If Marvin Gaye had been a better athlete—or less obstinate—we might
not have gotten one of the greatest albums of all time. In 1970, after
the death of his musical partner Tammi Terrell, the Motown singer tried
out for the Detroit Lions. When he returned to music, it was on his own
terms. What’s Going On was an epic response to his brother Frankie’s
letters from Vietnam—politically charged and musically ambitious, a soul
album with jazz time signatures and classical instrumentation. The
album’s posture was one of lament for the way things were rather than an
angry protest, making the message both clear and difficult to tune out.
It was such a departure from Gaye’s radio-friendly pop that his
brother-in-law Berry Gordy Jr. initially refused to release it on Motown
Records. Gaye had produced the album himself with backing from the Funk
Brothers, and presented it as a complete nine-song suite. It was a
singular vision and one that hasn’t lost its power over time.—Josh
Jackson
01 - What's Going On
02 - What's Happening Brother
03 - Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
04 - Save the Children
05 - God Is Love
06 - Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
07 - Right On
08 - Wholly Holy
09 - Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
10 - God is Love
11 - Sad Tomorrows
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