What’s Going On?

MARVIN GAYE – Timeless Masterclass Album ‘WHAT’S GOING ON’ Came Out Today 55 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

Significant longplayers from yesteryear

21 May 2026

The late soul giant MARVIN GAYE (1939-1984) released his 11th album, the
masterclass opus WHAT’S GOING ON on 21 May 1971, today 55 years ago.

It’s a concept album with most of its songs segueing into the next and has been categorized as a song cycle. The narrative established by the songs is told from the point of view of a Vietnam veteran returning to his home country to witness hatred, suffering, and injustice.

Gaye‘s introspective lyrics explore themes of drug abuse, poverty, and the Vietnam War.
He has also been credited with promoting awareness of ecological issues before the public outcry over them had become prominent.

The album was an immediate commercial and critical success, and came to
be viewed by music historians as a classic of 1970s soul and significant to
the development of progressive soul.

Multiple critics, musicians, and many in the general public consider What’s Going On
to be one of the greatest albums of all time and a landmark recording in popular music.

It went platinum in the UK and gold in the US.

AllMusic wrote in retrospect: “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. With What’s Going On, Gaye meditated on what had happened to the American dream of the past, as it related to urban decay, environmental woes, military turbulence, police brutality, unemployment, and poverty. “

SINGLE

ALBUM


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Discography

WHAT’S GOING ON?

Posted on by JL

19 April 2026

The title track of the late great soul star MARVIN GAYE‘s
1971 classic LP What’s Going On is so painfully relevant
again.

“Mother, mother
There’s too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There’s far too many of you dying
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today, yeah

“Father, father
We don’t need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see
Oh, what’s going on (What’s going on)
What’s going on (What’s going on)
Right on, baby

Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we’re wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply ’cause our hair is long
Oh, you know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today

Tell me what’s going on (What’s going on)
I’ll tell you, what’s going on (What’s going on)
Right on, baby, right on”

Short Bio – Discography

MARVIN GAYE – His 55 Year Old Hit Single ‘WHAT’S GOING ON’ Is Highly Relevant Again Today

Posted on by JL

Top singles from the past

21 January 2026

The late great soul giant MARVIN GAYE (1939-1984) released
his hit single WHAT’S GOING ON, the title track of his 11th LP,
on 21 Jan 1971, today 55 years ago.

It went to #2 in the US. It would sell over two million
copies. More than 353 million streams on Spotify.

The album tackles police brutality and violence, other
socially related injustices, war, and climatic conditions.

Highly relevant again today.

“Mother, mother
There’s too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There’s far too many of you dying
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today, yeah

“Father, father
We don’t need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some lovin’ here today
Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see

Oh, what’s going on (What’s going on)
What’s going on (What’s going on)
Right on, baby

Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we’re wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply ’cause our hair is long
Oh, you know we’ve got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today
Picket lines and picket signs
Don’t punish me with brutality
Come on talk to me
So you can see

What’s going on (What’s going on)
Yeah, what’s going on (What’s going on)
Tell me what’s going on (What’s going on)
I’ll tell you, what’s going on (What’s going on)
Right on, baby, right on”

Discography

Big Blasts From The Past – MARVIN GAYE And STEVE MILLER BAND

Posted on by JL

21 May 2021

Back in time…

Artist: MARVIN GAYE
April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984

Album: WHAT’S GOING ON – his 19th LP
Released: 21 May 1971 – 50 years ago today
Score: Platinum in the UK / Gold in the US

Rolling Stone (Vince Aletti): “Ambitious, personal albums may be
a glut on the market elsewhere, but at Motown they’re something new.
The album as a whole takes precedence, absorbing its own flaws. There
are very few performers who could carry a project like this off. I’ve always
admired Marvin Gaye, but I didn’t expect that he would be one of them.
Guess I seriously underestimated him. It won’t happen again.” Score: 5/5.

Singles: What’s Going On / Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)

– WHAT’S GOING ON –

– MERCY MERCY ME (The Ecology) –

Stream album…

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MARVIN GAYE: All Albums

Band: STEVE MILLER BAND
Active: 1966–present

Album: FLY LIKE AN EAGLE – 9th LP
Released: 20 May 1976 – 45 years ago
Score: #11 in the UK / #3 in the US

All Music (Stephen Thomas Erlewine) Steve Miller had started to
essay his classic sound with The Joker, but 1976’s ‘Fly Like an Eagle’
is where he took flight, creating his definitive slice of space blues.
The key is focus, even on an album as stylishly, self-consciously trippy
as this, since the focus brings about his strongest set of songs (both
originals and covers), plus a detailed atmospheric production where
everything fits. Score: 4/5.

Singles: Rock ‘N Me / Take The Money And Run

– ROCK ‘N ME –
(Striking live rendition)

– TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN –
(From the same concert)

Full album…

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STEVE MILLER BAND: All Albums

HISTORY – 1 April 1984 – MARVIN GAYE Shot By His Father 35 Years Ago Today…

Posted on by JL

Soul icon MARVIN GAYE (born Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.) was born on 2 April 1939 in Washington D.C. The world famous star was shot by his father after a severe discussion that completely got out of hand on 1st April 1984, one day before his 45th birthday, 35 years ago today. R.I.P.

Marvin Gaye became one of the most respected and praised soul artists in history.
He was a key musician in the creation and the global success of the Motown sound.
His most influential work was his 11th studio LP, entitled WHAT’S GOING ON that
came out in 1971, 48 years ago. With brave songs about urban decay, environmental destruction, the military industry and war (Vietnam), police brutality, unemployment
and poverty he made a masterpiece that is terrifyingly relevant again today…

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MARVIN GAYE: Biography