CD: Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

Kemper_Boyd · Post by **Kemper_Boyd** » Thu Mar 10, 2005 11:06 pm 0

For similar reasons to russ's thread about Pet Sounds, a must
have album, even if you think 'I don't like soul' buy it. This is
some of the best music ever recorded. Songs that have meaning,
beautifully sung, and as cool a groove as you'll find.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00007FOMP/

Sickboy · Post by **Sickboy** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 9:03 am 0

Yep. An absolute masterpiece. One of the few albums with the unmistakable air of genius unleashed.

It's followed me around - I remember listening to my mum and dad's copy when I was a kid, having it on tape at college, vinyl at university and recently, the remastered CD version - and now, of course, all iPod-ified.

It's like being wrapped up in a big warm blanket - the voice, the hope, despair, yearning... And all that bittersweet hindsight for the wretched end he eventually came to.

Ely · Post by **Ely** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 10:09 am 0

Added to my list of things I need to get!

matt · Post by **matt** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 12:52 pm 0

It's a little too politicial for me. No doubting it's first rate though, just not my cuppa.

matt

biggestjim · Post by **biggestjim** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 2:18 pm 0

Masterrrrwork no less!

(sings) Brother, brother, brother...

If you're into this kind of music try out 'Innervisions' from Stevie Wonder as well, blew my mind.

GeeZa · Post by **GeeZa** » Fri Mar 11, 2005 4:08 pm 0

biggestjim wrote:Masterrrrwork no less!

(sings) Brother, brother, brother...

If you're into this kind of music try out 'Innervisions' from Stevie Wonder as well, blew my mind.

All that era Stevie Wonder is fabulous. Songs in the Key of Life, Talking Book, Music of my Mind, classic records. I have phases where I listen to these constantly. But back to topic, Marvin Gaye was a genius and this lp was about the pinnacle. Brilliant.

russ · Post by **russ** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 12:34 am 0

matt wrote:It's a little too politicial for me. No doubting it's first rate though, just not my cuppa.

matt

Strange. I don't really find it political at all. It's just a bloke, shaking his head, going "what's going on?". I suspect we've done that since the dawn of time.

And i think that's what this album so timeless, because the sentiment doesn't date.

I love the way the whole album just flows from one track into another.

Which also fucks up any modern method of playing it.

Usually a fiver in fopp this one.

Sickboy · Post by **Sickboy** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 8:44 am 0

russ wrote:
matt wrote:It's a little too politicial for me. No doubting it's first rate though, just not my cuppa.

matt
Strange. I don't really find it political at all. It's just a bloke, shaking his head, going "what's going on?". I suspect we've done that since the dawn of time.

And i think that's what this album so timeless, because the sentiment doesn't date.

Damn right. I'm a shameless pagan, but I can still see the heart-stopping beauty in the Jesus-y songs. And the politics is all part of the charm - gives it a bit of context. It isn't shouty or strident, there's a protest song feel. And man, that *voice*. This ain't Billy Bragg.

Still, it's no accident that the title doesn't have a question-mark.

biggestjim · Post by **biggestjim** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 9:53 am 0

matt wrote:It's a little too politicial for me. No doubting it's first rate though, just not my cuppa.

matt

Mmm, is it 'political' to sing: "War is not the answer..."?
I think that's a universal truth.
Maybe you meant sorta 'religious'?

Or does he sing literally about Vietnam, mentioning it?
I could have missed that, I'm not that good at following lyrics, see.
Btw, this is a question, I'm not trying to be pedantic or something.

matt · Post by **matt** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 1:07 pm 0

Sickboy wrote:This ain't Billy Bragg.

Hahaha!

matt

Samus · Post by **Samus** » Tue Mar 15, 2005 1:52 pm 0

True masterpiece.

"..who are they to judge us simply cos our hair is long.."

Ely · Post by **Ely** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 1:43 pm 0

Finally got my arse in gear and bought this. Will give it a listen on the way home and see how I go

ESY · Post by **ESY** » Wed Sep 07, 2005 4:36 am 0

GeeZa wrote:
biggestjim wrote:Masterrrrwork no less!

(sings) Brother, brother, brother...

If you're into this kind of music try out 'Innervisions' from Stevie Wonder as well, blew my mind.
All that era Stevie Wonder is fabulous. Songs in the Key of Life, Talking Book, Music of my Mind, classic records. I have phases where I listen to these constantly. But back to topic, Marvin Gaye was a genius and this lp was about the pinnacle. Brilliant.

Marvin, Stevie are Gods. Timeless stuff. Check out Shuggie Ottis too - not quite in the same league but deffinately approaching greatness as well.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 2:23 pm 0

ESY wrote:Marvin, Stevie are Gods. Timeless stuff. Check out Shuggie Ottis too - not quite in the same league but deffinately approaching greatness as well.

Wow. Just this week I picked up What's Going On, and Shuggie Otis: Inspiration Information on the advice of Neil Finn. He recommeded them, along with The Beatles: White Album... Neil Young: After the Gold Rush... Bob Marley: Exodus... Beck: Mutations... S.E. Rogie: Dead Men Don't Smoke Marijuana... Johnny Cash: American IV... Alan Lomax: Sounds of the South (boxset)... and David Bowie: Hunky Dory in a list of his ten favourite albums in an interview with Australian RollingStone magazine.

Here's what Finn said about Gaye and Otis:

Neil Finn wrote:Marvin Gaye: What's Going On

"You put this album on and it just takes you somewhere and gives you a sense of place and time. I discovered James Brown and Marvin Gaye via being drunk on the dancefloor. I'm not a great dancer, although my wife is. She should have married someone who can dance well, but I've always had an instrument in my hand. Even at teenage parties I was providing the soundtrack for other guys to pick up girls."

Shuggie Otis: Inspiration Information

"I discovered it five years ago. It's from the early-70s, around the same era Stevie Wonder started to make crazy self-produced records. There's a similarity, but I like Shuggie better. He just a talented, soulful guy and this is a classic record. He had one of the first drum machines and played most of the instruments himself. And it's got these warm, languid grooves, some stoned stuff, even experimental."

I think S.E. Rogie will be my next purchase...

Neil Finn wrote:Dead Men Don't Smoke Marijuana:

"He's an African guitarist and he did die and he was a prodigious smoker of marijuana. My good friend Tchad Blake produced it and sent it to me, and I grew to love it. I put it on at the beach and it lets the day drift into dreamy spaces. It accompanies a soft breeze and a warm ocean."

matt · Post by **matt** » Thu Sep 08, 2005 4:08 pm 0

I love Shuggie's "Strawberry Letter 23", made famous by The Brothers Johnson cover being featured in Jackie Brown.

matt