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With this album, Marvin Gaye (1939-1984) set out in 1971 to forever change the course of American black music. Our Marvin came from a long apprenticeship at Motown, first as a session drummer (even for that kid Stevie Wonder, who, as a prodigy, could amaze more than him) and then as a simple and pure performer, churning out classic records with one or two hits written by seasoned producers and a handful of filler songs barely definable as leftovers. Due to lack of space, I won't dwell on this first part of his career, which, despite its ups and downs (a series of great successes in partnership with Tammi Terrell seemed to destine him for an enjoyable career until Terrell died prematurely), would bring him to the cusp of his thirties with the latest and greatest soul success of the era, “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (1969). Then, with the "What’s Going On" project, comes the turning point. Marvin Gaye decides to leave behind the chart-topping soul-pop and create the first African-American concept album.
An album about “What's Going On” in the contemporary era, from the Vietnam War to the ecology issue, alternating celebrations of his religious sentiment (“God Is My Friend”) with flights of fancy into the unconscious, our imagination (“Flyin’ High In The Friendly Sky”), consumed in the tension between social commitment and escape into the inner world (see the grand finale of “Inner City Blues”). An album for which he convinced Motown to grant him full power over every stage of its creation. The result is a milestone of soul, creative and visionary, that knows how to degenerate from funk to Latin-flavored rock (“Right On”), experimenting, reminiscent of the artist's past, with magnificent vocal innovations (see the types of choirs) or rhythmic ones (the types of percussion); intended, of course, to be listened to in one go (almost all the tracks flow into one another) and perhaps in the dark and under the influence of narcotics (as Marvin did when conceiving the songs).
A jewel of not even 40 minutes. And fresh as a rose!
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 What's Going On (03:54)
Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some loving here today
Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some loving here today
Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
What's going on, what's going on
What's going on, what's going on
Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
But who are they to judge us
Simply 'cos our hair is long
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some loving here today
Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me, so you can see
What's going on, what's going on
Tell me what's going on
I'll tell you what's going on
04 Save the Children (04:02)
I just want to ask a question
Who really cares?
To save a world in despair
There'll come a time, when the world won't be singin'
Flowers won't grow, bells won't be ringin'
Who really cares?
Who's willing to try to save a world
That's destined to die
When I look at the world it fills me with sorrow
Little children today are really gonna suffer tomorrow
Oh what a shame, such a bad way to live
All who is to blame, we can't stop livin'
Live, live for life
But let live everybody
Live life for the children
Oh, for the children
You see, let's save the children
Let's save all the children
Save the babies, save the babies
If you wanna love, you got to save the babies
All of the children
But who really cares
Who's willing to try
Yes, to save a world
Yea, save our sweet world
Save a world that is destined to die
Oh, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Oh, oh dig it everybody
06 Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (03:14)
Woo ah, mercy mercy me
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
Where did all the blue skies go?
Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east
Woo mercy, mercy me, mercy father
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas, fish full of mercury
Ah oh mercy, mercy me
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
Radiation under ground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying
Oh mercy, mercy me
Ah things ain't what they used to be
What about this overcrowded land
How much more abuse from man can she stand?
Oh, na na...
My sweet Lord... No
My Lord... My sweet Lord
07 Right On (07:31)
Hey baby
That's alright people
I know that's alright
Oh, when we love each other
I know that's alright
Oh feel it, feel it
Oh everybody feel it
God know that's alright, yes
Some of us were born
With money to spend
Some of us were born
For races to win
Some of us are aware
That it's good for us to care
Some of us feel the icy wind
Of poverty blowing in the air
For those of us who simply like to socialize
For those of us who tend the sick
Ah, and heed the people's cries
Let me say to you
Right on
Right on, feel it
Yea, oh, oh, Oh Lord, Lord, people
And I say, Right on
Honey right on
For those of us who live
Where peace is craved
For those of us who live, uh-huh
Where hatred is enslaved, alright
For those of us who live a life
Yea, surrounded by good fortune and wealth
Talk about it
Those of us who live a life
Hey, hey, hey enjoying ourselves
For those of us who got drowned
In the sea of happiness
For the soul that takes pride in his God
And himself and everything else
Love
That's all it is
We need love
That's all it is
Oh, oh
Love, love
Love's the thing
Love, love, love, love
Sweet love, love
Wonderful love
Ah, true love, love
Love for your brother
Love, for God
Pure love
Love can conquer hate everytime
Give out some love and you'll find
Peace sublime
And my darling, one more thing
If you let me, I will take you
To live where love is King
Ah, ah baby, baby
Ah, ah, ah, baby
People, people
People who love and care
That's alright
Alright
Ah....
08 Wholy Holy (03:07)
Ah, wholy holy
Come together
Wholy holy
People got to come together
And I know with the strength, power and all the feeling
Wholy holy
Wholy holy
Oh Lord, come on get together, one another
Oh Lord
Wholy holy
Wholy holy
Wholy holy we believe in one another
Wholy holy we believe in Jesus
Jesus left a long time ago, said he would return
He left us a book to believe in
In it we've got an awful lot to learn
Oh, wholy holy
Oh Lord
We can conquer hate forever, yes we can
Ah, wholy holy, Oh Lord
We can rock the world's foundation
Yes we can
Better believe it
Wholy holy together and wholy
Holler love across the nation
Oh, oh
Wholy holy
We proclaim love, our salvation
Oooh, ooh...
09 Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) (05:27)
Dah, dah, dah, dah
dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Rockets, moon shots
Spend it on the have nots
Money, we make it
Fore we see it you take it
Oh, make you wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
This ain't livin', This ain't livin'
No, no baby, this ain't livin'
No, no, no
Inflation no chance
To increase finance
Bills pile up sky high
Send that boy off to die
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Make me wanna holler
The way they do my life
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Hang ups, let downs
Bad breaks, set backs
Natural fact is
I can't pay my taxes
Oh, make me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Yea, it makes me wanna holler
And throw up both my hands
Crime is increasing
Trigger happy policing
Panic is spreading
God know where we're heading
Oh, make me wanna holler
They don't understand
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Dah, dah, dah
Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Who are they to judge us
Simply cause we wear our hair long
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Other reviews
By Socrates
"What's Going On' marks a turning point for soul music, no more sugary singles, but the street, the ghetto, Vietnam, even ecology forcefully enter the songs.
Letting oneself be carried away by these enveloping, warm sounds... is a truly rewarding experience, capable of involving even the most cynical.
