What's Going On is not only Marvin Gaye's masterpiece, it's the most important and passionate record to come out of soul music, delivered by one of its finest voices, a man finally free to speak his mind and so move from R&B sex symbol to true recording artist.
With What's Going On, Gaye meditated on what had happened to the American dream of the past -- as it related to urban decay, environmental woes, military turbulence, police brutality, unemployment, and poverty.
These feelings had been bubbling up between 1967 and 1970, during which he felt increasingly caged by Motown's behind-the-times hit machine and restrained from expressing himself seriously through his music.
Finally, late in 1970, Gaye decided to record a song that the Four Tops' Obie Benson had brought him, "What's Going On." When Berry Gordy decided not to issue the single, deeming it uncommercial, Gaye refused to record any more material until he relented.
Confirmed by its tremendous commercial success in January 1971, he recorded the rest of the album over ten days in March, and Motown released it in late May.
Besides cementing Marvin Gaye as one of the most important artists in pop music, What's Going On was far and away the best full-length to issue from the singles-dominated Motown factory, and arguably the best soul album of all time.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What's Going OnRenaldo Benson, Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye | Play | 03:53 | 8 MB | 26 MB |
| 2 | What's Happening BrotherMarvin Gaye, James Nyx, Jr. | Marvin Gaye | Play | 02:43 | 6 MB | 17 MB |
| 3 | Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)Anna Gordy Gaye, Marvin Gaye, Elgie Stover | Marvin Gaye | Play | 03:49 | 8 MB | 24 MB |
| 4 | Save the ChildrenRenaldo Benson, Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye | Play | 04:03 | 9 MB | 26 MB |
| 5 | God Is LoveAnna Gordy Gaye, Marvin Gaye, James Nyx, Jr., Elgie Stover | Marvin Gaye | Play | 01:41 | 3 MB | 11 MB |
| 6 | Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye | Play | 03:16 | 7 MB | 19 MB |
| 7 | Right OnEarl DeRouen, Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye | Play | 07:32 | 17 MB | 47 MB |
| 8 | Wholy HolyRenaldo Benson, Al Cleveland, Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye | Play | 03:07 | 7 MB | 17 MB |
| 9 | Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)Marvin Gaye, James Nyx, Jr. | Marvin Gaye | Play | 05:38 | 12 MB | 31 MB |
| 10 | What's Going On (Original Detroit Mix) | Marvin Gaye | Play | 04:07 | 9 MB | 28 MB |
| 11 | What's Happening Brother (Original Detroit Mix) | Marvin Gaye | Play | 02:43 | 6 MB | 17 MB |
| 12 | Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky) (Original Detroit Mix) | Marvin Gaye | Play | 03:48 | 8 MB | 24 MB |
| 13 | Save The Children (Original Detroit Mix) | Marvin Gaye | Play | 04:01 | 9 MB | 27 MB |
| 14 | God Is Love (Original Detroit Mix) | Marvin Gaye | Play | 01:46 | 4 MB | 12 MB |
| 15 | Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (Original Detroit Mix) | Marvin Gaye | Play | 03:07 | 7 MB | 19 MB |
| 16 | Right On (Original Detroit Mix) | Marvin Gaye | Play | 07:31 | 17 MB | 47 MB |
| 17 | Wholy Holy (Original Detroit Mix) | Marvin Gaye | Play | 03:07 | 7 MB | 18 MB |
| 18 | Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) (Original Detroit Mix) | Marvin Gaye | Play | 05:45 | 13 MB | 34 MB |
| 19 | What's Going On (Rhythm & Strings Mix) | Marvin Gaye | Play | 03:50 | 8 MB | 20 MB |
| 75 mins | 173 MB | |||||
| 75 mins | 473 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bob Babbitt | Bass |
| 2 | Renaldo Benson | Composer |
| 3 | Al Cleveland | Composer |
| 4 | Alana Coghlan | Design |
| 5 | Earl DeRouen | Composer |
| 6 | Chet Forest | Drums |
| 7 | Eli Fountain | Sax (Alto) |
| 8 | Anna Gordy Gaye | Composer |
| 9 | Marvin Gaye | Composer, Drums, Keyboards, Liner Notes, Piano, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals |
| 10 | Hendin | Photography |
| 11 | James Jamerson | Bass |
| 12 | Rob LoVerde | Mastering |
| 13 | Katherine Marking | Design |
| 14 | John Matousek | Mastering |
| 15 | Curtis McNair | Art Direction |
| 16 | Joe Messina | Guitar |
| 17 | Wild Bill Moore | Sax (Tenor) |
| 18 | James Nyx, Jr. | Composer |
| 19 | Elgie Stover | Composer |
| 20 | David Van De Pitte | Arranger, Conductor, Orchestral Arrangements |
| 21 | Earl Van Dyke | Guitar |
| 22 | Robert White | Guitar |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |
| CD Quality | FLAC | 16bit 44.1kHz | FLAC is an audio coding format which uses lossless compression. Digital audio in FLAC format has a smaller size and retains the same quality of the original Compact Disc (CD). |