Marvin Gaye What's Going On LP Vinyl Record 12" Tamla Soul Cardboard Sleeve

$

30

EX+/VG. Original First Press (1971). Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" is universally hailed as a masterpiece of soul music, a timeless concept album exploring poverty, environmental destruction, drug abuse, and the devastation of the Vietnam War. First released in May 1971 by Tamla Records, it marked a historic moment where Gaye took complete creative control as author and producer. It features iconic tracks like "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)," "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)," and the legendary title track "What's Going On?".

Widely recognized as one of the greatest albums of all time, "What's Going On?", topped Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums list in 2020. It revolutionized the music industry by transitioning soul music away from standard three-minute love songs toward profound social commentary.

The title track was co-written by Renaldo "Obie" Benson of the Four Tops after he witnessed police violence against anti-war protesters in Berkeley. This became Gaye's Inspiration, as he took the song and reshaped it. Gaye was deeply affected by systemic poverty, the civil rights movement, and letters from his brother Frankie serving in the Vietnam War.

Motown CEO, Berry Gordy, initially refused to release the title single, famously calling it "the worst thing I ever heard in my life" because it was too political. Motown executives secretly pressed and distributed 100,000 copies behind Gordy's back. It sold out in a single day, forcing Gordy to relent and grant Gaye full creative control to record the rest of the album. Gaye recorded the remaining eight tracks in just ten business days between March 1 and March 10, 1971.

Gaye structured the LP as a continuous "song cycle," or "concept album",meaning almost every track seamlessly segues into the next like a unified prayer.

This was the first album where Marvin Gaye received sole credit as a producer. It became the very first album to officially credit Motown's legendary in-house session musicians, the Funk Brothers. Notably, bassist James Jamerson recorded his legendary basslines while lying completely flat on his back on the studio floor. The album’s distinct multi-tracked vocal harmonies were born from a studio accident where two different vocal takes were played simultaneously. Gaye loved the depth it created and kept it.

Rolling Stone in its updated 500 Greatest Albums list (2020). A massive panel of over 300 modern artists, producers, and industry figures voted it to the top spot, displacing The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band as "The Greatest Album of All Time".
***NOTE the vinyl is the Original First Press from 1971, while the cover jacket is from 1981.***