What's Going On
Marvin Gaye
1971
Earliest retained annual association for this catalog identity; original release year not independently established.
Explore this recording
More by this artistEditorial Motown-family recording selection; not an official all-time chart.
Release: 1971
Release: 1971Source checked
V3.6 reconciles the original release year with the reviewed Artist Essentials entry for this exact retained recording ID. Year precision is used; an album-first release is not silently replaced by a later single, reissue or annual-list year. The original recording is documented in the 1971 release history of What's Going On. Only year precision is assigned; later singles, charts, remasters and live versions do not establish its first release.
The large badge identifies this listening list, not a newly issued recording. Later reissues and renewed chart popularity do not replace an original release date. How years are assigned.
Owner-supplied release annotations
Reported dates in 1971.html. Not independently established; neighboring dates can reflect album/single or regional differences.
What's Going On - original nine-track program
The original 1971 album includes Mercy Mercy Me and Inner City Blues; the title retains its earlier 1971 single date. The selected original production is distinguished from subsequently issued alternative Detroit mixes and live programs.
Inspiration and background
Documented songwriting inspiration
The official Motown history connects the album to war, racial injustice and the social tensions of its period. Its scope goes beyond a conventional love song.
Evidence scope: New 1.7 source-specific paraphrase; not a claim of complete song-history review.
Sources for this information
Marvin Gaye - Classic Motown
Only the recording/background facts in this paragraph; reviewed 2026-10-12.
Other appearances and versions
catalog version unspecified
Original release date and exact pressing/version are not independently established.
An annual chart year and an original release date are different. Similar titles may be covers or different masters; no audio fingerprint has been performed.
Sources and scope
Source-backed annual association (secondary source; not a complete discographic review)
Editorial artist-repertoire classification
Billboard year-end 1971 table (Wikipedia transcription)
Secondary transcription reviewed 2026-10-11: title, artist and annual chart association; not original release date or complete recording metadata.
Supplied motown01.png, row 16
Visible title/artist metadata only; not audio identification or date verification.
Marvin Gaye - Classic Motown
Only the recording/background facts in this paragraph; reviewed 2026-10-12.
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