What's Going On is the tenth studio album by soul musician Marvin Gaye, released May 21, 1971 on the Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records.[1] Recording sessions for the album took place in June 1970 and March–May 1971 at Hitsville U.S.A., Golden World and United Sound Studios in Detroit, Michigan and at The Sound Factory in West Hollywood, California.
The first Marvin Gaye album credited as produced solely 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, since the album ends on a reprise to 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 nothing but injustice, suffering and hatred.
What's Going On was the first album on which Motown Records' main studio band, the group of session musicians known as the Funk Brothers, received an official credit. Featuring introspective lyrics about drug abuse, poverty and the Vietnam War, the album was also the first to reflect the beginning of a new trend in soul music. What's Going On was both an immediate commercial and critical success and has endured as a classic of early-1970s soul. A deluxe edition set of the album was released on February 27, 2001 and featured a rare live concert shot at Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center where the singer was given the key to the city.
I choose this song because i knew it was very controversial when it was released so i wanted to know the specific reasons why.
ReplyDeleteInteresting research! I love Marvin Gaye, and I remember singing "What's Going On" when I was a kid. Of course, I didn't know what the words I was singing meant or that it was controversial. Thanks for teaching me.
ReplyDeleteYour Welcome :) Thank you, I knew the song had significance to the world but i did not know how much, making this blog taught me more!
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