Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

Year Released: 1971

Genre: Soul, R&B, Funk, Jazz-Fusion

Description:

What's Going On is the eleventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye, released on May 21, 1971. Widely considered a masterpiece and one of the most important albums in music history, it marked a radical departure for Gaye, who had previously been a star of Motown's love-song machine. Frustrated with the label's creative control and inspired by the turbulent social and political climate of the late 1960s and early '70s, Gaye created a concept album told from the perspective of a Vietnam War veteran returning home to a country filled with injustice, war, poverty, and environmental decay.

The album's sound is a rich, symphonic tapestry that breaks from the standard Motown formula. It features lush string arrangements, jazz-influenced instrumental solos, and a continuous, seamless flow from one track to the next, creating a unified and cohesive narrative. The production, handled almost entirely by Gaye himself, was revolutionary. He layered his vocals in a complex, multi-tracked style, creating a conversation between different emotional states.

The album's creation was a struggle. Motown's founder, Berry Gordy, initially refused to release the record, calling it "uncommercial." Gaye threatened to never record for the label again if it was not released. He won the fight, and the title track and first single, "What's Going On," became a massive hit, proving the power of his new artistic direction in which we can hear the true authentic sound of Marvin.

What's Going On tackled themes that were almost unheard of in popular music at the time, including police brutality ("Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)"), the horrors of war ("What's Happening Brother"), and drug abuse ("Flying High (In the Friendly Sky)").

The album remains a timeless and powerful social statement that continues to resonate with audiences today