What's Going On (Gatefold LP)

Format: LP  Label: Tamla  Year: 2016  Media Condition: New  Sleeve/Cover Condition: New  A1 What's Going On  A2 What's Happening Brother  A3 Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky)  A4 Save The Children  A5 God Is Love  A6 Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)  B1 Right On  B2 Wholy Holy  B3 Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)  Originally released in 1971. PERSONNEL: Alto Saxophone – Angelo Carlisi  Backing Vocals – Elgie Stover, Lem Barney, Mel Farr, Bobby Rodgers, The Andantes  Baritone Saxophone – Tate Houston  Bass – Bob Babbit, James Jamerson  Bass – Max Janowsky  Bongos – Earl DeRouen, Eddie Brown  Celesta – Johnny Griffith  Cello – Edward Korkigian, Italo Babini, Thaddeus Markiewicz  Congas – Earl DeRouen, Eddie Brown  Drums – Chet Forest  Flute – Dayna Hartwick, William Perich  Guitar – Joe Messina, Robert White  Harp – Carole Crosby  Percussion – Jack Ashford  Piano – Marvin Gaye  Producer – Marvin Gaye  Soloist, Alto Saxophone – Eli Fountain  Soloist, Tenor Saxophone – William "Wild Bill" Moore  Soprano Saxophone – Larry Nozero  Tambourine – Jack Ashford  Tenor Saxophone – George Benson  Trombone – Carl Raetz  Trumpet – John Trudell, Maurice Davis  Vibraphone [Vibes] – Jack Brokensha  Viola – David Ireland, Edouard Kesner, Meyer Shapiro, Nathan Gordon  Violin – Alvin Score, Beatriz Budinszky, Felix Resnick, Gordon Staples, James  Waring, Lillian Downs, Richard Margitza, Virginia Halfmann, Zinovi Bistritzky  "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. These feelings had been bubbling up between 1967 and 1970, during which he felt increasingly caged by Motown's behind-the-times hit machine and restrained from expressing himself seriously through his music.  Finally, late in 1970, Gaye decided to record a song that the Four Tops' Obie Benson had brought him, 'What's Going On.' When Berry Gordy decided not to issue the single, deeming it uncommercial, Gaye refused to record any more material until he relented. Confirmed by its tremendous commercial success in January 1971, he recorded the rest of the album over ten days in March, and Motown released it in late May.    Besides cementing Marvin Gaye as one of the most important artists in pop music, What's Going On was far and away the best full-length to issue from the singles-dominated Motown factory, and arguably the best soul album of all time." --John Bush, AllMusic