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What’s Going On
R&B / Soul · 1971 · 2 tracks

What’s Going On

Marvin Gaye

A landmark 1971 soul album, Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On' is a poignant, socially conscious masterpiece, blending lush orchestration, jazz inflections, and Gaye's multi-layered vocals into a seamles

May 20, 1971 · Tamla Motown

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This album feels like a warm, melancholic embrace, a profound conversation with a deeply empathetic soul. Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On' is a sonic tapestry woven with lush strings, soulful horns, and a rhythm section that grooves with a gentle urgency. It's the sound of a city awakening to its problems, a man wrestling with faith, war, and environmental decay, all delivered with an unparalleled vocal tenderness and sophistication. It's essential listening for anyone seeking music that is both beautiful and deeply meaningful, an album that transcends its era to speak to universal human concerns.

Tracklist · 2 Tracks
06
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
3:03
07
Right On
7:15
Moments Worth Listening For
The iconic bassline and layered vocal harmonies that introduce the title track, 'What's Going On,' setting the album's urgent yet smooth tone.
The pleading saxophone solo and Marvin's anguished cries in 'Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology),' perfectly capturing environmental despair.
The seamless, almost spiritual transition from 'Save the Children' into 'God Is Love,' showcasing the album's cohesive narrative and hopeful undertones.
The extended, improvisational feel of 'Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)' with its raw vocal delivery and atmospheric production, painting a vivid picture of urban struggle.
Reviews
BBC Music
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AllMusic
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Where This Album DepartsEach spoke is a trait. The orange shape shows where this album pulls away from — or holds to — the rest of the artist’s catalogue. Tap for more.

How does What’s Going On sound next to the rest of Marvin Gaye's catalogue?

Social Commentary+2.0σ

The writing leans notably further into social commentary than the rest of the catalogue.

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