What’s Going On Tracklist
Marvin Gaye’s eleventh album, What’s Going On, is considered a musical masterpiece that has influenced countless artists since its release in 1971. The concept album is told from the point of view of a Vietnam veteran coming home to witness the social ills of society set to a backdrop of funk, gospel, jazz and lush orchestration.
What’s Going On was a turning point for Motown Records as Gaye wanted more creative control over his music, opting for songs with heavier social commentary instead of the pop productions he recorded earlier in his career. Motown founder Berry Gordy reportedly disapproved of the change but after Gaye threatened to go on strike, Gordy reluctantly agreed to let Gaye have the creative control he requested. This move also inspired another Motown star, Stevie Wonder, to request and receive full creative control over his own music, leading to his “classic period” in the 1970s. Breaking from the traditional Motown sound, Gordy released What’s Going On and Wonder’s albums through the Motown subsidiary label Tamla.
With topics ranging from war protests, religion, the environment, poverty and taxes, What’s Going On peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200 and topped the R&B/Soul Albums chart for several weeks. The album’s first three singles – “What’s Going On,” “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” and “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” – all landed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the R&B/Soul singles chart. What’s Going On has since been re-released several times with bonus tracks and alternate mixes.
What’s Going On is one of the most acclaimed albums in music history. When Rolling Stone updated its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2020, What’s Going On went from #6 to taking the top spot on the list from the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. UK publications NME and The Guardian also ranked What’s Going On as the greatest album of all time. What’s Going On has also been included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 200 Definitive Albums list, TIME magazine’s All-TIME 100 Albums list, the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry and it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
“What’s Going On” Q&A
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What did Marvin Gaye say about this album?
In the liner notes, Marvin wrote:
After some several days of reflecting and pondering and general thought (which is very unusual), I still can’t think of any non-complimentary things to write about myself. And I ain’t gonna write no general information type stuff either, so I guess I’ll just give credit to some good people who, without their help, I could have completed this project a lot faster. More about them later. And anyway, if you like the artist well enough to buy his or her album, you don’t have to be told how groovy it is, or which tunes you should dig, or how great his or her majesty is. I mean the fact that people just won’t let us think for ourselves really bugs me! Now just because I like “Mercy Mercy Me” and the one that says “Save The Children,” shouldn’t influence anyone. And you shouldn’t have to pay any special attention to the lyric on “Flyin’ High In The Friendly Sky” just because I think you ought to. It’s ridiculous. While I’ve got you reading, I’d like to first give thanks to my parents, The Rev. & Mrs. Marvin P. Gay, Sr., for conceiving, having and loving me. And special thanks to my wife Anna for buggin’ me into working…or else I wouldn’t do nothin’ I guess but test shade trees. Thanks also to Elgie and Kenneth Stover who are certainly instrumental in provoking my thought process. Moreover, tho, I got to thank my wife for that too. Then thanks to Gwen Gordy Fuqua for just being nice to me, and that’s hard to do. Hi Sua, Doe Simms and Wardell, and thanks to Lem Barney and Mel Farr for singing background on “What’s Going On.” Right on brothers! Thanks too to James Nyx, a gentleman and a scholar (which I’m apparently not).
Here are some people I love, so I dedicate this album to Mrs. Alberta Gay, Mr. Marvin P. Gay, Sr., Anna Ruby, Gordy Gaye, Marvin Pentz Gaye III, Mike Cooper, Frankie Gay, Paul and Gerald Comedy, Zeola “Sweetsie” Gay, Mable Jean Gay, Clarence Paul, Aunt Zeola, Parisee Monyel, Harvey Fuqua and George Maximillian.
Find God: we’ve got to find the Lord. Allow him to influence us. I mean what other weapons have we to fight the forces of hatred and evil. And check out the Ten Commandments too. You can’t go too far wrong if you live them, dig it. Just a sincere and personal contact with God will keep you more together. Love the Lord, be thankful, feel peace. Thanks for life and loved ones. Thank you Jesus.
Love,
Marvin Gaye -
What did Marvin say about making the album?
The album and single show the sort of emotion and personal feelings I have about the situations in America and the world. I think I’ve got a real love thing going. I love people, I love life and I love nature and I can’t see why other people can’t be like that.
I mustn’t get into ego tripping, because I didn’t have much to do with it. But I’m only human and when you get a lot of pats on the back for something it makes you go on trips. I was only the instrument in the album – all the inspiration came from God himself. It’s one that should be listened to.
The material is social commentary but there’s nothing extreme on it. I did it not only to help humanity but to help me as well, and I think it has. It’s given me a certain amount of peace.
— Marvin Gaye, Disc and Music Echo, 1971
