Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On

Marvin Gaye, the Prince of Soul, started with the doo-wop quartet, the Marquees. The band would change their name to Harvey and the New Moonglows before finally disbanding without any commercial success. Gaye filled his time by playing drums for the Spinners while also working for Harvey Records. Not long afterwards Marvin was signed to release a solo album. Inspired by Ray Charles and Nat King Cole, Marvin’s crossover from R&B wasn’t well received. It wasn’t until he started singing duets did his success start to grow. Singing duets with Tammi Terrell, Gaye popularity took off. The duets success was short lived however as Tammi suffered from a brain tumor and passed away. Despondent Gaye receded from the music industry.

Gaye looked for a new direction in music, one that would be able to “affect the souls of people.” At this time he had been affected by the letters his brother had sent him while in Vietnam along with the increasing social tensions that were building up back home. After Obie Benson played an unfinished version of what would later become What’s Going On he convinced Marvin to record the song.

Initially, the single What’s Going On was refused by Motown’s founder Berry Gordy. Berry believed Marvin would lose much of his target audience if the song were released. In defiance, Gaye countered by stating he would never record for Motown again if the single weren’t released. After becoming a commercial success Motown allowed him to release the album What’s Going On.

Despite the constant pressure from Motown Marvin showed that his concept album could be a hit. Its heavy emphasis on the political issues of the day had never been done before in R&B. The manner in which he sang comes across as empathetic to the issued facing the nation instead of trying to drive an agenda. Also the entire album is sang from the perspective of a veteran who had returned from Vietnam. From beginning to end the album takes on the role of a disillusioned soldier who finds the country he returned to plagued with civil unrest and police brutality.  

I have long been listening to Marvin Gaye and its easy to understand why this album is a masterpiece. It flows so seamlessly with the rhythms piecing together with the melodies flawlessly. His voice is an instrument all its own. In addition to  the message it conveys it’s just an overall great album to listen to.