Marvin Gaye "What's Going On?"

Marvin Gaye is often credited to being known as “The prince of Motown” or “The Prince of Soul”.  In 1960 Gaye began working as a session drummer for Motown Records.  Marvin signed onto the label in 1961 and is credited to giving a large number of hits to the label through out the 1960’s.  Songs like “How Sweet it is (To be loved by You)”, Ain’t that Peculiar” and I Heard it Through the Grapevine” shaped Gaye’s image as a pop sensation.  His image was that of a love stuck fool and he was quite the fashionable icon of many a young lady of the day.  His music at the time reflected this and was full of hope and love with a very pop and soul influence that carried his career for the Motown Label during the 1960’s up until the release of “What’s Going On”.

Marvin claims a great deal of the shift he made in his musical choices can be accredited to the stories of war his brother Frankie told him after returning from Vietnam.  Marvin began to look around and notice the division of classes from the slums of inner city Detroit to the disconnected fat cats of Hollywood.  Frankie described how he had seen the value for human life be almost non-existent and the children in Vietnam eat out of the trash from what the soldiers would throw away.  This turned Gaye’s stomach and he wanted to put out an album that meant something and that people could identify with.

After recording the song “What’s Going On” it was shown to Berry Gordy owner of Motown and he emphatically stated, “That’s the worst thing I’ve ever heard”.  Unfortunately the quality control team at Motown didn’t feel much different. Despite the backing of Marvin’s wife, Berry’s sister Anna, Motown would not budge to release the album.  Unbeknownst to Marvin a copy of “What’s Going On” found its way into the hands of the veteran producer Harry Balk who over saw Motown’s creative department while Berry spent much of his time in California. Harry fell in love with the song immediately and pushed for its release.  The album “What’s Going On” was pushed through for release and sold 100,000 copies its first day. With Gordy infuriated at the overturn of his decision not to release the album his anger was quickly diffused with the news of the great success of the album's sales.

Much of Gordy’s distaste with the album had to do with its political commentary and focus on social issues that was a great break from the normal releases on the Motown Label.  Most of Motown’s success up until this time was from records with a pop sound and a "being in love" theme.  Gaye’s step into this category of social commentary was unknown territory for the label but was received with great success as it touched on the current inflammation of civil unrest and global injustices. The album’s instrumentation also provided more of a melancholy atmosphere than that was heard in other Motown releases that were held down with a strong pop sound and cheerful grooves.

Listening to the album I am struck by the easily contrasting feeling of soothing instrumentation and vibrantly socially defiant lyrical content.  “Inner City Blues” is probably one of my all time favorite songs with its infectious bass line, vocal falsetto harmonies and undeniably irresistible rhythms and vocal hooks.  The lyrics are so appropriate and honest for the times it was written.  I admire Marvin for breaking away from the norm and putting out a truly original and different piece of art.  In my opinion “What’s Going On” is probably one of the most influential R&B soul albums of all time.