What’s Going On (deluxe edition)

~ Release by Marvin Gaye (see all versions of this release, 46 available)

Annotation

tracksets (MBS-6680)

  • 1.1〜1.9: ORIGINAL LP RELEASE (MAY 21 1971)
  • 1.10〜1.18: ORIGINAL DETROIT MIX (APRIL 5 1971)
  • 1.19: THE FOUNDATION
  • 2.1〜2.12: LIVE AT THE KENNEDY CENTER (MAY 1 1972)
  • 2.13〜2.15: ORIGINAL SINGLE VERSIONS
  • 2.16: IN THE MEANTIME…
Annotation last modified on 2016-12-29 17:30 UTC.

Tracklist

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1CD: original LP release (May 21 1971) / original Detroit mix (April 5 1971) / The Foundation
#TitleRatingLength
1What’s Going On
producer:
Marvin Gaye
mixer:
Lawrence Miles (on 1971-05-06)
instruments:
Detroit Symphony Orchestra (on 1971-05-06) and The Funk Brothers (on 1971-05-06)
percussion [box drum], piano and lead vocals:
Marvin Gaye (on 1971-05-06)
background vocals:
Lem Barney (on 1971-05-06), Mel Farr (on 1971-05-06) and Marvin Gaye (on 1971-05-06)
conductor:
David Van dePitte (on 1971-05-06)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Motown Records (not for label use; use “Motown” instead) (in 1971)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (on 1971-05-06)
part of:
Helsingin Sanomat: 100 maailman parasta laulua (2022-1-15) (number: 4), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 4), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 6), Billboard: The 500 Best Pop Songs (as of October 2023) (number: 102) and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – 500 Songs That Shaped Rock
recording of:
What’s Going On (on 1971-05-06)
lyricist and composer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
publisher:
EMI Songs Australia, FCG Music, Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd. and Stone Agate Music Corp.
sub-publisher:
イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
recording of:
What’s Going On (Japanese version)
writer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
translator:
杉山清貴 (Kiyotaka Sugiyama)
translated version of:
What’s Going On
4.253:53
2What’s Happening Brother
producer:
Marvin Gaye
mixer:
Lawrence Miles (, on 1971-05-06)
conductor:
David Van dePitte
recording of:
What’s Happening Brother
composer:
Marvin Gaye and James Nyx (R&B songwriter)
4.252:44
3Flyin’ High (in the Friendly Sky)4.253:50
4Save the Children
producer:
Marvin Gaye
mixer:
Lawrence Miles (, on 1971-05-06)
vocals:
Marvin Gaye
conductor:
David Van dePitte
recording of:
Save the Children
writer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing France, FCG Music, Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Stone Agate Music Corp., イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
4.24:03
5God Is Love
producer:
Marvin Gaye
mixer:
Lawrence Miles (, on 1971-05-06)
conductor:
David Van dePitte
recording of:
God Is Love (sometimes also titled “God Is My Friend”)
writer:
Anna Gordy Gaye, Marvin Gaye, James Nyx (R&B songwriter) and Elgie Stover
4.251:42
6Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
producer:
Marvin Gaye
mixer:
Lawrence Miles (, on 1971-05-06)
instruments:
The Funk Brothers (in 1971-03)
mellotron, piano and lead vocals:
Marvin Gaye (in 1971-03)
solo tenor saxophone:
Wild Bill Moore (jazz and R&B saxophonist) (in 1971-03)
background vocals:
The Andantes (in 1971-03) and Marvin Gaye (in 1971-03)
conductor:
David Van dePitte (in 1971-03)
arranger:
David Van dePitte
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
UMG Recordings, Inc. (operational headquarters of Universal Music Group, based in Santa Monica, USA; read annotations) (in 1971)
recorded at:
Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, Michigan, United States (in 1971-03)
recording of:
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (in 1971-03)
lyricist and composer:
Marvin Gaye
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
sub-publisher:
香港商百代音樂股份有限公司台灣分公司 (EMI Music Publishing (S E Asia) Ltd., Taiwan Branch)
4.73:16
7Right On
producer:
Marvin Gaye
mixer:
Lawrence Miles (on 1971-05-06)
conductor:
David Van dePitte
recording of:
Right On
composer:
Earl DeRouen (percussionist, composer) and Marvin Gaye
4.27:32
8Wholy Holy
producer:
Marvin Gaye
mixer:
Lawrence Miles (, on 1971-05-06)
conductor:
David Van dePitte
recording of:
Wholy Holy
composer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
4.53:08
9Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
producer:
Marvin Gaye
mixer:
Lawrence Miles (on 1971-05-06)
conductor:
David Van dePitte
arranger:
David Van dePitte
recording of:
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
composer:
Marvin Gaye and James Nyx (R&B songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd.
4.355:39
10What’s Going On
mixer:
Steve Smith (US 70s/80s soul/funk engineer) (on 1971-04-05)
recording of:
What’s Going On
lyricist and composer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
publisher:
EMI Songs Australia, FCG Music, Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd. and Stone Agate Music Corp.
sub-publisher:
イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
34:08
11What’s Happening Brother
mixer:
Steve Smith (US 70s/80s soul/funk engineer) (on 1971-04-05)
recording of:
What’s Happening Brother
composer:
Marvin Gaye and James Nyx (R&B songwriter)
42:43
12Flyin’ High (in the Friendly Sky)
mixer:
Steve Smith (US 70s/80s soul/funk engineer) (on 1971-04-05)
recording of:
Flyin’ High (in the Friendly Sky)
composer:
Anna Gordy Gaye, Marvin Gaye and Elgie Stover
43:49
13Save the Children
mixer:
Steve Smith (US 70s/80s soul/funk engineer) (on 1971-04-05)
recording of:
Save the Children
writer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing France, FCG Music, Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Stone Agate Music Corp., イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
54:02
14God Is Love
mixer:
Steve Smith (US 70s/80s soul/funk engineer) (on 1971-04-05)
recording of:
God Is Love (sometimes also titled “God Is My Friend”)
writer:
Anna Gordy Gaye, Marvin Gaye, James Nyx (R&B songwriter) and Elgie Stover
31:47
15Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
mixer:
Steve Smith (US 70s/80s soul/funk engineer) (on 1971-04-05)
recording of:
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
lyricist and composer:
Marvin Gaye
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
sub-publisher:
香港商百代音樂股份有限公司台灣分公司 (EMI Music Publishing (S E Asia) Ltd., Taiwan Branch)
53:08
16Right On
mixer:
Steve Smith (US 70s/80s soul/funk engineer) (on 1971-04-05)
recording of:
Right On
composer:
Earl DeRouen (percussionist, composer) and Marvin Gaye
57:32
17Wholy Holy
mixer:
Steve Smith (US 70s/80s soul/funk engineer) (on 1971-04-05)
recording of:
Wholy Holy
composer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
53:08
18Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
mixer:
Steve Smith (US 70s/80s soul/funk engineer) (on 1971-04-05)
recording of:
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
composer:
Marvin Gaye and James Nyx (R&B songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd.
45:46
19What’s Going On (Rhythm & Strings mix)
recording of:
What’s Going On
lyricist and composer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
publisher:
EMI Songs Australia, FCG Music, Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd. and Stone Agate Music Corp.
sub-publisher:
イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
43:51
2CD: live at the Kennedy Center (May 1 1972) / original single versions / In the Meantime…
#TitleRatingLength
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
recorded at:
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., United States (on 1972-05-01)
live medley including a recording of:
Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing (on 1972-05-01)
writer:
Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30), Jobete Music Co., Inc. (from 1967 to present) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
live medley including a recording of:
I Heard It Through the Grapevine (on 1972-05-01)
writer:
Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), EMI Songs Australia, EMI Songs Scandinavia AB, Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.), Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobette-Carlin Music Ltd., Stone Agate Music, Stone Agate Music Division and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division)
live medley including a recording of:
Little Darling (I Need You) (on 1972-05-01)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
live medley including a recording of:
Pride and Joy (Gaye/Whitfield/Stevenson) (on 1972-05-01)
writer:
Marvin Gaye, William Stevenson (Motown songwriter) and Norman Whitfield
live medley including a recording of:
Stubborn Kind of Fellow (on 1972-05-01)
composer:
Marvin Gaye, George Gordy and William Stevenson (Motown songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (appears also as: Jobete Msc.)
live medley including a recording of:
That’s the Way Love Is (on 1972-05-01)
writer:
Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
publisher:
Jobette-Carlin Music Ltd., Stone Agate Music, イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
live medley including a recording of:
You (on 1972-05-01)
lyricist:
Jack Goga
writer:
Jeffrey Bowen, Jack Goga and Ivy Jo Hunter
composer:
Ivy Jo Hunter
publisher:
Jobete Music Co., Inc. (on 1967-06-15)
sub-publisher:
EMI Music Publishing France and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division)
live medley including a recording of:
You’re All I Need to Get By (on 1972-05-01)
writer:
Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc. and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division)
live medley including a recording of:
Your Precious Love (on 1972-05-01)
writer:
Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson
publisher:
Jobete Music Co., Inc., イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
13:23
2Right On
recorded at:
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., United States (on 1972-05-01)
live recording of:
Right On (on 1972-05-01)
composer:
Earl DeRouen (percussionist, composer) and Marvin Gaye
7:34
3Wholy Holy
recorded at:
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., United States (on 1972-05-01)
live recording of:
Wholy Holy (on 1972-05-01)
composer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
3:32
4Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
recorded at:
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., United States (on 1972-05-01)
live recording of:
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) (on 1972-05-01)
composer:
Marvin Gaye and James Nyx (R&B songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd.
9:06
5What’s Going On
recorded at:
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., United States (on 1972-05-01)
live recording of:
What’s Going On (on 1972-05-01)
lyricist and composer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
publisher:
EMI Songs Australia, FCG Music, Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd. and Stone Agate Music Corp.
sub-publisher:
イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
5:42
6What’s Happening Brother
recorded at:
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., United States (on 1972-05-01)
live recording of:
What’s Happening Brother (on 1972-05-01)
composer:
Marvin Gaye and James Nyx (R&B songwriter)
2:55
7Flyin’ High (in the Friendly Sky)3:52
8Save the Children
recorded at:
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., United States (on 1972-05-01)
live recording of:
Save the Children (on 1972-05-01)
writer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
publisher:
EMI Music Publishing France, FCG Music, Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Stone Agate Music Corp., イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
4:22
9God Is Love
recorded at:
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., United States (on 1972-05-01)
live recording of:
God Is Love (sometimes also titled “God Is My Friend”)
writer:
Anna Gordy Gaye, Marvin Gaye, James Nyx (R&B songwriter) and Elgie Stover
1:43
10Stage Dialogue2:35
11Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
recorded at:
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., United States (on 1972-05-01)
live recording of:
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) (on 1972-05-01)
composer:
Marvin Gaye and James Nyx (R&B songwriter)
publisher:
Jobete Music (UK) Ltd.
5:12
12What’s Going On
recorded at:
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., United States (on 1972-05-01)
live recording of:
What’s Going On (on 1972-05-01)
lyricist and composer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
publisher:
EMI Songs Australia, FCG Music, Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd. and Stone Agate Music Corp.
sub-publisher:
イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
4:07
13What’s Going On
recording of:
What’s Going On
lyricist and composer:
Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) and Marvin Gaye
publisher:
EMI Songs Australia, FCG Music, Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music, NMG Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd. and Stone Agate Music Corp.
sub-publisher:
イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
3:57
14God Is Love
producer:
Marvin Gaye
recording of:
God Is Love (sometimes also titled “God Is My Friend”)
writer:
Anna Gordy Gaye, Marvin Gaye, James Nyx (R&B songwriter) and Elgie Stover
42:54
15Sad Tomorrows42:27
16“Head Title” aka Distant Lover
recording of:
Distant Lover (on 1970-11-03)
lyricist:
Sandra Greene (songwriter)
composer:
Gwen Fuqua (US songwriter/composer, née Gwendolyn Gordy) and Marvin Gaye
publisher:
FCG Music, Jobete Music (UK) Ltd., Jobete Music Co., Inc., MG III Music and NMG Music
44:08

Credits

Release

part of:DELUXE Edition (Universal) (order: 26)