Marvin Gaye - 'What's Going On?' Turns 50 today

Haven't played it in ages - because I know it by heart - but it's a classic album!

 

I'm not sure why they left out the word "digitally" at the end of the headline, other than to generate clicks.

 

A masterpiece, and it's played on a regular basis on my system. Still relevant, sad to say, all these years later.

 

50 today? Wow, cool. A wonderful, wonderful album.

I first heard part of the title track on the radio when I was about 12 and adored it, but had NO IDEA who it was by, let alone what it was called. A couple of years later through an “educated guess” I was about to buy an Al Green compilation, but managed to find out who really sang it before I made ‘the wrong purchase’ (as if an Al Green comp could be called that).

Marvin’s Greatest Love Songs served me well for a while, and despite What’s Going On’s reputation I held off buying it - maybe because I was afraid that nothing else on the album could possibly match the title track. Of course, I needn’t have worried, and only regretted not having bought it sooner once I took the plunge.

Definitely in my top 5 albums of all time.

 

A masterpiece....one of my favs and never gets old.

I was always told There's A Riot Going On was a response to this. So i too also thought the title was a question until the interwebs came about.

 

A true masterpiece. I love my MoFi reissue LP.

 

Fun to see “the album’s a stone masterpiece” vs. “the title song is great but album has filler,” being battled out eternally here as always and as it will forever.

And it’s clearly an uphill battle to maintain clarity on the present celebration of the single’s 50th vs. the upcoming album anniversary on May 21, a cognitive stumbling block reflecting the five fraught months it took for the album to liberate itself from Motown politics and get released.

Details, details — it’s massive greatness whether you’re on team single or team album, an absolute killer.

 

I'm glad they didn't make one honestly

 

Might sound bizarre now, but I was a teenager in the 80s and the first version of the title track I heard was the Cyndi Lauper version

 

Good Lord. I had no idea she’d covered that. I can’t imagine...

I’ma have to check that out!

 

A classic album that somehow always has the ability to better my mood

 

Very possibly the greatest album ever made by anyone.

 

Yeah I think it was a single from the "True Colors" album, I didn't even know who Marvin Gaye was at that time

 

Tell me more! Pix, year, run-out ...

 

Great song, great album. -E

 

Exactly. Some of us at work were discussing Marvin Gaye last week, and I commented that not only is "What's Going On" classic, but it is still relevant today!

 

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

 

In my Top 100.

 

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, 3 digital releases have been recently put for sale:
Album What's Going On, Marvin Gaye | Qobuz: download and streaming in high quality
Album What’s Going On: The Detroit Mix, Marvin Gaye | Qobuz: download and streaming in high quality
Album Funky Nation: The Detroit Instrumentals, Marvin Gaye | Qobuz: download and streaming in high quality

 

Played the 'Detroit Mix' the other day. Great album any way you cut it.

 

Any thoughts on this release y'all?

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (Original Detroit Mix) | Light In The Attic Records

I am interested!

 

I listen the the 'Detroit Mix' more than the other by far. I'm really interested!

 

One of the greatest albums of All-time and a personal favourite of mine, with even as much impact (maybe even more) in today’s world setting.

By the way, solving all the need to find the upcoming date: 21 May 1971.

 

Many happy returns.

It's a good thing albums can't be shot.

 

Every day that passes this album remains the most relevant in my collection. "Masterpiece" does not do it justice.