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What's Going On | 
| Artist: Marvin Gaye
Label: Island
Category: Music
List Price: £5.99
Buy New: £3.97
You Save: £2.02 (34%)
New (49) Used (10) from £1.99
Rating:  28 reviews
Sales Rank: 867
Format: Original Recording Remastered
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.7 x 4.7 x 0.4
MPN: 064022
UPC: 044006402222
EAN: 0044006402222
ASIN: B00007FOMP
Release Date: January 27, 2003
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | What's Going On | | • | What's Happening Brother | | • | Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky) | | • | Save The Children | | • | God Is Love | | • | Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) | | • | Right On | | • | Wholy Holy | | • | Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler) | | • | God Is Love (Bonus Track) | | • | Sad Tomorrows aka Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Sly & The Family Stone might have psychedelicised soul music, but Marvin Gaye personalised it. Although the powers-that-were Motown didn't even want to release the record, the unexpected success of What's Going On, issued in 1971, inspired Stevie Wonder, Curtis Mayfield, and just about every other black artist on the planet to take greater responsibility for their music and its meaning. Gaye co-wrote the songs and produced the album, flavouring it with layer upon layer of his own multi-tracked vocals, oceans of hand percussion, strings, flutes and jazzy horn solos. Spacy and loose as a spliff-fuelled Sunday afternoon jam in the park, the nine songs all played like hit singles. The title track-- inspired by his brother's return from the Vietnam War--and the obvious social commentary of "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" and "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" actually were hit singles. Two other tracks ("Wholly Holy" and "Save the Children") would inspire hit covers by Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross, respectively. Nevertheless, What's Going On sounds as fresh today as it did the week that it came out. --Don Waller
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| Customer Reviews: Read 23 more reviews...
A work is genius is what's going on. May 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This album blew my mind when I first heard it 15 years or so ago. From the first to the last this album reaches the pinnacles that other artists just cannot. To think that it is over 30 years old to me it sounds fresher and more vital than most of the bland R&B that is being offered up today. Also it's political message still blows me away.
This album is so good that everyone should own it. Infact if you know someone who doesn't get them a copy. It would count as a genuine act of kindness on your part.
It's just a shame he's not still with us.
You can't afford not to own this record March 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Probably the best LP ever released by anyone, anywhere, and certainly the best on Motown.
Beautiful in it's conception, writing, recording and production. Simply beautiful.
A Desert Island Disk January 3, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Sadly, when this album was released, Motown was "uncool", and I was listening to Mahavishnu Orchestra and Chick Corea's Return to Forever. Both good bands, but don't get played too often these days. However, since eventually buying it, it's never failed to get the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up. The title track is as relevant today as it was when it was written (Vietnam and Iraq), and is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. It's just very sad that Marvin is no longer around to sing it.
Wonderful Marvin November 6, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The sign of a truly great album is if it stands the test of time and "Whats going on" certainley does.It still as meaningful now as it was in 1971 if not more today.Marvin was a truly great artist and this album is a testament to his greatness.Great songs that make you think.A brilliant album.
Marvin Gaye's Best Album October 16, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Marvin had been on the Motown production line for nearly a decade. Now I have nothing against the traditional Motown sound, on the contrary, I live breathe and sleep it, but Marvin was ready to trust his own creativity, and try something new, of his own.
Some have described the album as a 'black American' album. Listen again, you will not hear the word 'black' once! The album speaks to all of humanity, like great art should. The concept is timeless. With the current growing concerns about pollution and global warming, 'Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)' could have been written tomorrow.
There is a lot of jazz in the music. The chords and changes are very pleasing, and thoughtfully complex if you listen closely.
This is Marvin's best album in my opinion. At the time of writing it is so cheap, and repackaged with a bonus track. It should be irrestibible to anybody. I believe it belongs in every serious collection.
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