Before Marvin Gaye was gunned down by his own father on 1st April 1984, his career had already earned a stunning legacy. Responsible for massive global hits such as How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You), I Heard It Through The Grapevine, and Sexual Healing, this multi-instrumentalist and three-octave vocalist was one of the most respected and most successful Soul artists ever to grace the stage. His death was a tragedy - shot dead one day before his 45th birthday by his own father as consequence of many feuds within his parents' home - just two years after launching a massive comeback with the Midnight Love album. His tale is a sad one lined with gold. What's Going On, Gaye's seminal 1971 album, is the goldest of all his gold.
What's Going On is a concept album written from the point of view of a returning Vietnam War veteran, who arrives back home to the country he has been fighting for to see nothing but injustice, suffering and hatred. It was a landmark achievement in Soul music, and set a precedent for change within that genre. The album went on to achieve mass commercial and critical acclaim, being voted Greatest Album Of The 20th Century by The Guardian in 1999, and in 2003 voted #6 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time poll. In 2004 the title track, What's Going On, was voted #4 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time poll.
The politically motivated title track, What's Going On, opens the album in fine fashion. A very personal track, it is brave and bold, pushing the boundaries conceptually and musically. What's Happening Brother is another multi-layered song in which The Funk Brothers, Marvin's fellow musicians on the record, do a sterling performance. Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky) is a moody and ominous lament that speaks fearfully of heroin addiction, Save The Children an anthemic, atmospheric tune with a universal message of peace and salvation, and God Is Love a religious dedication, rather ironically, to his eventual murderer, Marvin Pentz Gay Senior. The album highlight, Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology), is a magnificent, powerful track that has been inducted into The Grammy Hall Of Fame. Despite it's sorrowful message about the mistreatment of the environment, the depth of the vocal and instrumentation creates such an uplifting wall of sound. It reached #1 on the singles billboard, and has been covered by artists as diverse as Robert Palmer, MC Hammer, Todd Rundgren, The Strokes, Pearl Jam, Aswad and Boyz II Men.
Right On changes the landscape of What's Going On, bringing in a Latin Soul percussive sound dominated by a flute - a beautiful change of mood and tempo. Wholy Holy is a gospel inspired song that demonstrated Marvin Gaye's incredible vocal range; a song solemn but sensual. The closing track, Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler), brings the record full circle, ending in the same stunning way that it began. As far as soul records go, I think it gets no better than this. An amazing time in Gaye's career captured brilliantly. The man had many personal demons, but he was an incredible musician. One of the finest. Rolling Stone Magazine voted Marvin Gaye #6 on their Greatest Singers Of All Time poll, and #18 on their 100 Greatest Artists Of All Time. A legend forever, and What's Going On a must own record for anybody into music. Full stop.
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