Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

Today Marks The 53rd Anniversary of Marvin Gaye’s 11th Studio Album “What's Going On” Originally Released on May 21, 1971.

“What's Going On” is the eleventh studio album by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. It was released on May 21, 1971, by Tamla Records.

The album peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and at #6 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Albums chart.

The album stayed on the Billboard Top LPs for over a year and became Gaye's second number-one album on Billboard's Soul LPs chart, where it stayed for nine weeks.

Three singles were released from the album "What's Going On", "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" and “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)”.

"What's Going On" peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B/Soul Singles chart, #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the U.S.Cash Box Top 100 charts.

"Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" was the The follow-up single it peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

“Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)” peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart and at #9 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

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

In 1985, writers on British music weekly the NME voted it the best album of all time.

“What’s Going On” was ranked number one on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time".

Track-listing

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 (The Ecology)

7. Right On

8. Wholy Holy

9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

By Romie Rome for Musique Funkology.