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You can't separate any song from this album and still achieve the same effect. It's unfortunate the experiment didn't last, but at least we did get one great soul album. For some reason that I still have yet to discover, Marvin Gaye was the only soul musician to experiment with the developing artistic ideas the sixties are known for, and he only did it a single time. Soul music. That was on this album.
A Beatles album was meant to be listened to in one sitting. It basically is one long song. They didn't have songs that flowed together, that were meant to be listened to in succession. Soul musicians didn't write albums, they wrote songs, and of course when they had a dozen or so recorded, they released them as an album, but it wasn't the same thing. The same technique is used on side two, where multiple songs run together to form an inseparable string of music. From "What's Happening Brother" to "Mercy Mercy Me" there are no stops.
The album was a huge success. This was an important deviation from the traditional method of creating an album, which was more or less a collection of singles with no particular relation to one another. "What's Going On". Second, there's also a running theme in the music. Even Marvin Gaye himself never made such an incredible artistic statement again. It's generally regarded that the Beatles were the first group to make people think of an Album as one cohesive, artistic statement.
Every song runs directly into the next. This is not a collection of soul songs. Somehow, this important idea didn't extend to Motown or Stax. This is the only soul album that borrows this favorite technique of Paul McCartney. Every other genre of music was experimenting with these concepts throughout the sixties. All the songs were meant to create a larger body of work. I still haven't been able to figure out why this is. This is a Soul Album.
The album carries a message, it deals with real problems man constantly faces. The songs deal with the self destruction of mankind from War and pollution, and are responded to with cries to save the world for God and for our future generations. The first, the last. Why were there no followers. And why was the experiment abandoned. The two sides have suite arrangements. Why did it take Soul music until 1971 to catch up. This was an important concept in the sixties that influenced every other musician in every other genre with one exception.
It deals with universal truths, the self eradicating nature of the human species. Except for the slight pause at the end of What's Going On (probably added because the song was released as a single), there's no breaks between the tracks. The albums didn't have running themes. The first reason for this is obvious.
Brought back alot of memories and Marvin Gaye's voice is still missed after over 20 yrs. This was an album my Dad had and I grew up listening to, I was glad to see it on CD.
Every song is a perfection of arrangement, vocals, music and lyrics.Today marks the 25th anniversary of Marvin's death but he lives on in his music. I've had this album since its release in 1971. [April 2, 1939 - April 1, 1984] I miss you Marvin. First on vinyl, then on cassette, and now on CD. It's one album I definitely could not be without.
Also on a lot of the songs there are very beautiful string arrangements that makes songs sound like they come from the soul and heart. What's Going On is not only Marvin Gaye's masterpiece but its also a very moving album, and is one of the greatest albums ever created. All in all if you dont own What's Going On I'd advise you to pick up a copy today if you want to hear an album that will change your life. What's Going On is the essential album for any music lover because its just one of the those albums that really moves you. Song topics range from damaged war veterans(What's Happening Brother) to the drug addiction of, "Flyin High(In The Freindly Sky)", to religion, "God Is Love", and finally a damaged ecology, "Mercy Mercy Me(The Ecology)". Each and every song in here contains Marvin Gaye's beatufil singing voice that sounds like it came from his soul.
I think any fan of music in general will love this album. I'm still glad he's at least around to make music. What's goin on is classic. Most of the music is slow,but really works for his voice and is indeed very poetic. Marvin Gaye really hit his creative peak at this point. My dad bought this album, and I thought anything my dad listens to can't be that good.
I mean mercy mercy gives me chills. HOw can anybody not like this album or not think that it has any depth. But Listened to it when i was alittle older and realized how amazing it is. I think the only other R and B album that came out during this time that can compare is Al Green's Let's Stay Together. You should go and buy the album,its worth it. It really stands the test of time, and is really one of the best r and b/ and or pop music albums ever made.
Wholy wholy is an interesting tune.
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