Bigga said:malkie said:Originally released in 1971, WHAT'S GOING ON remains a landmark album, one that redefined music with powerful, anthemicsongs that remain pertinent to this day. Before WHAT'S GOING ON, R&B albums were collections of singles, with secondary"filler" material rounding out the LPs. Marvin Gaye changedall this by releasing a concept album that went beyond the usual boy-meets-girl scenario, weaving together an aural collage of societal ills. "Crime is increasing/Trigger-happy policing", from "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)", is as potent a line today as it was over 20 years ago, and withthe country still divided over the Vietnam War, the title track became a rallying cry for peace.
Dark, mercurial, and jazzy, WHAT'S GOING ON was as radical musically as it was conceptually. Layered with lush orchestrations, heavenly background vocals, and loose, fiercely grooving arrangements, WHAT'S GOING ON so surpassed anything previously known as soul music that it virtually reinvented the genre. The criticaland commercial success of Gaye's opus also enabled other artists to break free from the creative shackles imposed by Motown and other companies, and to experience more autonomy inmusical and thematic expression, thereby changing the industry. In short, the musical and historical significance of WHAT'S GOING ON cannot be overestimated; it was Gaye's masterpiece, and still stands as one of the greatest soul albums of all time.
Nay, nay and THRICE nay, Malkie!!!
Nooo...
It's 'overrated' and 'dated', don't ye knoo...
Oh I'm a numpty now because I don't agree? Fair enough, I could not give a shit.malkie said:Bigga said:malkie said:Originally released in 1971, WHAT'S GOING ON remains a landmark album, one that redefined music with powerful, anthemicsongs that remain pertinent to this day. Before WHAT'S GOING ON, R&B albums were collections of singles, with secondary"filler" material rounding out the LPs. Marvin Gaye changedall this by releasing a concept album that went beyond the usual boy-meets-girl scenario, weaving together an aural collage of societal ills. "Crime is increasing/Trigger-happy policing", from "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)", is as potent a line today as it was over 20 years ago, and withthe country still divided over the Vietnam War, the title track became a rallying cry for peace.
Dark, mercurial, and jazzy, WHAT'S GOING ON was as radical musically as it was conceptually. Layered with lush orchestrations, heavenly background vocals, and loose, fiercely grooving arrangements, WHAT'S GOING ON so surpassed anything previously known as soul music that it virtually reinvented the genre. The criticaland commercial success of Gaye's opus also enabled other artists to break free from the creative shackles imposed by Motown and other companies, and to experience more autonomy inmusical and thematic expression, thereby changing the industry. In short, the musical and historical significance of WHAT'S GOING ON cannot be overestimated; it was Gaye's masterpiece, and still stands as one of the greatest soul albums of all time.
Nay, nay and THRICE nay, Malkie!!!
Nooo...
It's 'overrated' and 'dated', don't ye knoo...
The extract I have cut and pasted is from a professional music critic
who's opinion I value greatly and take notice of, not that of a numpty who knows absolutely nothing about music.
One cd, you've only got one cd.
Sssshh Bigga will have you for that!Knight1979 said:I would make the argument that Curtis Mayfield was the one who opened the door for social commentary in soul music. "What's Going On" perfected the type of social conscious soul music Curtis started.
Agreed and it all gets blamed on BT.Dave H said:Lol, i've never known a forum with so much anger.
Most topics just seem to slide into slagging matches.
Knight1979 said:I would make the argument that Curtis Mayfield was the one who opened the door for social commentary in soul music. "What's Going On" perfected the type of social conscious soul music Curtis started.
I'm pretty sure my record collection has more variety and beauty than yours little fella.Bigga said:Knight1979 said:I would make the argument that Curtis Mayfield was the one who opened the door for social commentary in soul music. "What's Going On" perfected the type of social conscious soul music Curtis started.
I'm not in disagreement, Knight. Mayfield may have "opened the door for social commentary in soul music", but to my knowledge, I don't think he produced a full album of such, before the time M. Gaye did. I'm happy to be proved wrong, mind!
Songs of hardship have been around for centuries, 'chaingang' and gospel are full of it. However, the point is actually having the daring to release material that didn't have an obvious commercial saving grace to it.
And "What's Going On?" was just that. BT doesn't ever know what he's talking about with music, so I'm very happy to ignore him, from now on, where this thread is concerned.
Knight1979 said:I think his self titled debut "Curtis" might have been before "What's going on". Not nearly as focused as "What's going on" but pretty much every tune on that album some how made mention of racial tension or social inequity. "Miss black America" might be the only exception. The lush production on "Curtis" I think also opened new avenues as to how rich soul albums could sound.
stonerblue said:BTâ„¢ said:A lot of people feel the same. You're permanently stoned so I forgive you Whitey.stonerblue said:BTâ„¢ said:Thanks for the insult again.Bigga said:Ok, Darren. To your (obviously limited) knowledge, what exactly has 'aged' on that Marvin Gaye album?
And please don't mention the use of flute or bongos...!
Also it was YOU that mention soul albums and 'love' in the same context, when no one else did. Since when did Luther ever do a social commentary album?!! The very notion is ridiculous!
The question was asked in the first post Best soul album ever??. I decided to add that I didn't think it was the best soul album ever and said what I thought was.
You have commented on here before that if a poster has a view then no one should attack them for it so I suggest you listen to your own advice and chill out.
Oh and for the record, Paul Young's cover of Wherever I Lay My Hat shits all over Gaye's version. De Niro will back me up on that as he knows his soul music.
hahahahaha. you crack me up.
what's this 'Whitey' shit ??
Knight1979 said:Just listened to the record straight through....almost brings me to tears each time.
Best soul album ever??
Bigga said:You touch on some relevant points, 1894. Songwriters/ singers of that time WERE looking to change approach and as many were beginning to realise how influencial they were, they'd put that to use with the social commentary of the time.
From my personal point of view, there's been no other era where writers, speaking with freedom, have produced a wealth of musical gold. In saying that and attributing things back to soul music, where Marvin Gaye differed, from the rest of his compatriots, was the musical direction taken.
Where every talented artist, it seemed, of the time went right and explored the realms of funk, Marvin went left and immersed himself in the tones of jazz, the result of which can broadly heard on "What's Going On?". The magnus opus seminal album that stands out from the rest.
For his forray into soundtrack, Marvin went on to fuse the two sounds of Jazz and funk for the "Trouble Man" album. That particular album title piece, for the film "Trouble Man" was listed as one of Marvin's prides and joys in his musical career.
It's also one of my personal favourites, also.
stonerblue said:stonerblue said:BTâ„¢ said:A lot of people feel the same. You're permanently stoned so I forgive you Whitey.stonerblue said:BTâ„¢ said:Thanks for the insult again.Bigga said:Ok, Darren. To your (obviously limited) knowledge, what exactly has 'aged' on that Marvin Gaye album?
And please don't mention the use of flute or bongos...!
Also it was YOU that mention soul albums and 'love' in the same context, when no one else did. Since when did Luther ever do a social commentary album?!! The very notion is ridiculous!
The question was asked in the first post Best soul album ever??. I decided to add that I didn't think it was the best soul album ever and said what I thought was.
You have commented on here before that if a poster has a view then no one should attack them for it so I suggest you listen to your own advice and chill out.
Oh and for the record, Paul Young's cover of Wherever I Lay My Hat shits all over Gaye's version. De Niro will back me up on that as he knows his soul music.
hahahahaha. you crack me up.
what's this 'Whitey' shit ??
are you gonna answer my question or ignore it ..
Helmet Cole said:I love this album, and as a mediocre bassist am in awe of James Jamerson's playing as ever, but it is not the best soul album by a long way...