What's Going On [40th Anniversary Edition]
by Marvin Gaye
  • Record Label: Motown
  • Release Date: May 31, 2011
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 88 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 81 out of 88
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 88
  3. Negative: 6 out of 88
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  1. marsb4
    Aug 15, 2011
    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.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
  2. j30
    Dec 12, 2011
    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.
  3. asbeloliver
    Apr 13, 2012
    10
    Marvin Gaye along magnificent career records published as "Let` s Get It On, or "Here My Dear" but "What ¨ s Going On" reached the height of his career and achieved something that few artists achieve, innovate ... create, both musically and production (1971) without forgetting the message of the work, an absolutely revolutionary (Vietnam). one of the greatest albums ever made.
  4. QuintonB
    Jan 4, 2013
    10
    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.
  5. brockcheese
    Aug 21, 2019
    10
    This album is perfect. A great commentary on the civil rights movement, US involvement in vietnam and the general changes that happen in a society.
  6. AdityaMookerjee
    Nov 25, 2013
    10
    Cannot understand how Marvin Gaye and persons like him, make such a number in the U. S. Marvin is a genius, in any and every sense of the word. In fact, the song, 'Night Shift', by The Commodores, might have been a reference to him, when the name, 'Marvin' is a part of the lyrics.
  7. karansjet
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    This album rightfully deserves it's spot as the best Soul album of all time.
    What's Going On is not only Marvin Gaye's masterpiece, it's the most important and passionate record to come out of soul music, delivered by one of its finest voices, a man finally free to speak his mind and so move from R&B sex symbol to true recording artist.
  8. HugoPavi
    Feb 25, 2017
    10
    One of my favorite albums, extremely socially & politically relevant (even today), rightly regarded as one of the best albums of all time. Nothing else needs to be said; What's Going On speaks for itself
  9. Jh4165tw
    Nov 13, 2016
    10
    it's the best album that ever created. The vibe, the elevation of soul music, the ever-so-true lyrics about our future, the improvisation of tune and beats, all shows a true artist elevates his creation into a gift of light from god.
  10. Joe2126
    Dec 27, 2019
    10
    THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE ORIGINAL ALBUM, NOT THE RE-RELEASE

    I think when it comes to music, Marvin Gaye deserves the spot of the greatest singer to ever live and the reason being is because of this album right here. It only took one troubled man with a beautiful vision of the world while he struggles with his everyday life to write this masterpiece and every time I listen to What's going    THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE ORIGINAL ALBUM, NOT THE RE-RELEASE

    I think when it comes to music, Marvin Gaye deserves the spot of the greatest singer to ever live and the reason being is because of this album right here. It only took one troubled man with a beautiful vision of the world while he struggles with his everyday life to write this masterpiece and every time I listen to What's going on, I always take a step back to acknowledge that there will never be music like this ever again. Pretty much every instrument and every soul lyric clicks together that just rids away of everyday life to enjoy the beautiful music that Gaye and his producers constructed here. "Mercy me" in particular is amazing at doing this, that song is astonishing and I just feel complete each time I listen to it. The album also talks a lot about religion which I can relate to, even though I'm not Christian, I just agree with Gaye's ideas that God is always listening no matter what. In addition to this, many of the lyrics heard in the songs are issues of the past still occurring today, particularly issues revolving around wars and brutality as well as society's failure to accept one another, something that is highly present in today's world. This ability to relate to the world's issues and how Marvin does a good job at making you escape from that is why I adore this album so much. It is, still to this day in my opinion, the greatest album ever made.

    I don't understand what went wrong with music but traditional pop singers like Nat King Cole and soul singers like Marvin Gaye were when music was at it's peak. This isn't to complain that "I was born in the wrong generation", absolutely not, I really do enjoy a lot of new music it's just most of it is noway near the level of excellence like this album. A lot of more "popular" or "trendy" music nowadays just isn't fun for my ears, for instance a lot of people like catchier music that trends on the top lists but it's always the crappy songs that trend. For instance, "Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish which is just annoying to listen to and has no character in it whatsoever manages to get the top charts while a song like "Gorgeous" by Kanye West doesn't. West's song is beautiful not because it's a rap song, but the lyrics and catchy chorus of "Ain't no question if I want it" are what help the most. I think if a song starts off with lyrics in a similar manner to "penitentiary chances, the devil dances and eventually answers a call of Autumn", then you are in for a show, not only the lyrics but the overall beauty of the production value that just caresses your ears will just help you the most. That's what listening to What's going on is like, each amazing song after the other.

    I find it very troubling how nobody today knows about this album and would rather listen to repetitive nonsense all the time. Even those who grew up in the times that this album was released also like listening to repetitive nonsense and call The Beatles, Queen, Guns N Roses, AC/DC or Metallica the greats of music, I fully disagree with what they have to say, Gaye is like a one man army in comparison to them, basically the Zhuge Liang of music. You can sell out and "rock" a concert but you can't inspire and educate the minds of the troubled at the same time, especially those who are going through something. This album was truly ahead of it's time and will forever remain the greatest pieces of music ever made.    … Expand
  11. Purpl
    Jul 30, 2021
    10
    Really good album- good production, fantastic lyrics, and each song seems to flow into the next one. For an album dealing with such heavy subjects, it's also surprisingly chill.
  12. DelkoChateau
    Aug 28, 2023
    10
    The. Greatest. Soul. Album. Ever. Created. This is literally an absolute masterpiece and by far one of the greatest albums that I've ever listened to. Give this thing a listen, you won't regret it.
  13. YoursTruly
    Apr 18, 2014
    9
    Mr. Marvelous. The sweetest, most heartfelt voice to ever grace our ears and thank God it was settled inside of a brilliant overall musician like Marvin Gaye. His understanding of sound was unreal and the man was simply a bona fide legend. If any other artist dedicated an entire album to singing about political issues and how we should all love one another it would come across as preachyMr. Marvelous. The sweetest, most heartfelt voice to ever grace our ears and thank God it was settled inside of a brilliant overall musician like Marvin Gaye. His understanding of sound was unreal and the man was simply a bona fide legend. If any other artist dedicated an entire album to singing about political issues and how we should all love one another it would come across as preachy and self-involved, but with Marvin...no. There was not a hint of ego in his work. This is all soul. It's not a lecture, it's just concern. Genuine, soulful concern. Nobody quite like him. Nobody.… Expand
  14. JeffLebowski
    Aug 10, 2011
    8
    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.
  15. clem666
    Aug 23, 2022
    8
    Truly an impacting album that manifests this unavoidable hippie period in the USA. The original version of 'What's Going On' is highly cohesive and consistent: just nine tracks for nearly 36 minutes. That's one short and sudden kind of effort. Nevertheless Marvin Gaye managed to spread powerful lyrics and lines mixed with great instrumentals of soul lineage. This piece of work remainsTruly an impacting album that manifests this unavoidable hippie period in the USA. The original version of 'What's Going On' is highly cohesive and consistent: just nine tracks for nearly 36 minutes. That's one short and sudden kind of effort. Nevertheless Marvin Gaye managed to spread powerful lyrics and lines mixed with great instrumentals of soul lineage. This piece of work remains extremely interesting by those few words Gaye uses, the varied themes he addressed, but also and especially for the marvelous melodic improvisations all along. Very pleasant to listen to.… Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
100

Universal acclaim - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Q Magazine
    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]
  2. Rolling Stone
    Aug 4, 2011
    100
    Greatest protest album ever made? Most stirring soul-music symphony? Yes and yes. And then some.
    Read full review
  3. Spin
    Aug 4, 2011
    90
    An indelible quiet-storm jeremiad.
    Read full review
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