If it weren’t for a certain Mr Knowles, I would never have thought of buying What’s Going On and would have missed out on the smoothest album ever made. Of course, I had to go one better than him and buy myself the fancy Deluxe Edition: 2 CDs and a booklet containing lyrics, a ‘making ... Read review
Sly&The Family Stone might have psychedelicised soul music, but Marvin Gaye personalised ... more
it. Although the powers-that-were Motown didn't even want to release the record, the unexpected success ofWhat's Going On, issued in 1971, inspired Stevie Wonder...
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Sly & The Family Stone might have psychedelicised soul music, but Marvin Gaye ... more
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 Won...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Marvin Gaye's What's Going On may be the most powerful soul record ever made. In this ... more
Deluxe Edition, the original recording is embellished with an alternative Detroit Mix of the album, which is almost equally strong, and a previously unreleased record...
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Release Date: 2008-12-15, Audio CD, Mobile Fidelity
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Advantages: See Op Disadvantages: See Op (No imagination Left)
If it weren’t for a certain Mr Knowles, I would never have thought of buying What’s Going On and would have missed out on the smoothest album ever made. Of course, I had to go one better than him and buy myself the fancy Deluxe Edition: 2 CDs and a booklet containing lyrics, a ‘making of the album’ and many quality photos of the ‘Prince of Motown’ (as they in the sixties called him). The booklet is packed so the ... ...note to wear your specs and don’t read under boudoir lighting like mine.
And now to the review of it all...
The CDs:
Disc One includes the original LP released on May 21st 1971, the Original Detroit Mix that was recorded in April 5th 1971 and previously unreleased, and What’s Going On (the single) Rhythm & Strings mix, also never heard before now.
If it weren’t for a certain Mr Knowles, I would never have thought of buying What’s Going On and would have missed out on the smoothest album ever made. Of course, I had to go one better than him and buy myself the fancy Deluxe Edition: 2 CDs and a booklet containing lyrics, a ‘making of the album’ and many quality photos of the ‘Prince of Motown’ (as they in the sixties called him). The booklet is packed so the ‘making of…’ is written in tiny words, so make a note to wear your specs and don’t read under boudoir lighting like mine.
And now to the review of it all...
The CDs:
Disc One includes the original LP released on May 21st 1971, the Original Detroit Mix that was recorded in April 5th 1971 and previously unreleased, and What’s Going On (the single) Rhythm & Strings mix, also never heard before now.
Disc Two includes Live At The Kennedy Centre (May 1st 1972) previously unreleased, Original Single Versions and ‘Head Title’ aka Distant Lover.
Track Listing (feel free to skip if need be)
Original LP Release/Original Detroit Mix –
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 (Make Me Wanna Holler)
Live At The Kennedy Centre-
Sixties Medley (That’s The Way Love Is/You/I Heard It Through The Grapevine/Little Darling (I Need You) / You’re All I Need To Get By/ Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing/ Your Precious Love/ Pride And Joy/ Stubborn Kind Of Fellow) Right On Wholy Holy Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) What’s Going On What’s Happening Brother Flyin’ high (In The Friendly Sky) Save The Children God Is Love Stage Dialogue Reprise: Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) What’s Going On Original Single Versions-
What’s Going On God Is Love Sad Tomorrows
The mixes are only slightly different with maybe a bit of conversation on certain tracks or with a longer intro, but the music is still basically the same. This album was pretty expensive at about £25 if my memory serves me correctly, but definitely worth it for the all the info you get and the rhythm and strings mix of What’s Going On, but it can get a bit repetitive if you’re not absolutely in the mood.
The Music
The first thing I noticed when hearing Marvin for the first time was how astoundingly smooth and enviable his voice is. I know I’ve made rash assumptions before about how every album in my collection is THE most chilled out album until the next most chilled out, but limited vocabulary aside, this album really is OFFICIALLY THE MOST CHILLED OUT ALBUM EVER. Also my new most classic of classics, it’s an ageless album that doesn’t sound at all retro or old-fashioned 30 years after its original release.
The last thing you’ll notice is that tracks completely run into each other without a break. When I first heard it I kept thinking ‘Is this STILL the same bloody song he was singing half an hour ago or what?’ But you get used to this the more you listen to it.
The music itself is sublime, darlings, with bongos, sax, gentle drumming, piano, maracas and more inspired percussion. I’m listening to God Is Love as I type, and it’s probably the happiest track on the album. What’s Going On is my favourite, because of the lyric/music/damn fine voice combination and also recommended by moi are the funky Right On, Mercy Mercy Me and Inner City Blues.
You can really feel the energy of the live gig and the energy between between Marvin and his fans. He and the band sound incredible, even if Marvin was stoned, knackered and scared to death. It’s just as polished as the rest of the album, despite a couple of well-handled fuck-ups and you hear the crowd go quite mental. Wholy Holy didn’t exactly stick out as a stand up track on the original album, but the live version is wonderful.
The Booklet
This includes the five page long The making Of The Album, with information about when he recorded the songs, how everyone involved was feeling about it all, Marvin’s visions for it and how it was all made in 10 consecutive days so isn’t strictly a biography. Also here are the lyrics of all the songs, who wrote them and produced them etc… a special message from Smokey Robinson, complete track listings and words from Henry Weinger about the album and the live show. There are loads of photographs on the pages, printed with his family’s permission from their own personal archive.
Packaging
Gatefold cardboard that holds the CDs with a little pocket for the booklet that looks very swish when you first buy it. I’m always taken in by this design but the corners always get rubbed away and after a time it looks a bit scruffy, but I’m not sure if it’s available in plastic case format. The track listing is also shown on a thin plastic case that you have to slide off to get to the CDs. It looks good, though.
An Ending
Throughout his career Marvin went from god fearing and clean living to hardened drug addict. His own father, in fear of his own life, shot Marvin dead as he was attacking him. A truly tragic and cliched end (I mean dying an early death, it's not every day a musician gets shot by his own dad)for such a talented and much missed musician.
This is my first Marvin Gaye album and I'm more than inpressed. What’s Going On should be bought by you all, even if you just go out and buy the original album, but this here deluxe edition is definitely worth the money.
“Hey…what’s happnin’…what’s up…this is a kinda party that a brother digs…” are the opening lyrics to possibly one of the greatest soul albums ever produced. Now that is a HUGE statement, however it is one that I will always maintain. It is fitting to open this op with the line- What’s going on?
So what is going on then. The answer is thirty-five minutes of blissful near perfection. This ... ...Marvin Gaye is a 60s soul icon. He stood for a black America- similar to that of the superbad Curtis Mayfield, only without his finger in so many pies! He was a superslick mutha of a man- just look at the album sleeve for an example of his individual style and vogue. His image was a representation of the quality of the music that he produced.
The album is a collection of the finest soul ballads that can be found on a single album. The opening track ...
tom_knowles 04.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Advantages: True genius of a soul legend. Disadvantages: None
In the early 90’s Janet Jackson said of Marvin Gaye “He’s our John Lennon……The longer he’s gone the more young people appreciate his art. What’s going On was a work of genius far ahead of it’s time.”
The similarities are recognisable, both had successful pop careers in the 60’s, Lennon with the all conquering Beatles and Gaye as an artist in the Motown records stable. As music drew away ... ...a political message into their music realising they could use their position of influence to comment about the current state of the World.
Musically , both were innovative and they were both prepared to change vocal styles to differentiate their new work. Lennon was to use a much more coarse and rawkish sound on tracks like ‘Instant Karma’, whereas Gaye liked a new laid back style, evident on this album and later tracks such as ‘Let’s ...
Djdeep 16.10.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Advantages: Groundbreaking soul album full of conscience and beauty Disadvantages: None
...Track Listing What's Going On This is a classic soul standard, this song has a fantastic moral conscience, talking about whats going on, why can't people live together regardless of colour, religion, sex or class. The music is smooth and flows so well, Marvin's voice transcends from sensitive to soulful to pleadingly beautiful, this is one of the most amazing anti-war, pro-unity songs ever created and definitely the coolest. Marvin's voice is peerless, ... ...What's happening Brother This song flows in perfectly from the first with the same beat and flow that the last song ended on, it has wonderful backing vocals, great use of drums and brass instruments, this is almost freestyle, again its talking about the hell of war and people needing to get together again. This song talks about being unemployed and having no money and feeling disillusion (something many of us can relate to right now), Marvin is ...
paulie1975 24.05.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Advantages: Great album From A Great Artist Disadvantages: Too Short
That Marvin Gaye had a troubled career and troubled private life is well documented. I is however for his music that he should best be remembered. Whats Going On was relaesed in 1971 but only after Motown boss Berry Gordy (his father-in-law) relented and agreed to release an album in which a black artist dared pass social comment in America.
The title track referred to US involvement in Vietnam at the time but once recorded the acceptance of what ... ...been covered many times since and is a simple anthem against pollution. By travelling this path Gaye was turning his back on the standard love-song ethos of black musicians and Motown particularly. Whats Happening Brother questioned the role of the black person in America and dared question the acceptance of the black mans ‘place’ in society. On Inner City Blues he sang of the near-ghetto world of crime, drugs and poverty but ventured ...
polydeuces 22.09.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency...
Value for Money
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Reviews which might be of interest for "What's Going On - Marvin Gaye"
Advantages: one of the true greats Disadvantages: none at all whatsoever in any way shape or form
Not an easy one to approach ,a bit like trying to review the bible
or Star Wars ,if you are one of the few people who havent heard "WhatsGoing On",then i can only urge you to try it ,this review will not make any difference as such but an idea of whats contained within may whet your appetite .
The "masterpiece "accolades have poured thick and fast since this l.p was released in 1971 on the slowly fading Tamla Motown label,any expectations based on your knowledge of that once great label are non applicable ,this record was a one off and the first of its kind ,from the sax floated title track to its gospel infused conclusion of "Inner City Blues ",everything in between
is linked like movements in a symphony as MarvinGaye unleashes his own frustration and sadness on the state of America (circa1971) .
If you are familiar ...
After brilliantly surveying the social, political and spiritual landscape with What's Going On, MarvinGaye turned to more intimate matters with Let's Get It On, a record unparalleled in its sheer sensuality and carnal energy. Always a sexually-charged performer, Gaye's passions reach their boiling point on tracks like the magnificent title hit (a Number One smash) and "You Sure Love to Ball;" silky and shimmering, the music is seductive in the most literal sense, its fluid grooves so perfectly designed for romance as to border on parody. With each performance laced with innuendo, each lyric a come-on, and each rhythm throbbing with lust, perhaps no other record has ever achieved the kind of sheer erotic force of Let's Get It On, and it remains the blueprint for all of the slow jams to follow decades later — much copied, but never ...
Advantages: Classical Motown for almost every (love) occassion! Disadvantages: Perhaps been done before.
I had been contemplating buying this "Very Best Of" collection for a while. I alredy had a few recordings such as "What's Going On", which is easily his best album.
The attraction to this Very Best Of collection is probably for listeners who love MarvinGaye but also wanted to pad out there collections.
The Music:
The Music as is typical of Gaye is excellent. The guy at my local store told me that they had been flying of the shelves with Valentines day the last weekend. Honey Drizzlers all over the country had been again turning to Marvin to "set the mood" on Saturday night!
Who can blame them with tracks such as "Sexual Healing" and "How Sweet It Is". A disapointing exemption is that of "Music" which is very difficult to track down but excellent "Get Down" music. Sampled by Eric Sermon (if you have heard of him) for his song ...
Product Information for "What's Going On - Marvin Gaye" »
Product details
Title
What's Going On
Performer
Marvin Gaye
Genre
R&B
Sub Genre
Motown
Release Date
07/1994
Original Release Year
1971
Label / Distributor
Motown / Universal Music
Producer
Marvin Gaye
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
731453002227
Catalogue Number
5300222
Additional notes
Album Notes
This deluxe edition of WHAT'S GOING ON includes a 20-page booklet with complete lyrics, never-before-published photos from personal family collections and an essay by David Ritz. Personnel includes: Marvin Gaye (vocals, piano); David Van Depitte (arranger, conductor); Robert White, Joe Messina (guitar); Johnny Griffith (celeste, keyboards); Earl Van Dyke (keyboards); Eli Fountain (alto saxophone); Wild Bill Moore (tenor saxophone); Jack Brokensha (vibraphone, percussion); Bob Babbit, James Jamerson (bass); Chet Forest (drums); Eddie Brown, Earl DeRouen (bongos, conga); Jack Ashford (tambourine, percussion). Recorded at Hitsville, Golden World and United Sound Studios, Detroit, Michican. Originally released on Tamla (310). Originally released in 1971, WHAT'S GOING ON remains a landmark album, one that redefined music with powerful, anthemic songs that remain pertinent to this day. Up to that point, R&B albums were collections of singles, with secondary material rounding out the LPs. Marvin Gaye changed all this by releasing a concept album that went beyond the usual boy-meets-girl scenario, weaving together an aural collage of societal ills. "Crime is increasing/Trigger-happy policing," from "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)," is as potent a line today as it was over twenty years ago. With the country still divided over the Vietnam War, the title track became a rallying cry for peace. Layered with lush orchestrations, heavenly background vocals and traces of jazz in particular spots, WHAT'S GOING ON never sounds musically dated. The critical and commercial success of Marvin Gaye's opus also enabled other artists to break free from the creative shackles imposed by Motown, and experience more autonomy in the making of their music.
Album Reviews
Rolling Stone (1/23/03, p.68) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Revolutionary..." Vibe (12/99, p.164) - Included in Vibe's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century Q (10/99, p.161) - Included in Q Magazine's Best Motown Records Of All Time - "...one of the finest albums ever recorded.... gorgeous soulful settings, bewitching melodies and Gaye's magisterial singing." NME (10/2/93, p.29) - Ranked #4 in NME's list of the 'Greatest Albums Of All Time.' NME (9/11/93, p.18) - Ranked #1 in NME's list of 'The Greatest Albums Of The '70s' - "...politicized music has never been done better...it's also infused with a beautiful spirituality..." Rolling Stone (9/30/71, p.42) - "...there is no question that he has gotten progressively better...Gaye's multi-tracked lead vocals answer one another like a man talking to himself, finally enveloping the listener in a world view of incalculable intensity..." Rolling Stone (8/5/71, p.44) - "...There are very few performers who could carry a project like this off. I've always admired Marvin Gaye, but I didn't expect that he would be one of them..." Uncut (5/03, p.116) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...Global and personal anguish were never so exquisitely conveyed..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
What's Going On
2.
What's Happening Brother
3.
Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky)
4.
Save The Children
5.
God Is Love
6.
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
7.
Right On
8.
Wholy Holy
9.
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
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