Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ Gets 50th Anniversary Digital Reissue

Motown/UMe has marked the 50th anniversary of Marvin Gaye’s single release for “What’s Going On” — the title track from Rolling Stone’s Greatest Album of All Time — with an all-encompassing digital reissue of the 1971 LP out now on streaming services.
“What’s Going On” was released on January 20th, 1971, four months before the LP arrived. Over the past 20 years, the album has been reissued every decade, with early mixes, instrumentals and other rarities culled from the era added to each release.

What’s Going On: Deluxe Edition/50th Anniversary Track List
Set 1: Original Album
1. What’s Going On
2. What’s Happening Brother
3. Flyin’ High [[In The Friendly Sky)
4. Save The Children
5. God Is Love
6. Mercy Mercy Me [[The Ecology)
7. Right On
8. Wholy Holy
9. Inner City Blues [[Make Me Wanna Holler)
Set 2: Bonus Tracks
1. What’s Going On [[Mono Single Version)
2. God Is Love [[Single Version)
3. Mercy Mercy Me [[The Ecology) [[Mono Single Version)
4. Sad Tomorrows [[Mono Single Version)
5. Inner City Blues [[Make Me Wanna Holler) [[Mono Single Version)
6. Wholy Holy [[Mono Single Version)
7. What’s Going On [[mix 1/no horns or strings)
8. What’s Going On [[rhythm & strings mix)
9. What’s Going On [[Coffeehouse Mix by Russ Elevado)
10. What’s Going On [[duet with B.J. the Chicago Kid)
11. Symphony [[Demo Version)
12. I Love the Ground You Walk On [[instrumental)
What’s Going On: The Detroit Mix
1. What’s Going On
2. What’s Happening Brother
3. Flyin’ High [[In The Friendly Sky)
4. Save The Children
5. God Is Love
6. Mercy Mercy Me [[The Ecology)
7. Right On
8. Wholy Holy
9. Inner City Blues [[Make Me Wanna Holler)
Funky Nation: The Detroit Instrumentals
1. Checking Out [[Double Clutch)
2. Chained
3. Country Stud
4. Help the People
5. Running from Love [[Version 1)
6. Daybreak
7. Doing My Thing
8. “T” Stands For Time
9. Jesus Is Our Love Song
10. Funky Nation
11. Infinity
12. Mandota
13. Struttin’ the Blues
14. Running from Love [[Version 2 with Strings)

Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On' Gets 50th Anniversary Digital Reissue - Rolling Stone

Wow, 50 years already. I remember hearing What's Going On very early in 1971 and how surprised I was. It was completely different and unexpected. I love it to this day and the album. It had the best follow up singles with Mercy, Mercy Me and Inner City Blues. Also the single version of God Is Love is just fantastic! But 50 years? Jeepers...but dig that false outro on the mono single huh...

Here are the covers:
Attachment 18589Attachment 18590Attachment 18591

To be honest I am slightly disappointed with this release, I was hopeful that in the least they would include the quad mix released in Japan in the 70s...

Very hard to get a copy of that one!
Attachment 18592

The original release is such a classic, it almost seems sacrilegious to expand it into something with so many bells and whistles. Normally I love all of the extra frills, but in a case like this, I think staying true to MGs vision is the best way to celebrate this milestone anniversary.

I’m with Mary on this.

From a personal perspective, the Detroit Mix is interesting, and I listen to it sometimes so as to analyse stuff, but the original LA Mix is what I mainly listen to, and usually end-end-end. Even if I put on just one track, the next one segues in and I just let it run.

The rest of the tracks on the Deluxe Edition are all interesting, but I rarely go back to listen to any of them. TBH, most of this stuff was probably left in the can back in 1971 because punters like me were never likely to buy it even if it were released. Also, the Detroit Mix got left in the can because, creatively, it wasn’t the final vision.

That leaves the original album, which stands as well now as it did back then. It was a perfect final creative vision. It has a hugely wide appeal without blanding out, which is a rare achievement. The only big issue not covered is pandemics, which is no surprise given that it’s taken most of us by complete surprise apart from a few science fiction visionaries. The rest of the warnings still need to be heeded by many, many people.

YMMV.

Obviously there can never be enough releases of "What's Going On"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by marybrewster

The original release is such a classic, it almost seems sacrilegious to expand it into something with so many bells and whistles. Normally I love all of the extra frills, but in a case like this, I think staying true to MGs vision is the best way to celebrate this milestone anniversary.

---

"Just like music!"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mysterysinger

Obviously there can never be enough releases of "What's Going On"

---

Or covers. Check out Johnny Britt[[or is it Bristol).

and Richie Stephens https://soulfuldetroit.com/showthrea...ichie+stephens

Just seen Johnny Britt on YouTube - Live in Cincinatti.

https://theseconddisc.com/2021/01/23...h-anniversary/
includes spreadsheet!