Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
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Free Music Notes for What's Going On
Free Music Review: All Time Classic Achievement
Hit: 5 Stars
Every now and then a selection of music comes along that begs me to set aside my (sometimes) petty concerns and just to review it as I see it. An important piece of music, such as this, really demands total focus. If not, you will not know how very special it is. Or how it all matters in all our trials here on earth. It is soul music (perhaps), but it cuts through to our heart and, collectively,our spirit that very few achieve. Even after so many years, it remains a milestone.
Indeed, what is going on here? This is Marvin Gaye's ultimate plea- to God, to Jesus, to humanity to finally bring some semblance of coherence and something better within all our lives. It is not enough that it is so pivotal for it's time (so unlike the soul and rythmn and blues preceding this), but it delves into harder edged issues that cut through generations. It was relevant then, is relevant now, and will be relevant for the future. That is because it is universal. The urgency here, and what is at stake, is very important. It pertains to our survival and overcoming pain, in whatever form it appears to you. This effort is a treasure and definitely worth your time.
First off, Marvin employs many various shades of musical excursions and motifs throughout. You'll hear the sax, piano, bells, guitar riffs and drums (and much more) weave in and out of musical themes in most creative ways. Using the orchestra to full effect - it weaves in magical waves to compliment his voice. And Marvin is up to the task and then some. On some songs it is difficult because just when you thought it moved in some coherent pattern, it changes and then you get some augmented about face in another direction. I think that, with anything new (at that time) acceptance is a hard road. But do not forget you are talking about an incredible, innovative talent here. There are not many that measure up to this.
He starts off with "What's Going On" whereby he gives you the main theme of the album, "You know we've got to find a way, to bring some lovin' here today". And, from that point on, he will relate, or reveal to you, the hard truth of life and how to go about changing it. Certainly, these songs relate on an individual, personal basis. And, how wise that is. For, if any real, effective change is to take place, it begins within yourself. I like this song also for the lyric "Don't punish me with brutality, Talk to me so you can see". A plea to connect to a better level of understanding.
"What's Happening Brother", is about a man returning from war who is faced with good news from the newspaper but is faced with a bad economy, no jobs, and bleak prospects all around. He asks, but probably knows, that he's returned to a darkness, instead of the heaven he wanted when he arrived. This song morphs into the heavy laden "Flyin' High", whereby a way to deal with the pain is drug addiction. But, with that, we learn that the pain is real and does not go away.
Marvin then connects this to a plea to "Save the Children". "Who really cares?", he asks. The music here comes in certain strains and stanzas, varying the mood and leading to, hopefully, an upswing of hope. "God is Love" escalates towards a higher purpose. In a way, Marvin creates his own soul gospel sound here. Love, here, is not just a word. It is the answer. And it comes across as pure and not contrived in the least.
The groove then gets slowed down just a notch with the nexus of "Mercy Mercy Me" which is an ode to the abuse of our environment. Marvin covers alot of ground here - but indeed, he asks the tough questions of the world. After cruising through this song, notice the dread and flat chords and notes at the end. An ominous warning so take heed.
"Right On" musically percolates along with a piano and flute journey that allows Marvin to soul cruise. That no matter where you are in the spectrum of life, to have pride in the gift of love you have been given. "Wholy Holy" then becomes an ambient, slow ethereal blessing and ode to God. Filled with tenderness and heart.
Finally, "Inner City Blues" harkens back (with insistent groove) towards the harshness and trials of life. But, this time he is sure that love is the answer to the madness. Again, he knows, "we've got to find a way, to bring some lovin' here today", and thus, the theme comes full circle.
In closing, this album was a bold move back in 1971, yet I can see why it remains extremely high in any list of the best popular recordings of all time. He changed the course of this genre and influenced alot of great artists along the way. Beautiful, eloquent and superb. To be without it, your vast musical archive will suffer dearly.
Highly recommended!
Mery mercy me - Seers ain't what they used to be ---LOVE --- Metamorpho ;)
Free Music Review: No Serious Soul Music collection Is Complete Without The Presence Of This Album!
Hit: 5 Stars
The utter genius and legendary Marvin Gaye, rightly hailed as the king of Motown, remains one of the most outstanding, influential and innovative artist's in Soul music - infact Popular music in general. His unparalled, undisputed talents set standards for generations. What's Going On is, arguably, his most ever-green work.
'What's Going On' nearly didn't happen. It seems so inconceivable now but Motown boss Berry Gordy didn't understand or appreciate the songs depth upon first hearing, adament that it wouldn't be a commercial success. Gordy initially even refused to release the single, convinced it would flop. In retaliation to this, Gaye refused to record any more material for Motown until Gordy finally (and reluctantly) relented and in January 1971, the single hit record stores. Well, Gaye's gut instinct proved to be spot on - the single flew up to No.2 on the US Pop Billboard Chart. Gaye then proceeded to record the remainder of the album of the same name, which was completed within ten days in March'71 and the release being in May of the same year. The album was quickly recognised and acknowledged as a universal masterpiece, swiftly dispelling any reservation Berry Gordy may have had.
Unlike before he recorded this project, Gaye was allowed the full artistic and creative freedom to write and produce material about issue's of the world he cared deeply about. His work on here came straight from the heart. Gaye meditated and reflected on the American dream of the past, conveying often poetic-like lyrics that related to the escalating urban decy, spiralling environmental problems, police brutality, poverty and unemployment - issue's that had touched Gaye's soul.
The majestic title track is a pure masterpiece and one of the upmost greatest Soul/Pop recordings ever made. A glorious backing arrangement, including a beautifully understated Saxophone interlude on the track's magical opening, intertwine effectively with Gaye's pure emotive and soulful performance. The lyrics are thought-provoking throughout; if you take a listen, the song is sadly just as relevant today as it was back in 1971.
The remainder of this project is sublime. The beautifully soulful, atmospheric mood are entwined with alternately warm, optimistic, angry and at time depressed vocals from this musical visionary. Without a doubt this is Gaye's all-time greatest work, among a long list of top-quality albums that he was to record following this.
'What's Happening Brother' continues in a similar vein to 'What's Going On', the tone and mood sombre and thoughtful. Erratic, divine sax interludes are encapsulated by thick, pulsating basslines and deep, relaxed grooves that becomes contagious. The song depicts the total despair of poverty and unemployment, complemented by Marvin's simply magnificent vocals.
'Flyin High (In The Friendly Sky)', dealing with environmental topics, is set to a smooth, slow beat, filled with bongo's against a gently pounding percussion. The devastatingly poignant 'Save The Children' is deeply profound, reflecting on our rapidly deterioating climate and desperate, abandoned children in the world.
The spiritual 'God Is Love' is an effective forerunner to one of Gaye's definitive classics, the compelling 'Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)' capturing an inspired performance from Gaye while the 8-minute epic of 'Right On', with a winding arrangement, highlighted by repetitive precussion, a sensual piano backdrop, tinkling flutes and conga's, is another outstanding masterpiece that once more explores relevant political issue's.
'Whole Holy' is even more dreamy and mellow flowing seamlessly with a striking blend of instruments. Gaye's relaxed yet strongly emotive vocals enhance the beautifully sparse production. This steadily leads up to the final track and another of Gaye's essential classics, 'Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)' which is utterly captivating. Gaye's unique, distinct voice surfs along the sweeping musical landscapes and just listen to the delightful sounds of Motown's hero's The Funk Brother's (Motown's in-house muscians) masterful, well-crafted, dynamic playing in what has to be one of their most startling and memroable sessions.
What's Going On' was Marvin Gaye's haunting, heartfelt and beautiful, profound expressions of hope, anger and concern. This has stood the time impeccably well, remaining one of the very best, most stylish, accomplished and thought-provoking Soul albums of all time - if not THE best! Essential to any record collection.
Ian Phillips
April 2010
Free Music Review: Mother, mother, there's too many of you cryin'...
Hit: 5 Stars
...thas' the opening line of the opening song which happens to be the title track of 'What's Going On', one'a the most powerful statements ever issued by any artist of our time. An' nothing sums up the thoughts that've been running through my head in the past week better. There comes a point when a certain album like this that you've heard countless times through the years means more to you than ever before. Well, that point has reached me in the most tragic way. A young lil' homie'a mine was killed on March 10th. He was only 15 years old. An' this has devastated me. An' now I'm turnin' an' listenin' to Marvin Gaye's over 30-year-old album an' the message is ringin' clearer in my mind than anything. This entire album is a statement that examines the turmoil of a world on edge an' the deterioration of our society that never seems to change an' never seems to be able to pull itself together.
I will run down the ways in which the songs on this album have hit more close to home than ever before. On the song 'Flyin' High (in the Friendly Sky)' he puts it best when he says "I go to the place where danger awaits me, an' it's bound to forsake me, so stupid-minded." Stupid-minded. Thas' the best way to describe the way our values have chosen to set themselves, when we either can't or choose not to see the very serious problem arising when our youths are becoming so cold an' heartless that they'll take each other's lives over nothin'. An' when so many hafta drown their sorrow an' hurt in a bottle'a booze jus' to cope with the foulness the poor an' underprivildged are forced to accept, this world can really eat away at an idealist like myself. The message continues to pound into my brain on 'Save the Children' when he asks "Who really cares to save a world in despair? Who really cares?" All'a this music is set to smooth an' breezy R&B backdrops that float along with the powerful words an' questions Marvin presents. He didn't so much as present the answer, as present the problem an' ask for someone, ANYONE to offer any positive suggestions. This, unlike anything today, is music with longevity, because everything he speaks will forever be relevant in this world as long as we continue on the self-destructive path that we're on. Whether you agree with the spiritual musings of 'God is Love' an' 'Wholly Holy' is irrelevant, because he is no way forcing it upon you. It's jus' Marvin's personal stamp on the album, because he was raised in a churchgoing household an' spirituality is how he, an' many others like him (me included) give comfort to themselves during the everyday tragedies of life. My favorite number on the album comes in 'Right On', a mid-tempo Latin-flavored number in which Marvin offers his thought an' contemplations on the way the average man views his life an' his place in this world. He lets the instrumental stretch out for five or six minutes then changes the tempo an' offers his sweet an' melodic harmonizing of love an' peace, before letting the beat pick up an' ride out the song. To me, it's the most overlooked song of the entire album. Marvin closed the album with 'Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)' in which set to a simple, yet haunting backbeat an' melody Marvin expresses all his frustrations, anger, heartbreak, an' concern for the group homes, projects, an' every burrough an' ghetto in the country an' the impoverished people that live in a day to day nightmare where they can't support themselves or their family an' where fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, an' most disturbingly children are increasingly more an' more subject to senseless violence. It's a powerful anthem that is chilling an' heartbreaking all at once.
I guess the saddest aspect of this album is that as long as it's been since it was recorded an' released an' as long as music historians an' fans alike have revered it as one'a the best albums to ever come out of modern music, we've done nothing but listen to the message. Well, we needa do more than that. I don't like seein' people, 'specially young people, dying in vain, an' I expect most of you would agree with me on that. So let's all learn from every young person who has been cut down before they had the chance to blossom into the king that they could've been. An' let's change our ways. For over 30 years, we've listened to Marvin plead with us to do jus' that. To save the children. An' is' high time we started acting on that plea, instead'a jus' listening an' thinking about it. Rest in Peace to Omega "Buddy" Morris. A glaring reminder of the harsh times we live in.
Free Music Review: A musical, spiritual, and emotional journey like no other!
Hit: 5 Stars
The best way that that I can describe this album in a nutshell is basically as, an airy journey through the heart and mind of an observant soul searcher as he responds to his social surroundings... for the most part anyway :-). This album is unbelievably coherent both sonically and thematically, and just incredibly even in tone all throughout. "What's Going On" is a true concept album in every sense and is the first great one that Motown produced. It is probably the first great one in all of soul music. This particular piece of work is special even when compared to most concept albums because while most great concept albums present a strong, unified statement or vision, few embody such a grand idealism. Gaye is the ultimate idealist all throughout, which is really what defines this album, and why it still resonates so well today. It is almost unbelievable that Barry Gordy did not want to release it. I guess that Gordy didn't think that this album was kitschy enough for the public; "oh no, oh no, all of these unfamiliar words and grand ideas, not on my label!" (Note: this is not an actual quote from Gordy, just my own feeble and unapologetically sarcastic attempt at regressive mind reading). I've read that Mr. Gordy asked Marvin Gaye, "what in the world is Ecology"? (Now that really is close to an actual quote). Well Mr. Gordy, Ecology is basically the study of how organisms interact and interrelate with their environment, and it was brilliant of Gaye to use that as the core idea for a song here because the idea fits into the album's concept perfectly. The lyrics of "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)", all of the lyrics on this album in fact, are so incredibly effective because they are so convincingly heartfelt. It is a blessing to all of us that Gaye finally got this album released. Story has it that Marvin Gaye had recorded the first version of this album, but decided to change it because he was unsatisfied with the final results. There was just something missing. That "something" was bass virtuoso James Jamerson. James Jamerson was simply B-R-I-L-L-I-A-N-T, and he could embellish within a set song structure magnificently enhancing the melody, all while being absolutely impeccable rythmically. Story has it that Gaye went out looking for Jamerson, and found him playing in a local club in Detroit. He convinced Jamerson to come back and play on the album, and he ended up giving some of the best performances of his career. Legend has it that on the title track, Jamerson plays bass on the whole song while lying on his back on the floor in the studio because he was simply more comfortable there !!!!!(Listen to the title track picturing that, focus on the bass, and simply sit back and marvel at Jamerson's genius). It should also be noted, and this is something that I rarely hear mentioned, that this album is probably the greatest example of the influence that the influx of jazz musicians crossing over to the soul and R&B scenes had on the increase in the level of sophistication of the musicianship, and the overall spike in the quality of the material coming out of these scenes in the 60's, with their influence remaining strong throughout the 70's. The Funk Brothers (the in house musicians for Motown), we're all local jazz musicians who used the skill and savvy that they had acquired in that arena, to become an almost immeasurable influence on popular music in general; from R& B to Soul, and from Funk to Rock & Roll (a certain well-known British invasion group spent a large portion of the early part of their career trying to imitate these guys). This album is their greatest single work. And last but certainly not least, Marvin Gaye is one of the greatest pure vocalist ever. His extra smooth tenor is one of the most distinct voices that I have ever heard, and it adds immensely to the effectiveness of his interpretations of the material here. This album works brilliantly as a cohesive whole, and the sum total is about the most genuinely transcendent album that I've ever heard. This is one legendary album that truly does live up to all the hype, and it should be a part of every music lover's collection!Free Music Review: What's Going On
Hit: 5 Stars
Marvin Gaye-What's Going On *****
It is beyond the comprehension of my mind why for the sake of me that Motown didn't want to release What's Going On. Not only did it go on to be Marvin Gaye best selling album, and one of the best selling of Motown in general, it spawned three monster hit singles, The title track, 'Mercy Mercy Me', and 'Inner City Blues.' But more then that What's Going On has gone on to be acclaimed as one of the very best albums of all time, appearing on just about every best of list you can think of.
Originaly released in 1971 What's Going On is the master, Marvin Gayes greatest achievement. Yes, his early hit singles were fantastic and have themselves gone on to become classics, and readio staples, and yes whats going on and all the sexual music to follow is perfect for that sort of thing but none of it can hold a candle to this album. This is his most important. The Orchesral arrangements made by David Van DePitte make give this record character and layering. Marvins vocals are insindeary. You can tell that he really feels what he is singing, and you can hear his heart breaking on this record as cliche as it sounds, it's true. That may be in some small part due to the fact that Marvin helped wrote every track on the album.
Opening with the classic title track, 'Whats Going On' which is a plea, much as the entire album is starts things off nicely, I wont go into to much detail of the song because it's all been said. 'What's Happening Brother' is in the same vein as the title track but with lyrics a bit less personal. 'Save The Children' is the best example of the brilliance of the production on this album, which Gaye also lent a hand in. See he layered the vocals on all the songs many times and in several ways, even using backing vocals and choirs for texture. 'God Is Love' is a plea to live and let God. To let him take care of things, and live the way he wants us to and take care of the world he built for us. However your religious beliefs maybe the song does not come across pretentious, self-rightious, nor preachy, just simply as a man at his whits end asking us to help each other up instead of breaking us down. While seaguing straight into 'Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)' another one of the major hit singles on th elabum we find Marvin bringing to our attention the state of the Earth and how little we take care of it and how much we destroy it. 'Right On' aside from the underlining message has one killer groove. The original album closes with what I concider to be the strongest and best song that Marvin Gaye ever recorded, 'Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler).' Still get chills all over my body when I hear this song. Breathtaking isn't the right word just the first that comes to mind. Would have sat perfectly well in the hands of a punk band at the end of the 1970's the way the lyrics are written which is wht I feel makes the song most enduring is that the lyrics really are written for everyone. A perfect end to and amazing album.
Depending on the version of What's Going On that you purches it may come with two bonus tracks. They are the B-sides to the original singles. 'God Is Love' is just a alternate version of the album version but really worth owning for true fans. 'Sad Tomorrows' is just a great song that was left off the album but would have fit right into place had it been left.
Inspired by the return of his brother from Veitnam, Marvin Gaye wrote one of the greatest, most personal, and important albums of all time. The album plays like one continues song seageing into the next one with ease and coming to a close with 'Inner City Blues' which much like a well written essay ends as it began wrapping everything up again in one beautiful bow, and thats what, What's Going On is a world of horrid, horrid situations wrapped in a wonderful melody and voice.