WHAT'S GOING ON

Prior to the recording and release of Marvin Gaye's landmark album "What's Going On," the singer/songwriter had a much different image and sound.  His previous works had been very affectionate and love driven, e.g., "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (performed with Tammi Terrell.)

When recording "What's Going On," however, Gaye took a new approach to the style of music he wanted to create for this album.  With the help of Renaldo "Obie" Benson of The Four Tops, he began to shape what would be the title track of this historic recording that would come to be known as "What's Going On." 

Through his brother, Frankie, Marvin began to collect ideas to build his next album.  His brother, having served in Vietnam, became a vital source of information and inspiration for the album.  Many of the songs on the album are expressed from the point of view of a Vietnam veteran who has returned home from duty only to find the country he has been fighting for is nearly as broken as the one he has just returned from.  This is incredibly apparent on the second track of the album, in which he says, "I'm just getting back/but you knew I would. War is hell/when will it end?" The lyrics depicting the struggle that had become common of returning American G.I.'s is a consistent theme throughout the album. The album touches on the challenges that G.I.'s faced, such as unemployment and homelessness, as well as the struggles of the rest of the population including poverty, racism, and other social injustices.

Releasing this kind of material was no easy task for Marvin.  Motown president Berry Gordy, when presented with the "What's Going On" album, wanted nothing to do with it. He felt that politically driven songs such as these would not see much radio and chart success, if any at all.  Marvin was obviously very upset by this and used a tactic of peaceful defiance to eventually sway the company in his favor.  Gaye refused to do anything until Motown released the album. He eventually won this battle when the company decided to release the album without Gordy's knowledge.

"What's Going On" was different from other soul recordings of the time, for several reasons. One such reason was the lyrical content. At the time there were many anti-war recordings and songs, but there were little to no soul artists who were recording them, much less anyone at Motown. "What's Going On" is a conscious masterpiece that addresses the troubles of the time from a very different perspective. It does not seem so much as a demand for things to stop or change, an approach that many rock and early punk bands may have been using, but more of a request; a request to stop the violence and to look around at everything that is wrong.  Another thing that set this album apart was the fact that it was so contradictory of other Motown releases.  Label mates The Four Tops had originally turned down the title track because they felt that it was a protest song (despite Obie Benson's contradictory opinion on it.)  Motown artists at the time were not interested in making political records.  It seems that they had been banking off of the love songs and planned to continue milking that cash cow.

As a listener I regard this album very highly. It falls nicely into place with other conscious Detroit based recordings such as "We Almost Lost Detroit" by Gil Scott-Heron (even though that was released several years later.)  I am absolutely fascinated by the arrangements and production quality.  The record as a whole is very soulful and depicts a very important message. As an industry professional I find myself examining some of the same qualities of the piece.  I am always listening closely to try and catch all of the elements that make the songs so unique and enjoyable.