[REMOVE ADS]




Results 1 to 14 of 14
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    10,003
    Rep Power
    298

    Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" still relevant and revealing, 50 years on

    Great lengthy article on the 50th anniversary of the recording of "What's Going On". Had no idea they recorded the instrumental in June, the vocals in July and the DSO in September!

    https://www.freep.com/in-depth/enter...ts/5397442002/

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    3,931
    Rep Power
    418
    Great look back on Marvin Gaye's classic What's Going On. Thanks for sharing Midnightman.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    10,003
    Rep Power
    298
    Quote Originally Posted by Motown Eddie View Post
    Great look back on Marvin Gaye's classic What's Going On. Thanks for sharing Midnightman.
    No prob.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Posts
    952
    Rep Power
    93
    When was it not relevant?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Posts
    288
    Rep Power
    114
    Great article

    Thanks for posting!

    So much of success is timing/luck/whims of the public

    If Berry didn’t block What’s Going On for so long and it was released as soon as it was finished would it have been just as successful?

    Maybe yes, maybe no

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    10,003
    Rep Power
    298
    Quote Originally Posted by Optimal Saint View Post
    Great article

    Thanks for posting!

    So much of success is timing/luck/whims of the public

    If Berry didn’t block What’s Going On for so long and it was released as soon as it was finished would it have been just as successful?

    Maybe yes, maybe no
    That's a great question!!!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    3,931
    Rep Power
    418
    Quote Originally Posted by Optimal Saint View Post
    Great article

    Thanks for posting!

    So much of success is timing/luck/whims of the public

    If Berry didn’t block What’s Going On for so long and it was released as soon as it was finished would it have been just as successful?

    Maybe yes, maybe no
    I'm going to say NO. I don't think that year long wait for the single "What's Going On" to come out made any difference to it's success. After all we're still talking about the song [[and the album) nearly 50 years after it first came out [[and as it's been said repeatedly, the issues raised by WGO are still relevant today).

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    3,931
    Rep Power
    418
    Quote Originally Posted by Optimal Saint View Post
    Great article

    Thanks for posting!

    So much of success is timing/luck/whims of the public

    If Berry didn’t block What’s Going On for so long and it was released as soon as it was finished would it have been just as successful?

    Maybe yes, maybe no
    One more thing: "What's Going On" wasn't held back that long. Marvin first entered the studio to record the song in June 1970 and completed it in September 1970. The song finally came out in January 1971 so it was only held back for a few months. Message songs in Soul Music were still very much in vogue at the time so "WGO" came out just in time to become a major hit [[and an All-Time Classic).

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Posts
    10,473
    Rep Power
    311
    The same can be said of two temps classics -ball of confusion..power!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    10,003
    Rep Power
    298
    Quote Originally Posted by Motown Eddie View Post
    I'm going to say NO. I don't think that year long wait for the single "What's Going On" to come out made any difference to it's success. After all we're still talking about the song [[and the album) nearly 50 years after it first came out [[and as it's been said repeatedly, the issues raised by WGO are still relevant today).
    It wasn't even that long. That was part of the Motown myth lol

    As it stated in that article [[which I need to bookmark), Marvin and his instrumentalists recorded the instrumental on June 10, Marvin recorded his lead and background vocals the following month, August, I believe, was when he recorded the background vocals and the party chatter, September, he and Dave Van DePitte added in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

    Marvin presented the song to Berry in October 1970 and he initially had a lot of issues with it [[besides Marvin's image as R&B's leading Lothario, he felt it was too sophisticated for a release and its subject matter was too controversial even compared War and Ball of Confusion - and I agree BOC is just as relevant today!).

    Marvin actually kept on recording during the time he went on a release hiatus. I think the truth was, Marvin refused to RELEASE anything unless WGO came out. Plus when Quality Control heard it, they didn't know how to react cause it was different from all the songs they were recording then. Think he recorded Come Get to This, Distant Lover and Just to Keep You Satisfied around this time [[September, October, November, December 1970).

    We know he recorded the original version of God is Love and Sad Tomorrows [[later Flyin' High in the Friendly Sky) around this period as well.

    The song was sent to radio stations on January 17, 1971, with a full release three days later on January 20.

    So that was, what, five months? Not exactly a full year. Marvin also managed to finish the entire WGO album in its original concept album format in just ten days and then remixed the album's contents in Hollywood after Berry asked him "where's the next hit?" And that mix paved the way for "Mercy Mercy Me" and "Inner City Blues" to be released.
    Last edited by midnightman; 07-17-2020 at 11:12 PM.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    10,003
    Rep Power
    298
    Quote Originally Posted by arr&bee View Post
    The same can be said of two temps classics -ball of confusion..power!
    Heh, I forgot about Power. Too bad it wasn't a bigger hit... Reagan wasn't even elected yet smh they could've gave it a chance!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Posts
    755
    Rep Power
    239
    Quote Originally Posted by midnightman View Post
    It wasn't even that long. That was part of the Motown myth lol

    As it stated in that article [[which I need to bookmark), Marvin and his instrumentalists recorded the instrumental on June 10, Marvin recorded his lead and background vocals the following month, August, I believe, was when he recorded the background vocals and the party chatter, September, he and Dave Van DePitte added in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

    Marvin presented the song to Berry in October 1970 and he initially had a lot of issues with it [[besides Marvin's image as R&B's leading Lothario, he felt it was too sophisticated for a release and its subject matter was too controversial even compared War and Ball of Confusion - and I agree BOC is just as relevant today!).

    Marvin actually kept on recording during the time he went on a release hiatus. I think the truth was, Marvin refused to RELEASE anything unless WGO came out. Plus when Quality Control heard it, they didn't know how to react cause it was different from all the songs they were recording then. Think he recorded Come Get to This, Distant Lover and Just to Keep You Satisfied around this time [[September, October, November, December 1970).

    We know he recorded the original version of God is Love and Sad Tomorrows [[later Flyin' High in the Friendly Sky) around this period as well.

    The song was sent to radio stations on January 17, 1971, with a full release three days later on January 20.

    So that was, what, five months? Not exactly a full year. Marvin also managed to finish the entire WGO album in its original concept album format in just ten days and then remixed the album's contents in Hollywood after Berry asked him "where's the next hit?" And that mix paved the way for "Mercy Mercy Me" and "Inner City Blues" to be released.
    I’m pressing my imaginary “Like” button.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Posts
    1,475
    Rep Power
    120
    Just heard an instrumental cover of Marvin's, "Inner City Blues " on a Lincoln SUV commercial. Smooth, man! But is it just me or don't you hate it when you hear a fave song [[or cover) and that tell you who it is? Ellen used to do it. Remember her show used to open with song? And then she'd dance from somewhere off-stage. Down the aisle and leap over her foot stool into her seat? Meanwhile, the song and artist was show at the corner of the screen? Guess she got into trouble with legal clearance and such. The tv commercials used to that too. Probably got into the same legal obstacle; cease & desist, etc.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2017
    Posts
    1,475
    Rep Power
    120
    Johnny Britt did a tasty rendition, which lead into a pleasing vocal note-for-note cover. Was recorded a few years ago.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

[REMOVE ADS]

Ralph Terrana
MODERATOR

Welcome to Soulful Detroit! Kindly Consider Turning Off Your Ad BlockingX
Soulful Detroit is a free service that relies on revenue from ad display [regrettably] and donations. We notice that you are using an ad-blocking program that prevents us from earning revenue during your visit.
Ads are REMOVED for Members who donate to Soulful Detroit. [You must be logged in for ads to disappear]
DONATE HERE »
And have Ads removed.