Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On was released as the first album that has been self-produced by the Motown records singer. Though the album is referred to by many as the generation of classic 70s soul back in its heyday, in its heyday the records were celebrated pop and R&B songs. This releasing of the album in early 70s is very pertinent to how the album came to define the decade and soul music. The album’s premise was one that worried producers, for it was a concept album, an album of message songs when dance and love songs had prevailed in the pop/R&B genre. The content included commentary about the state of the country which "What’s Going on" made a statement about. The music on this album voiced the confusion, tension, vulnerability and suffering of people in American society at the time. The production of this album completely reinvented soul music and R&B and contributed greatly to the culture in America that was centered about finding meaning in life. Marvin Gaye created a prototype for future soul artists to follow.
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The album was released on Motown’s Tamla imprint in May 1971. On the album cover features a headshot of Marvin Gaye just looking out. It is a very introspective shot, and I think first, second, or third glance, you don’t really know what to think. Gaye’s position as well as the neck collar of his raincoat seem to be facing out. The significance of this could be to focus on his head which represents his thought and his perspective and then position of his head tilted just a little up demonstrates how he is looking up and outward. To look further, the position of the head a little up could hint at some spiritual reflection in the album, while the facing out expands what he is seeing to the world. His visage is also very ponderous, it seems partially familiar to what he is looking at, and partially confused. If what he is looking out at is supposed to represent the world, than his visage is appropriate for a man who has tackled a number of social issues. The more that I look at the cover, the more his expression seems melancholy and emotional. It almost looks like he is near tears. Interestingly enough, he was actually moved to tears after hearing war stories from his brother, Frankie, who returned for Vietnam War. Frankie was a huge inspiration for the compilation and feel of the album, which was modeled from the perspective of Frankie.
Gaye’s hair looks wet, and it appears to have been raining. Since he is wearing a rain coat, the coat does not appear to be wet. Only the hair on his head and on his mousteache appear to be wet. Rain and storm symbolize drama and sadness, but after the storm is calm, and signs of new life. Ultimately there is peace. Symbolically this bout of rain that obviously took place could parallel Marvin Gaye’s recent depression after his Motown duet partner and dear friend Tammi Terrell’s death in 1970. The show of wetness mostly on his head and hair could signify the effects of her loss on him is not that visible anymore but is still with him in his thoughts. Also it could signify signs of new life and change, which counteracts Gaye’s expression of melancholy. Perhaps the following album is like the contrast between this possibility of change and the disbelief and skepticism held sometimes by Gaye and sometimes by others that it can change. I don’t think people mean to be skeptics, but the world of 1970 and of today has a way of sobering and maturing our perspective and our dreams. I’m sure this is something that Gaye’s battled with. Some of his words about “What’s Going On” personally show that our fantasies and dreams shoudln't be laid by the wasteside. "In 1969 or 1970, I began to re-evaluate my whole concept of what I wanted my music to say," Gaye once said about the creation of What's Going On. "I was very much affected by letters my brother was sending me from Vietnam, as well as the social situation here at home. I realized that I had to put my own fantasies behind me if I wanted to write songs that would reach the souls of people. I wanted them to take a look at what was happening in the world." There Gaye explains why he created What’s Going On.
