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Setting the scene
Motown in 1970 was still associated with polished love songs, while America faced Vietnam, urban unrest, and environmental crisis. Marvin Gaye fought Berry Gordy over political material after Tammi Terrell's death and his brother's war stories. Gaye demanded creative control to address injustice in one continuous suite.
What happened
What's Going On was released on May 21, 1971, with the title track, Mercy Mercy Me, and Inner City Blues recorded in Detroit and Los Angeles. Gaye layered multi-tracked vocals and jazz musicians like James Jamerson on bass. Gordy initially refused to release it, fearing it would ruin Gaye's pop image.
Why it still matters
The album topped charts, is preserved in the Library of Congress, and influenced soul, R&B, and protest music for decades. Gaye's fusion of spirituality and politics remains a template. Memorable detail: the football players partying in the title song were friends of Detroit Lions Lem Barney and Mel Farr, who sang background vocals.
Background
Motown's boss initially resisted its political tone.