What's Going On

"...And about this job of putting this son-of-a-gun together..."

By the summer of 1970, Marvin Gaye had sunk into a deep depressed after the death of his singing partner Tammi Terrell in March. Gaye refused to record and perform, and attempted a career in football with the Detroit Lions, but failed his tryouts. After the failed change in careers, Gaye came in contact with Al Clevland and the Four Tops' Renaldo "Obie" Benson, who were working on a politicaly conscious song called "What's Going On". Gaye helped Clevland and Benson complete the composition, and planned ot produce it as a recording for Motown act The Originals. Clevland and Benson persuaded Gaye to record the song himself, and in June 1970 Gaye recorded "What's Going On" and his own composition, "God is Love".

Related Topics:
1970 - Tammi Terrell - March - Football - Detroit Lions - Al Clevland - Four Tops - Renaldo "Obie" Benson - What's Going On - The Originals - June

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

When Gaye delivered the songs as the sides for his next 45 single, Berry Gordy refused to release them. He considered the record far too political and unfamiliar in sound to be commercially successful. Gaye stood his ground; he wanted to be able to express himself, and not Gordy's or Motown's version of himself, on record. Gordy eventually gave in, certain that the record would flop. "What's Going On" became a Top 5 hit, and Gordy requested an entire accompaning album.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gaye began recording the tracks that would eventually comprise his best-known work, the What's Going On album, handling all of his own production and some of his own songwriting. What's Going On was a politically-charged and deeply personal Motown album, notable for including elements of jazz and classical music. The record was among the first soul records to place emphasis on political and social concerns such as environmentalism, political corruption, drug abuse, and the Vietnam War. Gaye was inspired to write about the war by his brother, Frankie Gaye, who had just returned from the front lines.

Related Topics:
Production - Songwriting - Jazz - Classical music - Environmentalism - Political corruption - Drug abuse - Vietnam War

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

What's Going On is a unified album, consisting of songs from the point-of-view of a Vietnam War veteran returning to the country he had been fighting for, and seeing nothing but injustice, suffering and hatred. Gaye's brother, Frankie, had returned from three years of service in the Army in 1970. In addition, What's Going On is the first album which Motown Record's main studio band, The Funk Brothers, got an official credit.

Related Topics:
Vietnam War - 1970 - The Funk Brothers

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1997 What's Going On was named the 17th greatest album of all time in a 'Music of the Millennium' poll conducted by HMV, Channel 4, The Guardian and Classic FM. In 1998 Q magazine readers placed it at number 97, while in 2003 the TV network VH1 placed it at number 4.

Related Topics:
1997 - HMV - Channel 4 - The Guardian - Classic FM - 1998 - ''Q'' magazine - 2003 - TV network - VH1

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~