Essay Sample about Marvin Gaye's Greatest Album

Marvin Gaye's Greatest Album

Marvin Gaye's greatest album was What's Going On produced in 1971 (Charnock 2012, p.91). It contains nine songs, three of which became great hits. I chose it because it blends spirituality and social realism in both form and content which shaped Motown's first true album to wholly credit a single artist as the producer (Charnock 2012, p.91). Like urban poets, Marvin Gaye painted a vivid picture of the known urban struggle and socio-economic desperation through his lyrics. Not only is his message about the destruction of our environment and global warming is still relevant but also covers other topics like drug abuse, poverty, and discrimination.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

The album has expert level instrumentation and delectable harmonies which attracts listeners to the message being broadcasted. Initially, Gaye intended to make an album that revolved around politics, but after "You're the Man" song failed to inspire his fans to vote, he decided to build on "What's Going On" (Cooper 2010, p.240). My first reaction after listening to the album was joy and surprise. I did not know that Marvin Gaye had such enlightening insights about life. He expressed himself clearly without causing any type of political uproar and addressed issues that affected every single person in the community. His revolutionary songs are an inspiration to become different and overcome the challenges ahead.

Marvin Gaye's Background Information

After the demise of Tammi Terrell and his divorce to Anna Gordy, Marvin Gaye became addicted to cocaine and attempted suicide with a handgun. His songs were being recognized internationally, but he couldn't celebrate because he felt like he had no freedom especially from Anna and Berry Gordy. Following this incident, he decided to prove his worth as a producer and made two hits: "Baby, I'm for Real" and "The Bells" for the vocal group called The Originals. He changed his look from a clean cut to growing a beard and ditching suits for sweat suits and more casual clothes. Even though Motown executives wanted him to tour the world, he refused and went on to pierce his ears as a form of defiance. He embraced his spirituality and began fixing his issues. He tried pursuing his dream to become a footballer with the Lions but he was advised against it due to his music career (Davis 2016, p.54.

Marvin Gaye went on a tour with the Four Tops members, two of whom offered the song "What's Going On" to him during a golf game. Originally, Gaye thought the song was perfect for The Originals, but Renaldo Benson thought it was meant to be sung by Gaye on his guitar (McKeown, 2016, p, 40). He asked for songwriting credits, and he was granted his wish. He edited the lyrics and added a new melody to his liking. During this time Gaye had begun noticing the social ills affecting the United States. He started to question his career and the direction it was going because he was singing about love songs while there was chaos around him. Gordy tried to talk him out of the idea, but Gaye was determined. He had talked to his brother after reuniting at his parents' house in D.C. about Frankie's experiences in the war and his attempt to fit in after. Marvin went on to record, but he was opposed but Gordy on the release as a single. Gordy thought that it would be a bad idea to use personal issues as the theme for his songs. After the release, the song became a hit, and Gaye gained international approval. He gained his artistic freedom and began to re-evaluate the whole concept of the message in his songs. He chose to speak on socially conscious themes which affected his community and country in general.

The success of the album

The What's Going On album was appreciated by both his fans and contemporary critics and was consequently a commercial success. Marvin Gaye was perceived as ambitious because he took on a personal album and brought something new to Motown which was inclined to releasing social and political themed songs. It was termed as a masterpiece which revolutionized black music by Time magazine and Billboard for reaching number six on the chart and selling over two million copies (Cooper 2010, p.240. Marvin Gaye became the first solo artist to produce three single hits form the same album, and it was certified gold in the United States and certified Platinum in the United Kingdom (Cooper 2010, p.240). After a critical re-evaluation of What's Going On years later, it was termed as one of the legendary pop albums of all time.

The album introduced a new sound back in that era through its non-standard musical arrangements which were layered expertly above the bass. However, success doesn't come about without backlash. Critics like Robert Christgau from the Village Voice were not impressed and conveniently termed the album as the "lowest kind of movie background" (Cooper 2010, p.240). Robert argued that the single hits were destroyed by indistinct music and indulgent use of a guitar. Even so other artists learned that they don't need to sacrifice musicality for lyricism (McCarthy 2013, p.37). Musicians like the Isley Brothers and Stevie Wonder began to demand control over their work and more artistic freedom leading to the production of Where I'm Coming From (McCarthy 2013, p.37). Motown began embracing the changing concept of artists producing more songs that they could relate to.

The making of the album

Berry Gordy, the owner of Motown, was actively against the release of the single What's Going On but after its commercial success, he was compelled to ask Gaye for an album. He knew that it would be difficult to convince Gaye so he decided to bet him that he could not finish an album before thirty days were over. Gaye took the challenge well and began working on it. The recording sessions would last up to twelve straight hours for one song, and the master tapes would be shipped across the continent for mixing and remixing all the while juggling his acting career (Gaye and Ritz, 2015, p,213). Steve Smith was his engineer but worked with Lawrence Miles for the final touches in Los Angeles (Charnock 2012, p.91). He eventually won the bet and was credited as the first artist-producer.

Marvin Gaye decided to share the credit by featuring the instrumentalists who contributed to the album. The Funk Brothers that are responsible for Motown's famous sound were recognized for creating the rhythm tracks, Chet Forest for being the jazz drummer, Eddie Brown and Earl Derouen for playing congas and bongos, Eli Fontaine for playing alto-saxophone, Jack Brokensha for vibes and finally Jack Ashford for playing the tambourine. Marvin Gaye worked with Earl Derouen, Obie Benson, James Nyx, Elgie Stover, Al Cleveland, Anna Gordy and Smokey Robinson who was crucial to the writing of the What's Going On song. Anna Gordy and Elgie Stover wrote "Flyin' High" and "God is Love" but Marvin Gaye edited them and made them his own. James Nyx was an elderly gentleman who used to hand out written lyrics and song ideas, but Gaye saw potential and used his lyrics in the final versions of "What's Happening Brother" and "God is Love." It was his idea to rename the last album track from "The Tail End" to "Inner City Blues" which Gaye implemented. To foster an open and creative vibe, he allowed scotch and marijuana in the studio during his recording sessions.

Album design

Since What's Going On was produced differently from all the other preceding Motown albums, it was only right that the cover depicted matching cover art. The cover featured a portrait of Marvin Gaye in the rain staring off into the distance with his trench coat collar up and small beads of water in his hair and beard (McCarthy 2013, p.37). Curtis McNair, his art supervisor, chose this shot from Jim Hendin's work, but his boss rejected the idea because the viewers would see too far up his nostrils. However, after involving Gaye who agreed with McNair, the picture was used in the final production. The cover was made a few days before the completion of the album, and so both the rear and front cover shots were taken in Gaye's backyard so that he could quickly return to his work. On the rear cover shot, Gaye dressed in a black suit and trench coat was standing in the middle of piled up toys and a nearby swing set (McCarthy 2013, p.37). This was symbolic for the central song, "Save the Children" which depicted the death of innocence and indirectly sent a message to Motown saying it was time to grow up. Unlike previous Motown album covers, Gaye's album did not feature "The Sound of Young America" (McCarthy 2013, p.37).

The liner note included giving credit to everyone who helped him in the production of the album. He also gives an enlightening note that everyone should be entitled to their thoughts and opinions and should be able to express themselves. He gives an example of his favorite songs "Mercy Mercy Me" and "Save the Children" and asks that his fans think for themselves and choose whichever song they like most (McCarthy 2013, p.37). His last note was about finding God and allowing Him to influence their lives. He followed this statement by adding that God was the only weapon to fight hatred and evil and the commandments lead people on the right track.

Significant songs

Each song on the album had a message. In What's Going On, the lyric "Father, father, we don't need to escalate" (Charnock 2012, p.91) was dedicated to both God and his father who would shoot him years later. It was first conceived by Renaldo Benson after witnessing a violent confrontation between young protestors. It speaks on the violence that is brought on by differences and conflicts, but Gaye urges that peace should reign. The song was a representation of today's reality. The second son, "What's Happening Brother" was created from a conversation between Marvin Gaye and Frankie, the Vietnam veteran. The song addresses his brother's letters as part of atonement after his death and shows his struggle to understand how a war hero can have a hard time finding a job. The first line of the second verse states, "Can't find no work, can't find no job, my friend" (Charnock 2012, p.91). Anna Gordy and Elgie Stover wrote the song "Flyin' High" which was about a heroin addict. Marvin Gaye was a recreational drug user, but the line "I know, I'm hooked my friend, to the boy, who makes slaves out of men" (Charnock 2012, p.91) predicted his addiction after Tammi Terrel's demise. The mood just like the other songs is solemn.

The irony is used in the song, "God is Love" by writing, "Love your mother she bore you/love your father he works for you" (Charnock 2012, p.91). Gaye's father went without employment for decades because he preferred drinking his days away than helping his family. Instead, Marvin and his mother labor to put food on the table. On the track, "Save the Children," Gaye presents himself as the preacher his father wanted him to be. He speaks in a rational voice to represent sound reasoning and level-headedness. The song "Wholy Holy" empowered togetherness and love among people and between them and God. The line "People, we all got to come together, because we need the strength, power and all the feeling" (Charnock 2012, p.91) urges the community to work together to give each other strength to keep moving forward. The next verse states "We should believe in one another, Jesus left a long time ago, said he would return, He left us a book to believe in, in it we've got a lot to learn" (Charnock 2012, p.91) hence giving hope to people that they have something to believe in and participate in something greater than they are used to. For the song "Right On" the most significant lyrics are "Every day, that's alright, Oh, when we love each other" (Charnock 2012, p.91). These words were meant to bring people together no matter their background.