Marvin Gaye 'What's Going On?'
A basement office lit by fluorescent bulbs seemed like an inappropriate venue to road test a Marvin Gaye album. Commonly linked to songs for sexy times in Valentine's day polls, I assumed it was for some sort of topical tie-in. An assumption quickly dismissed when I was handed 'What's Going On'.
The opening title track set me straight, talk of pickets lines and picket signs situates the album immediately in its social/political concept, as it explores poverty, war and prayer.
Although released by Motown Records it doesn't fit the usual Motown mould, what with it being a conceptual album with social commentary and all. Liberal use of flute, jazz piano and soft strings in 'Right On' makes it the stand out track, clocking in an epic seven and a half minutes.
But as Marv says himself in the sleeve notes: "[i]f you like the artist well enough to buy his or her album, you don't have to be told how groovy it is, or which tunes you should dig, or how great his or her majesty is."
Not recommended for seduction. Unless you're trying to seduce a hippie.
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