Special Edition soul sound (What's Going On - Marvin Gaye)

Member Name: Sparkyspark

Product:	What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
Date:	18/04/01 (103 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Extra Mixes, definitive album

Disadvantages: none

What's Going On has been re-released in a special edition package. The original album was a seminal effort; groundbreaking for Marvin's production, the socio-political message and for the unquestionable beauty of the songs.

In 1971,What's Going On was a complete departure from the free soul machine of the sixties. Mowtown were dubious about releasing the album, thinking it too risky for their profitable pop label.

However it would set the tone for soul and funk through the seventies, echoing the feeling that things should and would change. The album would directly influence great artists such as Curtis Mayfield and Stevie Wonder, with it's dreamy use of layered percussion and subtle strings that push the rythms along with feeling as Marvins voice swirls around the melody.

The original album here has been digitally remastered and we are provided with the original detroit mix of the album which has subtle differences in the mix. However the real gem in the package is on disk two with a previously unreleased live recording from 1972.

Here we have Marvin trying to do an experimental live show, which begins with a fantastic melody of his sixties hits such as "I heard it through the grapevine" then into the tracks from the album. The highlight here is "Inner City Blues(make me wanna holler)" into "What's Going On?". This is repeated for the encore while Marvin chats to the crowd who scream and cheer with each change in the music. The great thing about the live recording is that you get to be part of a time and moment that was important in music and society, you can almost imagine you are there, the emotion is very evident in the crowd and the musicians.

The remastered What's Going On? double cd is not to be missed, whether you are a fan or a new recruit the importance of this recording is obvious. Sit back, relax, and nod your head softly as Marvin tell's it like it is.

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