What's Going On [40th Anniversary Edition] Image
Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 27 Ratings

  • Summary: Considered one of the best soul albums ever released, What's Going On has been reissued and remastered with 28 bonus tracks.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Aug 3, 2011
    100
    Gaye's music was on the move, but it never moved quite like What's Going On: still seraphic, still turbulent. [Aug 2011, p.95]
  2. Aug 4, 2011
    100
    Greatest protest album ever made? Most stirring soul-music symphony? Yes and yes. And then some.
  3. The most perfect suite of music recorded in my lifetime.
  4. Aug 9, 2011
    80
    It still sounds fabulous and relevant too, though this Super Deluxe Edition with lots of superfluous add-ons and a super £50-plus price tag to match is surely for completists only. [Aug 2011, p.133]

See all 10 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. You can never go wrong with a little Marvin Gaye, reissue or not. This album shows a king at the height of his prime; an athlete at his physical peak. It's also one of the most influential albums all time, perhaps the album that cemented Gaye's place in history. A near perfect classic. Expand
  2. 10
    In 1972 Marvin Gaye defied the odds. He took a risk which was to generate a political yet, socially conscience album. It was something that was very uncommon in that era, but he accomplish a lot with this album. The album is a classic on a lot of levels especially soul and r&b. Almost 40 yrs later he has earned a top 6 spot on rolling stones 500 best albums of all time and Grammy awards. Reserve this album I promise you will not regret it. Expand
  3. j30
    10
    Marvin Gaye's 1971 landmark album really is a great album, there's no debating that. Whether you're into smooth jazz or soul in general, this is the nectar of the Gods. My personal favorite track comes from the mellow funk groove "Inner City Blues." This record is definitely worth your time. Expand
  4. I'm gonna get crucified for this, but this album is perhaps a tad overrated - the title track overshadows anything else by a mile, and there is a fair amount that slips into smooth background music. Nevertheless, enormously influential and a landmark release, and everyone should give it a listen as a matter of course. Expand

See all 5 User Reviews