a bit hit and miss so might find myself skipping them.

This one's tough. Knew it by reputation. Don't think I've ever listened to it. Feels familiar because I think I've heard it sampled in a million rap songs. Great performances and message. Inner City Blues is a highlight. It's great but I don't know that I'll revisit it much

Already got this

Never been super familiar with Marvin Gaye before listening to this. What's Going on is not exactly the song I thought it would be. More energy than I expected! There's no real standout songs on this albums but everything flows together beautifully and on the whole makes for a cohesive, well put together album.

abwechslungsreich, cooler Rhythmus, bisschen an Stevie Wonder erinnert, aber nicht das, was ich sonst höre und sehr viel Gott

Low 4, great vibes, vocals, grooves

he’s so right. what IS going on

honestly thought this was gunna be a hard five -- but it gets a little rambly preachy at times

нормалек, но я бы его на 1 место не поставил.

Sexy Jesus

Good stuff. Too much religion for my taste but not so much as to ruin it

Have never heard the album before—just the hits. Very enjoyable.

I am not too found of the music, melody and arrangements but love the texts and sometiemes the voice.

Pretty great r&b/soul music

Just a gorgeous album. Marvin Gaye pointing out and sometimes solving the world's problems in the most beautiful soulful way.

4/5

Just a very good album! 4/5

Voor luisteren: het eerste album in dit project dat ik al heb gehoord. Ik vond dit een paar jaar geleden heel goed maar ik heb er al lang niet meer naar geluisterd. Tijdens luisteren: begint heel goed, verliest het dan een beetje, vindt het dan bijna onmenselijk hard terug, verliest het dan iets meer dan de eerste keer (die ratel brrr), en vindt het dan terug op een mindere manier. Opgedeeld in 5 delen rank ik het zo: 3>>>1>>>>>>>>>>>>>5>>>2>>>>>4

I’d heard many good things about this album but had never listened to it. They were all true, this album is great!

A beautifully crafted album, Marvin Gaye delivers a short but varied selection of songs where his voice and songwriting steal the show. Top Three Tracks: What’s Going On, Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology), Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) Least Fav Track: Wholly Holy

Enjoyed this. Don’t think I would, but I did.

so groovy

sad that I wasn’t blown away by this, but still really enjoyed it

fuck them kids

Smooth

Great album 👌

very chill but powerfull lyrics

It’s a nice album, nice to listen to whilst your doing things like cooking. I don’t think this would be one of sit down and listen to. It’s pleasant but I don’t find it to be amazing, better as background music in my opinion. Fav tracks - What’s going on? - What’s happening brother? - Mercy Mercy Me - Right on - Inner City Blues

Amazing. The instrumentals, backing vocals and lead vocals are perfect. They make you move no matter wherever you are and however you feel. Despite the album only being 39 mins long i think it still suffices.

Toll

Marvin Gaye on a Friday? Lucky me ! What's Going On is arguably one of the most influencial albums to come out of the 70s and you can clearly see why. Beautiful 70s Soul music, it has everything you need, funky basslines, backed by incredible drums, flairs of brass and strings, all brought together with Marvin Gaye's almost heavenly vocals. The title track starts this album off with a bang, with everything in the 70s Soul formula included. This album is said to have "Revolutionised Black Music" and you can see the impact this album had on Progressive Soul, in famous albums to follow. It's subtle use of orchestral pieces fits in exceptionally well with every track. This is easily a multiple listen type album and I'd be doing something criminal to rate it any lower than a 5. Marvin Gaye, gone too soon but left us with arguably one of the greatest albums of all time before he went. 5/5 MTW Fuming at his dad for killing him. Near perfect record. Baby making music. 4.9/5

This is a pretty decent album. I enjoyed his voice and the instrumentals.

It's like a mega-mix, but with socially conscious anthems instead of party bops. Don't know why I never listened to this before, it absolutely lives up to the hype.

Should be a 4.5, maybe a 4.75

Je me suis régalé pendant 35min (il y a 32 secondes que j’ai pas trop aimé mais ça reste ok) Après meilleur album du 20ème siècle c’est pas ce que je dirais même si c’est excellent

Du petit miel pour les oreilles

Dad- 10 Mom- 8.5 Mike- 8 Lori- 8.5 Michael- 8.5 Miles- 7 Cole- 7 Avg- 8.21

Truly a triumph. Top notch crooner tackles social issues, big and small, with so much emotion. It's captivating.

Classic. Such a socially conscious album. I knew What’s Going On and Mercy Mercy Me going in.

Better than Let's Get it On. A good listen all the way through

Ron burgundy is great on the backing jazz flute

Favorites: What's Going On, What's Happening Brother, Save The Children, Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)

4/1001 :: Marvin Gaye - What’s Going On Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ➖ Rating: 7.5 Fav Tracks: Mercy Me, What’s Going On I’ve been looking at this album for years wondering if I should buy it on vinyl even though I had never listened to it. It’s easily considered one of the greatest albums of all time and it’s something I should like right? Well, I thought it was really good but frankly I’m not sure I would ever listen to it again… First of all the production is quite impressive. I feel like Abbey Road inspired this type of album where the songs flow seamlessly into each other. Also, with Vietnam in full swing, Marvin’s approach to political commentary makes this one really special. Capped off with his lush voice and all the beautiful jazzy instrumentation it’s a graceful record. All that said, it’s something I can appreciate but not something I would generally reach for and that’s OK.

Sounds so good. I don't care much for the entire "Save the children, love each other" kind of preaching, but I can't deny the fact that I really enjoyed listening to it. The albums flows really well from track to track.

What's Going On 4.3 What's Happening Brother 4 Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky) 3.4 Save the Children 3.2 God Is Love 3.5 Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) 4 Right On 3.6 Wholy Holy 3.4 Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) 3.5 Score: 3.655555556

Soul när det är som bäst.

opens with a quiet cacophony of voices, giving the impression of an intimate club set and fades into the title track, drawing me right into the groove

Loooooooove. Eternal.

4 stars only because Save the Children is about 2.5 minutes too long.

“save the children” is HAUNTINGLY beautiful. even though the rest didn’t really catch my eye, so to speak, i did mess with this album. very chill and laid back, yet it made an important statement. i can definitely see why this is in apple music’s top 100 albums. 4/5.

Love this album. 4.5 if I could, this is where not being able to give .5 ratings sucks. Oh well. Still love it

Virkelig lækkert produceret plade med et meget godt flow.

Really great sounding album. Meaningful and important lyrics.

An iconic album that is a pleasant listen start to finish.

Niet genoeg geluisterd nog maar zeer nice. Conceptueel sterk en vrij direct maar niet perse opdringerig (los van wat praise-Jesussy nummers) Aangename productie, heel lush allemaal. Daardoor voelen de drums wel erg zachtjes waardoor er (misschien naast Right On) niks echt knalt. Hoeft ook niet altijd, maar ik mis toch soms een snappy snare drum. Er zijn wel veel leuke percussie elementen die wat meer die rol overnemen soms. Verder natuurlijk een goeie stem, coole transities tussen de nummers voor een seamless listen. Ik ga hier nog wel eens meer induiken. Beste: Whats Going On? / What’s Happening Brother / Wholy Holy / Mercy Mercy Me Minste: Save the Children Albumhoes: Ja, de vampierkraag in de regen + dat medieval lettertype = 5/5

Cool, eigenlijk veel meer mijn ding dan ik had verwacht

This motherfucker don’t know nothing about nothin 9/10

good stuff

really liked it!

70's soul and a concept album. Life story is tragic. I wonder if my parents listened to Marvin? I hope so.

It was pretty good. He’s a hip hop legend

An interesting listen. The well-known songs are the best ones. With a few exceptions this album is like a long EP.

Groundbreaking!

I listened this album quite heavily a few decades ago. The album has really original atmosphere and I really like how the songs are connected together. Vocals are really great and there are many interesting vocal arrangements. Lyrics paint a quite pessimistic view of where things were going in a turn of a decade (60's/70's). Regardless of that, the overall impression is still hopeful.

peak produção!!!!!! que voz, que homem!!!! 4,5

The Hits are awesome but overplayed tbh. Really good though

4/5.

From the first listen, love the funky vibes of this lp. I feel like a fool for not listening to this earlier; wow! I'm swimming in a pool of lush instrumentation that sounds better as the record progresses. Thoroughly enjoyed this and felt Marvin pouring his heart out on 'Wholy Holy'.

Fascinating bit of soul music. Meanders a bit, but that's rewarding if you just let yourself follow the movement. The singles still stand out to me more than the rest of the tracks, but it's solid.

Iconic album but with a some amazing songs. 4.5 stars

Perfection of the expression of the soul.

A beautiful album

Приятное, текучее звучание

The top end of this is as good as anything in his catalogue. Like, "Trouble Man" good. But I forgot how much preachy meandering he stuffs in between the beauty.

A classic album one long prayer in my mind and done in such a soulful way. Got to listen to it in the order it was designed.

Good stuff!

Good

Yah I had very mixed feelings about this album. Like genuinely strong feelings both positive and negative. Like right off the back, I totally prefer the b sides. Like the second half of the album I like way more than the first half. Really the only songs I actively didn’t enjoy was the religious songs. But I don't have constructive criticism for that, I just don’t like religious songs. But there’s literally nothing else you could even possibly criticize. The instrumentation is heavenly and buttery smooth which could also describe his perfect vocals. I totally understand why this album is always in lists of greatest albums of all time, it’s so endearing. I didn’t love it immediately, it did grow on me over time, but man this is an all time classic.

A true classic. Nothing more to say.

Groovy, meaningful. The definition of soul music. 4/5

Can't deny that this is inherently good music, however I just couldn't help feeling bored during parts of it. Overall really solid, but not 5-star solid.

Classic

At one point I've disconnected my headphones and didn't realize. Never knew that this is the original for Ecology. Pretty okay.

Great album

It's Motown, it's Marvin Gaye. A good combination for a good record, especially if it's Blues and Soul. Inner City Blues is my favorite, and still as relevant as it was 50 years ago. Most other tracks are too religious for my taste.

Impeccable. Important. Too much religion for me and “Save the Children “ is a bit much for the modern ear. But still , a masterpiece nonetheless.

4/5 Cries for Help That Sound Like Heaven Review: This album is a velvet-wrapped scream. Marvin Gaye doesn’t just sing—he testifies. Every track feels like a sacred moment in a conversation humanity keeps avoiding. It’s soul music with actual soul—bleeding, grieving, loving. You think you’re just vibing, but halfway through, you realize your heart’s being rearranged. And it still manages to sound cooler than any other album in its wake.

I liked it. The hits were the highlight

me encanta la musica de negros!! super chill este disco no lo conocia y al artista tampoco. un gran descubrimiento. me gusta como junta canciones entre si. definitivamente volvere a recurrir a el en algun momento . 8,5/10

Man, that A-side is utterly fantastic, showing exactly why albums are so important, and can often triumph over a song-by-song listening experience. So much to say in one medley, and it all is not only peaceful and catchy, but thought-provoking and even devastating in modern contexts. However, the B-side is extremely ho-hum to me, to a pretty bad extent. You have two tracks too long and aimless for their own good, and a bible thumping cheese-fest sandwiched between to only lead to a lacking finale. I can see why one would like the final track, but after that glorious string of songs on the A-side, and even other Marvin Gaye tracks off other albums, I know better exists, and it deters me from it a little bit. A good album, certainly, but the best of all time just feels like a stretch.

A classic.

Look I like ‘What’s Going On’, but I don’t think I love it. The singles from it are excellent and incredible, but the rest of it is a bit repetitive. However, it’s hard to ignore that it’s a landmark record and all the context around it. Its universally acclaimed, praised and loved, it’s just that I probably like some of Gaye’s other stuff more. Sorry…not sorry. 3/5, but adding another 1 for impact and legacy so 4/5.

great album. All kinda flows together though. Not a lot of changes. Like Neil said, “it’s all one song.” Still an incredible album.

It seems like so often when "What's Going On" is used in movies it's some light-hearted, loving sort of scene. I've been lied to this whole time. This is a Vietnam war protest album. Oh damn this album got very religious

The production value is pretty incredible. Delicate but wonderfully layered. Love the strings and the background vocals. An easy 35 minute listen. Not my music, but I can appreciate it for what it is.

I quite liked this - it might be something I come back to and get obsessed with. Listening 50 odd years on, I feel that the music holds up, and some songs had a lot to say. :)

Absolute Classic album. “What’s Going On” is a soulful masterpiece that’s both a snapshot of early 1970s America and a timeless cry for compassion and justice. It’s emotional, beautiful, and deeply human, with just a touch too much God

quiero escucharlo más veces, porque no estoy habituado a este tipo de música. El último tema es un pepino

A classic for good reason. Big fan of the multi-layered jazz arrangements.

Great voice, fun to listen to

A true classic

A really thoughtful album that has some much going on. Fun and uplifting songs that are easy to relax to. A little too religious for me personally. I also really enjoyed how the album does end on a more serious note, that despite all the positivity there are still bad things happening; helps keep its message grounded. Top tracks: What's Going On, What' Happening Brother, Inner City Blues

Não é um álbum ruim, achei bem feito e produzido. Entretanto, não acho que ouviria novamente. Nada dele realmente me pegou.

What’s Going On is a phenomenal album—one I’ve returned to time and again. It’s more than just music; it’s an emotional and social statement that still resonates today. The title track What’s Going On and Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) are absolutely stunning—both musically and lyrically. They’re timeless pieces that blend soul, jazz, and heartfelt commentary on the state of the world. There are moments of profound pain throughout the album, powerfully conveyed through the lyrics of songs like Save the Children and God Is Love. Gaye’s voice is filled with both sorrow and hope, giving these tracks a deeply human quality. Favourite tracks: What’s Going On, Mercy Mercy Me Least favourite: — (Honestly, it’s hard to pick one) Album artwork: Iconic. When you think of Marvin Gaye, this cover—his solemn, thoughtful gaze in the rain—instantly comes to mind. It’s as legendary as the music itself.

Sunday morning

• great depth - a couple standout singles and quality songs throughout • love the lyrical content and song-cycle quality; if I were a bigger fan of the orchestration and genre it would be a 5

A must.

Fun album. Standouts for me were "What's Going On" and "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)"

Exceptional album

It's funny, because just recently I saw a Spotify playlist called "Marvin Gaye's clueless ass" with song titles asking questions including the first two here. ("What's Going On" and "What's Happening Brother") Old Soul, R&B, is not something that normally appeals to me, but this is good stuff. Very evocative of the times and yet timeless. It's easygoing but in a pleasant way.

It was okay I’d relisten but not that much

Undeniable, but the only MG album I revisit is "I Want You"

I've finally given this a listen after years of seeing it on "Best albums of all time" lists. I don't think I would go that far but it certainly is sonically dense. I listened to it 3 times and still don't feel like I scratched the surface of this project. Def will be coming back to it.

Blended right into a long Sunday drive

Chill album.

Opens like the gates of heaven with “What’s Going On” and proceeds to lay down a yellow brick road of smooth social consciousness. By the end, I was wishing cultural appropriation was culturally appropriate.

First listen to a Marvin Gaye album.

Iconic and powerful, too much of a focus on Christianity in my personal opinion though. Overall, 8/10.

A classic - What's going on, mercy mercy me, and inner city blues are the best. I really like it, would listen again, but it's not a true five for me. Just a little too...something.

vier minus

Wow! Vibrant, fun, and full. I wasn't alive when this word was used but I can only imagine it was labeled as "Groovy." Its so interesting how this sound feels so nostalgic to me, without any previous connection to it. The lyrics lose me a little bit, but that's okay because overall love the messaging. Great album and very deserving of its spot on the list.

Who wouldn't love the voice of Marvin.

Repetitive but nice

Very smooth and tender. Catchy without hooks. The rhythm is its main ingredient

In a nutshell: "when will people start getting together again?" Bam. Right in the feels. "What's Going On" could be an incidental concept album (as inspired by Marvin's brother): troop returns from Vietnam. We walk a few miles in his shoes as he tries to process how dramatically the world has changed. Over fifty years on, we are in an eerily similar state of events. What is going on indeed. There are some similar sounds and melodies reused throughout the album but I think there are some variety within them to not sound boring. Also, I wonder if we can draw a line from Marvin Gaye to Kendrick Lamar... Overall: 8/10

I don't normally like soul music but I like how smooth and jazzy the songs are. He's a fantastic singer and the instrumentation is lush and groovy.

The title track of this album is my favorite Marvin Gaye song, but the album overall is still smooth and gentle enough that I can't stay focused on it. I assume it's fantastic if you don't have ADHD getting in between the rest of your own brain and the music?

Banger after banger, suspected this would be high scoring before even listening

Great album. Some classic songs. Great music for snuggling.

A very smooth, pleasant album What I didn't like was some songs just ended abruptly? Almost as if songs were jumping tracks Overall enjoyable, I really like his voice 4 ⭐️

I expected to like this more than I did, that being said it’s still good. I liked and was somewhat surprised and impressed with the socially conscious lyrical content, “trigger happy police” is far too relevant today. Overall after the first few songs it all sounds too similar for me. I’m going to say 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars, but that’s probably a bit of a stretch.

I really enjoy this one. I don't listen to it often, but I really should. It sounds great, love the vocals and the lush orchestration. A triumph in all senses. I like the way it flows together from one song to the next and that elevated Motown sound is really great.

1 1 .75 .75 1

Less a collection of songs, more a continual meandering groove. Quietly powerful.

Some great stuff, some a bit more forgettable. That said, some really timeless and compelling social statements that feel all too relevant today. I'm probably at a 3.5 on it, but the social commentary bumps to 4.

I like this album because I like his vpice

I like this album because I like the singers voice. I like the soft instruments behind him and how they sound. They sound soft and go with his voice well. I would reccomnend this album.

Do you want to listen to some music that has some nice guitar? Well in What's Going On you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has some drums? Well in Mercy Mercy Me you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐. I kind of recommend this song. Do you want to listen to some music that has some nice guitar? Well in Inner City Blues you can! I rate this song a ⭐⭐⭐⭐. I recommend this song.

Yeah. So very of its period. The smoothest of the smooth yet with a hard-edged message. 4/5. The 192kHz/24 bit remaster I am listening to (2011?) is technically superb.

Great start to the album. Soulful and powerful lyrics. Less memorable near the end but great listen

I knew there were going to be some great songs, but Inner City Blues really ended this album perfectly.

Good, but not something I would choose to listen to

Peak easy listening

Good vibes to listen to around the house

5 for importance 3 for enjoyability

Sounds much the same throughout, even if it is beautifully done. Final track is fantastic.

7/10… 70er Soul / Motown

Great album. Smooth and easy to listen to.

"What's Going on" [+++] "What's Happening Brother" [++] "God Is Love" [+]

An all-time classic for a reason.

Beautiful, if steeped a little too long in the gospel tradition of soul.

Poetic jazz. The revolution will not be televised.

Timelessly poignant, especially in the first half of 2025

Marvin never misses

Lovely

8,27

This is very, very good. Like, very silky smooth. Very rainy day music. However, not catchy at all, which is understandable. But it doesn't particularly appeal to me specifically. Like, these songs will definitely go on some playlists but I doubt they'll be a part of my daily rotation even though they are very, very, very good. I think I just tend to like faster paced stuff, which is why Stevie Wonder's Innervisions edges this out for me -- it's more exciting, I guess. Inner City Blues is very good. Mercy Mercy Me has been in my ocassional rotation for quite some time. This is the kind of music that makes you breathe a little deeper and look a little longer at the sky and snap your fingers a little bit. Pretty peak. A strong, strong 4/5?

(4/5)

Lyrically very strong. Musically stays in a narrow space.

SMOOTH AS SILK AND BOLD AS BRASS

i didnt listened to all of the album, but it was cool, kind of. give me the next gonna give it another try for sure

It's Marvin Gaye. It's good.

…and on and on. I like this album but no doubt it’s samey. But it’s Marvin

It's Marvin 'one song split into many' Gaye...but it's still Marvin

I don’t think it’s possible to rate this album any lower than 4 stars with the absolute classic tracks included. However, the rest of the record is very much just filler for those classics. I know it’s kind of a concept album deal, but it seems like even at this runtime it’s more of a padded EP.

88% Best: What's Going On; Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology); Right On; Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) Must-Hear? Yes

Timeless

Bardzo ciekawy album. Rodzaj społecznego manifestu, bardzo spójnego i konsekwentnego. Połączenie pokojowego przesłania pokolenia dzieci kwiatów z czarnym chrześcijaństwem w stylu gospel. "What's going on" to fantastyczny utwór, jako jedyny mający strukturę singla (może jeszcze "Inner City Blues", ale brakuje mu chwytliwości). Reszta to bardziej album koncepcyjny, utwory przechodzą jeden w drugi z pełną płynnością. W zasadzie jest to jedno długie jam session. Ciężko wczuć mi się w chrześcijański aspekt albumu, ale jednocześnie widzę w tym najczystszą wersję przesłania Jezusa, nie sposób tego nie docenić. Plus niezależnie od punktu początkowego, dochodzimy z Gayem do tych samych wniosków. Muzycznie jest to mega dobra i rozbudowana produkcja od Motownu, Gaye miał świetny zespół za sobą. Brzmienie jest bardzo czyste, czuć klasę muzyków, mimo często dosyć oszczędnych aranżacji, które dają w pełni wybrzmieć tekstom i głosowi Gaye'a. Solidne 4/5

This is such beautiful music and messaging. I have been emotionally overcome multiple times while listening to this. And GODFUCKINGDAMNIT we're almost 55 years after this album's release and we STILL can't be nice to each other and respect our planet. 4.5

8.5/10

Over 50 years later it still resonates, enjoyed it

More timely tunes.

always wanted to listen to this record in full in once. did it while to cleaning up my apartment and it made me really efficient 😅 such a delicious album to listen too. and when you look at the lyrics, it's surprisingly really political. this album is like one long cuddle of pure music. probably more enjoyable by just chilling but still ... wow fav song : Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) and Inner City Blues

A bit too much "holy god" for my taste, but a good album.

Mellow, smooth, hypnotic groove. His voice is genuine and comforting. The lyrics are still relevant in 2025. My only complaint is the 70's string sounds that accompanied every 70's TV show montage of a gas guzzler cruising down 14 lanes of California highway, which is now probably a series of strip malls or blackened hills. "Hey, mercy, mercy me, oh Hey, things ain't what they used to be What about this overcrowded land? How much more abuse from man can she stand?"

Pretty great. I think there are better soul albums out there but it's still great.

Se nota que es bueno pero a mí no me gusta

Soulful Marvins voice is great here and I like the accompanyment with the talking bits. tight band some stand out tracks. A pleasent listen.

Great album. Didn't love every song but solid all the way through.

I'd imagine Marvin would quite a lot to say about stuff that's going on nowadays. What's going on indeed.

Very much of it's time but also still relevant.

Huge fan of Marvin Gaye

The complex play of street voices on the title track reveal how his amazing voice is rooted in the day's realities. How relevant today, sheeit 1971 literally yesterday. Advertising cliches mocked by reality. There is some obvious working things out in places but when he is sure what he's doing, damn, he knows what he's doing.

Love this album. Not all out if the park, but still an important recording.

B+ What's Going On 5 What's Happening Brother 4 Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky) 3 Save The Children 4 God Is Love 3 Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) 5 Right On 3 Wholy Holy 4 Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) 3 An absolute classic. Mercy Mercy Me was one of my favorite songs for a while there. Part of the vinyl collection as well.

I love this album. such a good message in this album.

Classic greatness with the first song. I live the flow of this album. It all goes really well together. Very smooth. The hits are great, but my favorite was the last track, Inner City Blues. It made me wanna holler. I'll give this a 4.

This album could be played at a party but it could also be fodder for quiet contemplation. A lot of the messages are still relevant today. comes off as smooth and effortless, but compelling.

Fantastic singing, important themes and smooth production. A beautiful album.

inner city blues is great

Overall a great album for commuting between tasks today. I will say that the songs that dive a bit deeper into the religious aspect were not as impactful for me.

What's Going on and Mercy Mercy Me are two of my all time favorites. The middle of this album (friendly skies, children, god is love) drags a bit though. Still overall a great one.

Short and very sweet.

34/1001 Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On might be one of soul’s most seminal albums, and it’s importance for later developments can’t be understated. Sometimes influential doesn’t mean great, however, this isn’t one of those times. What’s going on is an incredibly interesting concept album, with each and every song seamlessly flowing into one another, creating a rather cohesive piece of music rather than individual songs. The album opens with arguably Gaye’s best and most iconic song, What’s Going On. The album flows and ebbs with a chill mood throughout. Other highlights include Mercy Mercy Me, the ambitious Right On and Inner City Blues, which smartly concludes the album with a sample of the opening track. 4/5

Wow!

8/10

Good, can see how it informed a whole wave of music but unlikely to listen again

Solid R&B. Sounds slightly corny and a little same-y, even in the back half without the medley, but not in a bad way.

smooth and luxurious, i enjoyed this with headphones and without, good background music. this is how i would have wanted that creepy stevie wonder to sound.

Music was fine, but was a bit boring at times. Good messages in the lyrics.