What’s Going On (40th anniversary deluxe edition)

~ Release by Marvin Gaye (see all versions of this release, 49 available)

Annotation

List of subparts
CD1 tracks 1 to 9: What's Going On: Original Album Remastered
CD1 tracks 10 to 19: Bonus Tracks

This "40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition" contains 2 CDs + Vinyl LP + Gatefold Booklet with Rare Photos, Lyrics and New Essays.
Highlights include:
* A remastered version of the album plus 28 bonus tracks - 16 unreleased.
* Original mono versions of the LP's hit singles.
* A previously unreleased original `Quality Control test mix' of "What's Going On," mixed before Marvin had added strings, horns and additional vocals.
* Several pre-album outtakes, recorded while Marvin was "on strike," waiting for his single to be released, including "Head Title," now in unedited form for the first time.
* Several post-album instrumental jams with local musicians who included Ray Parker Jr. - a series of recordings made in Detroit before Marvin followed Motown to Los Angeles.
* The original single version of a sequel to the album, "You're The Man," as well as two alternate versions.
* The album's rare, original "Detroit Mix," previously issued on CD for the 30th anniversary, now on vinyl for the first time.

Annotation last modified on 2024-07-25 17:40 UTC.

Tracklist

1▶CD: original album remastered + bonus tracks
2▶CD: The Detroit Instrumental Sessions and More
3▼12" Vinyl: What’s Going On: The Original “Detroit Mix”
#TitleRatingLength
A1What’s Going On
recorded at:
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., United States (on 1972-05-01)
live recording of:
What’s Going On (on 1972-05-01)
lyricist and composer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
publisher:
EMI Songs Australia, FCG Music, Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd. and Stone Agate Music Corp.
sub-publisher:
イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
?:??
A2What’s Happening Brother
producer:
Marvin Gaye
mixer:
Lawrence Miles (, on 1971-05-06)
conductor:
David Van dePitte
recording of:
What’s Happening Brother
composer:
Marvin Gaye and James Nyx (R&B songwriter)
4.2?:??
A3Flyin’ High (in the Friendly Sky)
producer:
Marvin Gaye
mixer:
Lawrence Miles (on 1971-05-06)
conductor:
David Van dePitte
recording of:
Flyin’ High (in the Friendly Sky)
composer:
Anna Gordy Gaye, Marvin Gaye and Elgie Stover
4.25?:??
A4Save the Children
recording of:
Save the Children
writer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing France, FCG Music, Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Stone Agate Music Corp., イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
?:??
A5God Is Love
recording of:
God Is Love (sometimes also titled “God Is My Friend”)
writer:
Anna Gordy Gaye, Marvin Gaye, James Nyx (R&B songwriter) and Elgie Stover
2?:??
A6Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
producer:
Marvin Gaye
mixer:
Lawrence Miles (, on 1971-05-06)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (in 1971-03)
mellotron, piano and lead vocals:
Marvin Gaye (in 1971-03)
solo tenor saxophone:
Wild Bill Moore (jazz and R&B saxophonist) (in 1971-03)
background vocals:
The Andantes (in 1971-03) and Marvin Gaye (in 1971-03)
conductor:
David Van dePitte (in 1971-03)
arranger:
David Van dePitte
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1971)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown recording and mastering studios in Detroit, Michigan) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (in 1971-03)
recording of:
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (in 1971-03)
lyricist and composer:
Marvin Gaye
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
sub-publisher:
香港商百代音樂股份有限公司台灣分公司 (EMI Music Publishing (S.E.Asia) Ltd., Taiwan Branch)
4.25?:??
B1Right On
recorded at:
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., United States (on 1972-05-01)
live recording of:
Right On (on 1972-05-01)
composer:
Earl DeRouen (percussionist, composer) and Marvin Gaye
?:??
B2Wholy Holy
recording of:
Wholy Holy
composer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
?:??
B3Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
recording of:
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
writer:
Marvin Gaye and James Nyx (R&B songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd. and Jobete Music Co., Inc.
sub-publisher:
EMI Music Publishing France and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division)
4?:??

Credits

Release group

covers:What’s Going On by The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
What’s Going On by Devon Gilfillian (Singer songwriter)
included in:Volume Three: 1971–1981
part of:Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2020 edition (number: 1) (order: 1)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2023 edition (number: 1) (order: 1)
The Guardian 100 Best Albums Ever (number: 1) (order: 1)
15 Most Influential Albums… (… Not Recorded by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Elvis or the Rolling Stones) (SPIN magazine, 2003‐04) (number: 4) (order: 4)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2003 edition (number: 6) (order: 6)
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: 2012 edition (number: 6) (order: 6)
Prix Soul de l’Académie du Jazz (number: 1972) (order: 8)
Absolute Radio’s The 100 Collection (number: 11) (order: 11)
Apple Music: 100 Best Albums (number: 17) (order: 17)
Rolling Stone: The 50 Greatest Concept Albums of All Time (2022-10-12) (number: 19) (order: 19)
Pitchfork: The 100 Best Albums of the 1970s (number: 49) (order: 49)
Discothèque Idéale Qobuz / Qobuz Ideal Discography (order: 72)
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (2005 edition) (number: 207) (order: 207)
Discogs:https://www.discogs.com/master/66631 [info]
reviews:https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/n825 [info]
https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/pq9p [info]
other databases:https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/marvin_gaye/whats_going_on/ [info]
https://www.musik-sammler.de/album/64924/ [info]
Allmusic:https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000651085 [info]
Wikidata:Q901648 [info]