Best Sounding "What's Going On"?

Looks interesting.

Any compression? Who mastered this set? And is it the same mastering (and booklet contents) on both issues of it?

 

I have the 1995 version, mastered by Gavin Lurssen at The Mastering Lab. Very good sound quality; the mono mixes were used (for songs where they exist).

I'm guessing the re-release has the same mastering since it's the same track listing and I doubt they would go through the trouble of redoing the whole thing, but I can't say for sure.

 

Thanks. I take it the sound is better than on Lurssen's What's Going On?

 

I don't know since this box set is the only Lurssen mastering in my music collection.

 

Ok, thanks.

 

It's not an audiophile release by any stretch of the imagination; some sort of normalization was probably applied since many of the songs peak at -0.2 dB. Waveforms look good however, and the clipped peaks are limited to a few transients and not due to brickwalling (since there is none). Looks and sounds like there is no added compression.
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Analyzed folder: /Users/rxcory1/Desktop/The Master 1961 - 1984
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DR Peak RMS Filename
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DR13 -0.20 dB -14.69 dB 01 Marvin Gaye - Got To Give It Up Pt. 1.m4a
DR9 -0.20 dB -10.71 dB 01 Marvin Gaye - It Takes Two (feat. Kim Weston).m4a
DR9 over -9.99 dB 01 Marvin Gaye - Stubborn Kind Of Fellow.m4a
DR12 -0.27 dB -12.90 dB 01 Marvin Gaye - What's Going On.m4a
DR13 -0.20 dB -15.24 dB 02 Marvin Gaye - Here, My Dear.m4a
DR9 -0.20 dB -10.92 dB 02 Marvin Gaye - I Couldn't Help Falling For You (feat. Kim Weston).m4a
DR10 over -12.21 dB 02 Marvin Gaye - Pride And Joy.m4a
DR12 -0.20 dB -13.23 dB 02 Marvin Gaye - Save The Children.m4a
DR11 over -12.12 dB 03 Marvin Gaye - Hitch Hike.m4a
DR8 -0.20 dB -10.07 dB 03 Marvin Gaye - Lonely Lover.m4a
DR11 -0.32 dB -13.09 dB 03 Marvin Gaye - Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology).m4a
DR11 -1.20 dB -14.30 dB 03 Marvin Gaye - When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You.m4a
DR10 -2.20 dB -13.89 dB 04 Marvin Gaye - Anger.m4a
DR12 -0.20 dB -13.93 dB 04 Marvin Gaye - Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler).m4a
DR9 -0.00 dB -10.81 dB 04 Marvin Gaye - Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home).m4a
DR11 -0.20 dB -12.33 dB 04 Marvin Gaye - Without Your Sweet Lovin'.m4a
DR10 -0.20 dB -11.91 dB 05 Marvin Gaye - Ain't No Mountain High Enough (feat. Tammi Terrell).m4a
DR12 -0.20 dB -14.16 dB 05 Marvin Gaye - Anna's Song.m4a
DR12 -0.20 dB -12.89 dB 05 Marvin Gaye - I'm Going Home [Alt. Mix].m4a
DR9 over -10.86 dB 05 Marvin Gaye - What Do You Want With Him.m4a
DR13 -0.20 dB -14.58 dB 06 Marvin Gaye - A Funky Space Reincarnation.m4a
DR11 -0.20 dB -12.66 dB 06 Marvin Gaye - If I Could Build My Whole World Around You (feat. Tammi Terrell).m4a
DR10 over -11.97 dB 06 Marvin Gaye - Once Upon A Time (Feat. Mary Wells).m4a
DR11 -0.20 dB -13.73 dB 06 Marvin Gaye - Piece Of Clay.m4a
DR11 -0.30 dB -13.37 dB 07 Marvin Gaye - What's The Matter With You Baby (Feat. Mary Wells).m4a
DR11 -0.91 dB -14.01 dB 07 Marvin Gaye - When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You [Reprise].m4a
DR10 -0.20 dB -11.57 dB 07 Marvin Gaye - You're The Man - Pts. I & II.m4a
DR11 -0.20 dB -13.06 dB 07 Marvin Gaye - Your Precious Love (feat. Tammi Terrell).m4a
DR12 over -12.40 dB 08 Marvin Gaye - Can I Get A Witness.m4a
DR14 -0.20 dB -15.69 dB 08 Marvin Gaye - Checking Out (Double Clutch).m4a
DR11 -0.20 dB -13.19 dB 08 Marvin Gaye - If This World Were Mine (feat. Tammi Terrell).m4a
DR11 -0.48 dB -14.49 dB 08 Marvin Gaye - She Needs Me.m4a
DR10 over -11.71 dB 09 Marvin Gaye - Couldn't Ask For More.m4a
DR13 -0.20 dB -15.83 dB 09 Marvin Gaye - Trouble Man.m4a
DR11 -0.20 dB -14.18 dB 09 Marvin Gaye - Why Did I Choose You.m4a
DR10 -0.20 dB -12.46 dB 09 Marvin Gaye - Without You (My World Is Lonely).m4a
DR13 -0.20 dB -14.46 dB 10 Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On.m4a
DR12 -0.20 dB -13.26 dB 10 Marvin Gaye - Life Is For Learning.m4a
DR9 -0.20 dB -11.56 dB 10 Marvin Gaye - Together We Stand (Divided We Fall).m4a
DR9 over -10.36 dB 10 Marvin Gaye - You're Wonderful.m4a
DR11 -0.20 dB -13.29 dB 11 Marvin Gaye - Come Get To This.m4a
DR12 -0.20 dB -12.95 dB 11 Marvin Gaye - Funk Me.m4a
DR10 over -12.06 dB 11 Marvin Gaye - I Wonder.m4a
DR10 -0.20 dB -12.02 dB 11 Marvin Gaye - You.m4a
DR12 -0.20 dB -13.76 dB 12 Marvin Gaye - Chained.m4a
DR12 -0.20 dB -15.28 dB 12 Marvin Gaye - Just To Keep You Satisfied.m4a
DR12 -0.20 dB -12.88 dB 12 Marvin Gaye - Love Me Now Or Love Me Later.m4a
DR10 over -11.35 dB 12 Marvin Gaye - You're A Wonderful One.m4a
DR12 -0.20 dB -13.21 dB 13 Marvin Gaye - Ego Tripping Out.m4a
DR10 -0.20 dB -12.77 dB 13 Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine.m4a
DR10 over -12.04 dB 13 Marvin Gaye - It's Got To Be Love.m4a
DR11 -0.20 dB -13.66 dB 13 Marvin Gaye - Pledging My Love (Feat. Diana Ross).m4a
DR13 -0.20 dB -14.97 dB 14 Marvin Gaye - My Mistake (Was To Love You) (Feat. Diana Ross).m4a
DR10 -1.43 dB -14.18 dB 14 Marvin Gaye - The Star Spangled Banner.m4a
DR9 over -10.13 dB 14 Marvin Gaye - Try It Baby.m4a
DR11 -0.20 dB -12.92 dB 14 Marvin Gaye - You're What's Happening (In The World Today).m4a
DR12 -0.20 dB -14.41 dB 15 Marvin Gaye - Distant Lover (Live).m4a
DR9 -0.00 dB -11.08 dB 15 Marvin Gaye - Leavin'.m4a
DR10 -0.20 dB -11.61 dB 15 Marvin Gaye - This Love Starved Heart Of Mine (It's Killing Me).m4a
DR10 -0.20 dB -12.00 dB 15 Marvin Gaye And Gladys Knight - I Heard It Through The Grapevine.m4a
DR11 -0.20 dB -12.93 dB 16 Marvin Gaye - Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing (feat. Tammi Terrell).m4a
DR9 -0.20 dB -11.58 dB 16 Marvin Gaye - I Want You.m4a
DR8 over -10.02 dB 16 Marvin Gaye - My Love For You.m4a
DR12 -0.16 dB -14.68 dB 16 Marvin Gaye - Rockin' After Midnight.m4a
DR12 -0.20 dB -14.47 dB 17 Marvin Gaye - After The Dance.m4a
DR12 over -13.21 dB 17 Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You).m4a
DR11 -0.20 dB -13.05 dB 17 Marvin Gaye - Keep On Lovin' Me Honey (feat. Tammi Terrell).m4a
DR12 -0.20 dB -14.03 dB 17 Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing.m4a
DR8 -1.00 dB -10.94 dB 18 Marvin Gaye - Baby Don't You Do It.m4a
DR10 -0.20 dB -16.41 dB 18 Marvin Gaye - The Lord's Prayer.m4a
DR11 -0.20 dB -12.83 dB 18 Marvin Gaye - You're All I Need To Get By (feat. Tammi Terrell).m4a
DR9 over -10.28 dB 19 Marvin Gaye - Just Like A Man.m4a
DR12 -0.20 dB -13.71 dB 19 Marvin Gaye - Too Busy Thinking About My Baby.m4a
DR11 -0.20 dB -12.54 dB 20 Marvin Gaye - More Than A Heart Can Stand.m4a
DR7 -0.61 dB -9.29 dB 20 Marvin Gaye - Pretty Little Baby.m4a
DR10 -1.20 dB -13.60 dB 21 Marvin Gaye - How Can I Forget.m4a
DR8 -0.05 dB -9.58 dB 21 Marvin Gaye - Talk About A Good Feeling.m4a
DR9 over -9.75 dB 22 Marvin Gaye - I'll Be Doggone.m4a
DR10 -0.20 dB -12.07 dB 22 Marvin Gaye - That's The Way Love Is.m4a
DR9 over -10.60 dB 23 Marvin Gaye - Little Darling (I Need You).m4a
DR9 -0.67 dB -12.98 dB 23 Marvin Gaye - Yesterday.m4a
DR10 over -11.63 dB 24 Marvin Gaye - One More Heartache.m4a
DR10 -0.20 dB -12.32 dB 24 Marvin Gaye - The End Of Our Road.m4a
DR9 over -10.55 dB 25 Marvin Gaye - Ain't That Peculiar.m4a
DR11 -0.20 dB -12.65 dB 25 Marvin Gaye - Good Lovin' Ain't Easy To Come By (feat. Tammi Terrell).m4a
DR10 -0.20 dB -12.09 dB 26 Marvin Gaye - What You Gave Me (feat. Tammi Terrell).m4a
DR10 over -11.94 dB 26 Marvin Gaye - You're The One For Me.m4a
DR10 over -10.79 dB 27 Marvin Gaye - Take This Heart Of Mine.m4a
DR10 over -11.96 dB 28 Marvin Gaye - Your Unchanging Love.m4a
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Number of files: 89
Official DR value: DR11

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Thanks, Cory!

 

Any thoughts on the 2002 version, that includes B-side as bonus tracks? Is this the same mastering as a previous edition?

 

Allmusic doesn't have a listing for a 2002 CD, but there's a 2003 CD with two bonus tracks. Mastering is credited to Kevin Reeves, which means it probably sounds like the deluxe edition from 2001.

 

Good news!

 

If you love this album get the 40th anniversary deluxe CD with the Detroit and the LA mixes and the live DC concert.

 

Does your copy have indexing errors when you just want to play one track? Mine does.

 

I tend to listen to albums straight through, so I haven't noticed. But the songs blend into each other on this album, no?

 

Yes and it's great all the way through. Still there is the occasion when I just have time to listen to Inner City Blues or some other single cut. Anyway if my disc is just anomaly I'll look for a replacement on the used market. Otherwise I'm good.

 

I checked mine and the indexing seems fine. Is there a particular track that is way off?

 

Inner City Blues.

 

Both of my copies are fine on that track.

 

Thanks! I'm going to grab another one myself.

 

Maybe you should check matrix numbers to be sure? Also, some of the twofers use the Matousek mastering.

 

I wasn't aware of any indexing errors, but Motown had pretty much anyone and everyone pressing their CDs in the 80's. For What's Going On, I had a Columbia pressing (had a DIDX number in the matrix), a US Phillips (PDO or PMDC) pressing (silver to the center), a Japan Sanyo pressing ("manufactured by Sanyo" in the matrix), and a US Sanyo pressing (disc says "MOTD-5339" but matrix says "MCD09036"). Hopefully finding a different copy will remedy the problem. Good luck!

Edit: Just to be clear I'm talking about the "A Motown Compact Classic" version, released under at least 3 different catalogue numbers that I'm aware of, and mastered by John Matousek, as pictured below:

 

Hopefully the one with Marvin on vocals.

 

Finally got to hear the Reeves mastering of the LA mix tonight, since I bought the Deluxe Edition recently in order to have the Detroit mix. I was suprised to find that the Reeves mastering of the LA mix is pretty good on my setup. I don't find it tinny, perhaps a bit loud, but otherwise I found it to be a decent mastering. Still, I am glad to have the Matousek mastering whenever I want to hear the LA mix.

 

On October 2nd. at the AES convention at the Los Angeles Convention Center I will be "discussing in detail the recording of the iconic Marvin Gaye song “What’s Goin’ On?” in a special 90-minute interview. The wide-ranging conversation will include the stories of recording this and other classic Motown recordings, an analysis of the multi-tracks, soloing individual elements, related anecdotes, and more."

AES Los Angeles 2016 » Recording & Production Track Event RP11: Raw Tracks: Sound of Motown/What's Goin On? »

 

The DC concert is on the 40th?

 

MFSL SACD
SHM-SACD
HDtracks
Platinum-SHM CD

These are the 4 I would like to compare.