Marvin Gaye's Whats Going On

Marvin Gaye started out singing in the vocal groups The Marquees and The Moonglows performing and recording doo-wop style songs.  He saw moderate success with these two groups.  He went on to become a session drummer signed to the Motown label by Barry Gordy.  Gaye’s first love was jazz.  He released a jazz album that saw little commercial success called The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye.  That record failed to chart and he soon after agreed to join in on the Motown sound and record something more commercially appealing.  He became the quintessential Motown R&B artist and one of their biggest stars.  He released songs that would go on to the top 10 charts right away including “Let’s Get It On” and “Trouble Man”.

Vietnam and race riots were a big influence on the lyrical content of Gaye’s songs.  Gaye’s brother Frankie Gaye spent 3 years in Vietnam and lived to tell about it.  The brothers discussed what Frankie saw and did while serving in Vietnam, which had a profound affect on Marvin.  Renaldo “Obie” Benson, the writer of the title track of Marvin’s album What’s Going On, was also troubled by the activity in Vietnam and at home.  It was the expression of his observations that led to the key question what’s going on?  That question led to many more questions and subsequently the lyrics to the song What’s Going on. 

Barry Gordy was not interested in the self-produced Marvin Gaye album yet Marvin was persistent to release it.  His sound did not sit well with the Motown quality control panel either.  It was the panel that shaped the signature sound that is Motown.  Gaye was not going to give in so easily and refused to record any more songs for the label until Barry agreed to release What’s Going On.  Gaye took up professional basketball in the meantime and tried to make the Detroit Lions team until a key, yet unlikely person in the fight against Gordy and Motown turned it all around.  Harry Balk was blown away by the album and was likely responsible for it’s release without Barry Gordy’s approval in January of 1971.  The album sold 100,000 copies in one day with orders for many more to follow.  It was those figures that would turn Barry Gordy around and request more albums by Gaye that were just like it.

What’s Going On did not have that signature rhythm section which included a very prominent tambourine track.  His vocal production was new as he recorded two different takes of the main melody and kept them in the mix.  That technique was a mistake admitted the engineer on the session Ken Sands, which ultimately became the signature vocal sound of Marvin Gaye.

I was deeply moved by the album and all it had to offer.  The lyrics, music and the incredible vocals made that album a must in my collection.  The production was fantastic in its simplicity.  Infectious grooves and sexy bass lines behind such rich and soulful vocals can only mean one thing to me, this album must have a great impact on other people as well if it hit me so hard.  This record is another example of how one man’s vision can change everything if it is supported.