Marvin Gaye's simple, but right question what had actually going hit 1971 big waves. Soul has since no longer the same, because this man manifested his pain on unprecedented nature and manner. He transported the soul to another level. Almost transcendental floating music, an angelic voice asks umschmiegt of a velvet orchestra "What's Happening Brother / what's been shaken up and down the line / I want to know cause I'm slightly behind the line". Soul combines with jazz, jazz with soul and everything together with God. Yes, Gaye is a believer, and What's goin on his complaint on the state of the world and the lack of love - towards ourselves, as our neighbors and ultimately the world as God's creation - in particular. For example, the eco-anthem "Mercy, Mercy Me," a declaration of love to the nature. "All you need is love" one might say and think about the Beatles. But that's more here. It is spiritual, an album that have become divine, a truly great service. One need not be a believer, to be taken from it.
Because this is about Soul, real soul, African-American musical traditions to the whole story of the abduction and enslavement, which in all big black artists ever - at least implicitly - resonates. And if there is something that the United States has really brought to power of original culture, it was the African-American music of the 20th century. God played no small role.
Therefore, one should not be misled by any prejudices to ignore this musical treasure. Well, it may certainly be enough people who will find this album for various reasons do not have access. And maybe this is rightly so. But anyone whose heart is the Soul accessible is forfeited him. For a comparable intensive plate should create only the early, musically extremely multifaceted Stevie Wonder in 1976 with his "Songs in the Key of Life".
