Really enjoyed how smooth this whole album sounds. The lyrics and delivery feel so powerful and soulful and feel like they just hover over the instrumental, it feels very relaxing. I can really see how this became a classic at the time considering what was going on in the world.
2x CD (deluxe edition)
What’s Going On
Album by Marvin Gaye
Released 20 May 1971
Tracklist
- CD 1: Original LP Release / Alternate Detroit Mix / The Foundation
- 1What’s Going On3:534.2 ★
- 2What’s Happening Brother2:434.2 ★
- 3Flyin’ High (in the Friendly Sky)3:494.2 ★
- 4Save the Children4:034.2 ★
- 5God Is Love1:414.2 ★
- 6Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)3:164.7 ★
- 7Right On7:324.2 ★
- 8Wholy Holy3:074.5 ★
- 9Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)5:384.4 ★
- 10What’s Going On (alternate Detroit mix)4:073.0 ★
- 11What’s Happening Brother (alternate Detroit mix)2:434.0 ★
- 12Flyin’ High (in the Friendly Sky) (alternate Detroit mix)3:484.0 ★
- 13Save the Children (alternate Detroit mix)4:015.0 ★
- 14God Is Love (alternate Detroit mix)1:463.0 ★
- 15Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (alternate Detroit mix)3:075.0 ★
- 16Right On (alternate Detroit mix)7:315.0 ★
- 17Wholy Holy (alternate Detroit mix)3:075.0 ★
- 18Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) (alternate Detroit mix)5:454.0 ★
- 19What’s Going On (Rhythm & Strings mix)3:504.0 ★
- CD 2: Live at the Kennedy Center / Original Single Versions / In the Meantime...
- 1Sixties Medley: That’s the Way Love Is / You / I Heard It Through the Grapevine / Little Darling (I Need You) / You’re All I Need to Get By / Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing / Your Precious Love / Pride and Joy / Stubborn Kind of Fellow (live)13:23
- 2Right On (live)7:33
- 3Wholy Holy (live)3:32
- 4Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) (live)9:05
- 5What’s Going On (live)5:42
- 6What’s Happening Brother (live)2:54
- 7Flyin’ High (in the Friendly Sky) (live)3:51
- 8Save the Children (live)4:22
- 9God Is Love (live)1:43
- 10Stage Dialogue (live)2:34
- 11Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) (reprise) (live)5:12
- 12What’s Going On (reprise) (live)4:07
- 13What’s Going On (original single version)3:56
- 14God Is Love (original single version)2:534.0 ★
- 15Sad Tomorrows (original single version)2:274.0 ★
- 16“Head Title” aka Distant Lover4:074.0 ★
More by Marvin Gaye
Popular lists
Release credits
- arranger [6, 9], conductor [1-9]
- instrument [1]
- mix [1-2, 2-4, 4-5, 5-6, 6-8, 8-9]
- background vocals [1]
- background vocals [1, 6], lead vocals [1, 6], mellotron [6], percussion [1], piano [1, 6], producer [1.1-9, 2.14-15], vocal [4]
- background vocals [1]
- mix [10-18]
- background vocals [6]
- instrument [1, 6]
- solo [6], tenor saxophone [6]
Issues
W
W12" Vinyl20 May 1971
W2x 12" Vinyl1971- W12" Vinyl1971
- W12" Vinyl (Quadraphonic)1975
W12" VinylApril 1984
W1986- W12" Vinyl1988
W1990
WCD (pink/blue CD)1993
WCD (black/gold CD)1993
W7 June 1994
WCD (club edition)1994- W7 April 1998
- W7 April 1998
W5 August 1998
W1998
WCD (made in Germany by PMDC)1998
WCD (UML)1998
WCD (made in Germany by Universal M&L)1999
W2x CD (deluxe edition)27 February 2001- W2x CD (deluxe edition)2002
W2002- W2002
W14 January 2003- W14 January 2003
WDigital Media2003
W12" Vinyl1 February 2008
WHybrid SACD (CD layer), Hybrid SACD (SACD layer, 2 channels)30 December 2008
W2x SHM-CD (deluxe edition)9 April 2009- W2x CD (deluxe edition)25 October 2010
W12" Vinyl, 2x CD (40th anniversary deluxe edition)17 May 2011- W12" Vinyl, 2x CD (40th anniversary edition)27 June 2011
- W2011
W2011
WDigital Media12 May 2012
W25 February 2013
WSHM-CD (mini‐LP)25 September 2013
WBlu-ray4 October 2013
WDigital Media (192kHz / 24bit)22 February 2014
W12" Vinyl26 May 2016
WHQCD (2018 MQA x UHQCD)20 June 2018
W2x 12" Vinyl11 January 2019
WDigital Media13 November 2020
WDigital Media (Apple Digital Master)13 November 2020
WDigital Media (deluxe edition 50th anniversary)22 January 2021
WDigital Media22 January 2021
W2x 12" Vinyl1 April 2022- W12" Vinyl24 January 2025