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.
12" Vinyl, 2x CD (40th anniversary deluxe edition)
What’s Going On
Album by Marvin Gaye
Released 20 May 1971
Tracklist
- CD 1: original album remastered + bonus tracks
- 1What’s Going On3:524.2 ★
- 2What’s Happening Brother2:43
- 3Flyin’ High (In the Friendly Sky)3:494.2 ★
- 4Save the Children4:02
- 5God Is Love1:41
- 6Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)3:164.7 ★
- 7Right On7:31
- 8Wholy Holy3:074.5 ★
- 9Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)5:31
- 10What’s Going On (Unreleased original single mix)3:48
- 11Head Title a.k.a. Distant Lover (demo version – original Master)4:48
- 12Symphony (demo version)2:52
- 13I Love the Ground You Walk On (instrumental)2:29
- 14What’s Going On (mono single version)3:57
- 15God Is Love (single version)2:514.0 ★
- 16Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (mono single version)2:32
- 17Sad Tomorrows (mono single version)2:25
- 18Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) (mono single version)2:59
- 19Wholy Holy (mono single version)3:08
- CD 2: The Detroit Instrumental Sessions and More
- 1Checking Out (Double Clutch)4:54
- 2Chained2:56
- 3Country Stud1:57
- 4Help the People2:18
- 5Running From Love (version 1)3:09
- 6Daybreak2:05
- 7Doing My Thing2:06
- 8“T” Stands for Time2:41
- 9Jesus Is Our Love Song3:08
- 10Funky Nation3:03
- 11Infinity2:40
- 12Mandota3:24
- 13Struttin’ the Blues3:49
- 14Running From Love (version 2 with Strings)5:07
- 15I’m Going Home (Move)4:40
- 16You’re the Man (Parts 1 and 2 – original mono single version)5:47
- 17You’re the Man (alternate version 1)7:23
- 18You’re the Man (alternate version 2)4:40
- 12" Vinyl 3: What’s Going On: The Original “Detroit Mix”
- 1What’s Going On
- 2What’s Happening Brother4.2 ★
- 3Flyin’ High (in the Friendly Sky)4.2 ★
- 4Save the Children
- 5God Is Love
- 6Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)4.7 ★
- 7Right On
- 8Wholy Holy
- 9Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
More by Marvin Gaye
Popular lists
Release credits
- arranger [1.6, 3.6], conductor [3.2-3, 3.6, 1.1, 1.3, 1.6, 1.8]
- instrument [1]
- spoken vocals [11]
- mix [3.2, 3.2-3, 3.6, 1.1, 1.3, 1.6, 1.8]
- background vocals [1]
- background vocals [3.6, 1.1, 1.6, 1.11], lead vocals [3.6, 1.1, 1.6, 1.11], mellotron [3.6, 1.6], percussion [1], piano [3.6, 1.1, 1.6], producer [1.1, 1.3, 1.6, 1.8, 1.15, 3.2-3, 3.6], spoken vocals [11]
- background vocals [1]
- background vocals [1.6, 3.6]
- instrument [1.1, 1.6, 3.6]
- solo [3.6, 1.6], tenor saxophone [1.6, 3.6]
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