Classic ALbums-What's Going On Marvin Gaye

For this week's classic album segment let's have a look at the 1971 album by Motown singer Marvin Gaye with What's Going On. The recording of this album began from June until September 1970 and from March-May 1971 at Hitsville USA, Golden World and United sound Studios in Detroit Michigan and the Sound Factory in West Hollywood California and it was released on May 21st 1971 which it went to number 6 in the USA which it would sell over 2 million copies as it would stay in the charts for nearly a year as it would be at that time Motown's as well as Marvin Gaye's biggest selling album. It was produced By Marvin Gaye himself as well as writing the songs and from that album it would 3 hit singles-the title track which he wrote with Al Cleveland and Renaldo "Obie" Benson of the singing group the Four Tops went to number 2 In the USA, Mercy Mercy Me(number 4 USA) and Inner City Blues number 9 in the USA and also James Hendin did the photography. It is a great album with great songs which holds up very well to this day and it has a message in this album as it reflecting about what was happening in the world at that time in the early 70's with the Vietnam War, drug abuse, poverty and others. marvin Gaye went through tough times from the late 60's including going into depression after his singing partner Tammi Terrell got diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, drug problems, trouble with the IRS, going into seclusion after Terrell's passing in 1970 etc and to emerge in 1971 with a great album which it is a masterpiece and one of the great classic albums of all time. it is 30 years this year since the passing of Marvin Gaye but the great music he made lives on today and this album does live on today so be sure to listen to it as you will understand what was at that time.

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