ALBUM OF THE WEEK # 340 MARVIN GAYE - WHAT'S GOING ON (1971)

[RJhog (Admin)]

Disclaimer: All info that does not reside in my brain is gathered from wikipedia.com (mostly because Jon can't stand it) unless otherwise noted.

Okay, truth be told, since I'm only three weeks in this week, you probably haven't notice my theme.  I hope to run it all year, or at least until the rent goes up so high that we have to declare bankruptcy!  Maybe that won't even happen.  Anyway, my theme is a simple one.  I'm covering each year, starting with 1969 and ending wherever we end.  That means we look at an album from 1971 this week, and that album is Marvin Gaye's What's Going On.  But before we cover the album, let's make note of a few things that happened in the music world in 1971.  By the way, I was five years old when all of this was "going on"...

• Notable bands formed: The Charlie Daniels Band, Earth, Wind & Fire, Foghat and The Motels.
• In February, Davy Jones announced he was leaving The Monkees.
• John Deacon joined Queen on March 1st.
• Jim Morrison died on July 3rd.
• Duane Allman died on October 29th.
• The Who Released Who's Next in August.
• Led Zeppelin IV was released in November.
• The Montreux Casino burned down in December, an event that inspired Smoke On The Water.
• Some of the biggest singles of the year included My Sweet Lord (George Harrison), Imagine (John Lennon), Maggie May (Rod Stewart), Rose Garden (Lynn Anderson) and Brown Sugar by The Rolling Stones.

Now, what about What's Going On?  The album was released on May 21st and reached number 6 on the Billboard chart (Number 1 on the US R&B chart).  The album is certified Gold by the RIAA. Here's a brief snippet regarding the album from Wikipedia:

The first Marvin Gaye album credited as being produced by the artist himself, What's Going On is a unified concept album consisting of nine songs, most of which lead into the next. It has also been categorized as a song cycle; the album ends with a reprise of the album's opening theme.  The album is told from the point of view of a Vietnam War veteran returning to the country he had been fighting for, and seeing only hatred, suffering, and injustice. Gaye's introspective lyrics discuss themes of drug abuse, poverty, and the Vietnam War. He has also been credited with criticizing global warming before the public outcry against it had become prominent. 

Singles include the title track, which peaked at number 2 on the US Pop chart, Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) which reached number 4 on the Pop chart and Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) which stalled out at number 9 on the same chart.  In my opinion, the multi-tracked singing on the title track is amazing.  The whole album sort of has a hypnotic magnetism if you ask me. But that's just my opinion.  What is yours?  By the way, you can pick up a remastered copy for an amazing 4.99 on Amazon.

Side One:

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)

Side Two:

7. Right On

8. Wholy Holy

9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

 

[Jon]

This is an awesome album, just fantastic from beginning to end. Of course I didn't listen to it back then since I wasn't even born so it took me a few years but I did cause I can and can say with no doubt in my mind that this is a must listen even though it's not "rock", but who cares?

Anyway, global warming? Pshaw. It's going to be in the 50's here in the next couple of days so I have no idea where THAT idea came from.

Pshaw. Give me a minute while I spray on some deodorant and use a full can of Aqua Net.

[Scott]

Never heard this and quite frankly, though I’ve always wanted to, it’s never made my short list until now. I love soul music and I’ve made no secret of my affection for bands like Earth Wind & Fire, The Commodores, and recently early Stevie Wonder. In fact, you’ve inspired me to put together a SHT list for my tens and tens of fans who have been asking for it, seems the time has finally arrived….

His voice is sooooo good, love the smokiness and he has such control over it. The title track is over as fast as it starts its seems, and it transitions effortlessly into the second track. Clearly there’s a theme here and truly it tells me that things haven’t changed all that much since ’71.

Mercy Mercy Me is stellar… Right On was a pleasant mid-tempo tune and I liked the length of it, seemed to fit with the feel of everything on Side One, very smooth and everything transitions into the next tune. Though Wholy Holy slows it way down and Inner City Blues wasn’t as bluesy as I’d hoped, but it was nice nonetheless…

Loved Side One! Side Two was just OK, I don’t think this fits with the Soul music I crave but it was a very cool listening experience!