May 21, 2011 marked the 40th anniversary of the release of a masterpiece. The legendary album "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye. The single was released a few months before the album and oh when the album came out, the world was graced with the genius of Marvin Gaye. Every song perfectly orchestrated and worded for the times and still relevant to today.
I shudder to think about how Motown's leader Berry Gordy was against this album because it wasn't made of the traditonal Motown formula where the artist's own creativity and ideas were shunned. If Berry had his way, we would have never heard this. But thankfully this was also a time when Motown's stars were beginning to fight for their freedom of expression and Berry Gordy's era of the famous "Motown Sound" of the 1960's was coming to an end. With the release of this album, change was definitely good.
Listen to as much as the album as you can and feel the greatness, listen to the words and the orchestration of Motown's fabulous FUNK BROTHERS who after a decade of mega success creating the "Motown Sound" would finally get album credit for their contributions.
"What's Happening Brother"
"Flying High In The Friendly Sky"
"Save The Children"
"God Is Love" and "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)"
"Mercy Mercy Me" closed out Side A of the album which flowed like fine wine in a medley from "What's Happening Brother" to the final notes of the Ecology. Side A was this album's way of telling life's story in a time of social consience, war and dispair. Side A was a perfect package.
Now flip over the album and you'll experience hanging out with your finest folks, getting spiritual and later throwing up your hands, all due to the reality of life.
"Right On"
"Wholly Holy"
And finally, "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)"
The album had three successful singles, the title track, "Mercy Mercy Me" and "Inner City Blues". All three singles reached the top 10 of the pop music charts in the United States and all three singles reached number one on the Soul/R&B charts. The album also topped the album charts and would become both Marvin Gaye and Motown's biggest selling album until the release of Marvin's "Let's Get it On" in 1973.
"What's Going On" was critically acclaimed by numerous music publications yet this masterpiece was never nominated for or recieved any awards during Marvin Gaye's life. Not until after his death in 1984 was this album recognized by various organizations and publications including Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest albums of all time, where the album has frequently ranked in the top 5. But sadly, Marvin Gaye's only grammy award would be for "Sexual Healing" some 12 years after his album that most deserved at least a nomination was released.
There have been many "collectors" editions and reissues of the album, mostly Motown's way of recycling and capitalizing on a project that their founder Berry Gordy nearly killed. This blogger has the utmost respect for the album and the legendary performers who helped to create it. But has little respect for the company that mistreats its greatest gem.
Whenever anyone has asked me, Edric Floyd what is the all-time favorite album in my collection. And my immediate answer is documented here on THIS blog post. "What's Going On" will always be my number one answer.
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