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Friday, March 13, 2026

Marvin Gaye's What's Going On... #1 Album Rolling Stones Top 500 Albums All Time 2023 (thread link)

"Tops' bass singer, watched TV coverage of hundreds of club-wielding cops breaking up the People's Park, a protest hub in Berkeley. Aghast at the violence, Benson began to write a song with Motown lyricist Al Cleveland, trying to capture the confusion and pain of the times.

He knew he had something big in his nascent version of "What's Going On," but the rest of the Four Tops weren't interested, and Benson's efforts to get Joan Baez to record it didn't work out, either.
(more on the genesis of this song at the thread link)

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full studio album

www.youtube.com

Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (Official Video 2019)

Marvin Gaye
1.27M subscribe

www.youtube.com

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2026-03-13 04:46 PM | Reply

#1 | Posted by Corky

The story of the fight between Barry Gordy and Marvin Gaye over the release of this album is an interesting read.

#2 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-03-13 04:53 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 3

Mother, mother
There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today, yeah

Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Talk to me
So you can see

Oh, what's going on (What's going on)
What's going on (What's going on)
What's going on (What's going on)
What's going on (What's going on)
Right on, baby
Right on, baby
Right on

Mother, mother
Everybody thinks we're wrong
Oh, but who are they to judge us
Simply 'cause our hair is long
Oh, you know we've got to find a way
To bring some understanding here today

Picket lines and picket signs
Don't punish me with brutality
Come on talk to me
So you can see

What's going on (What's going on)
Yeah, what's going on (What's going on)
Tell me what's going on (What's going on)
I'll tell you, what's going on (What's going on)
Right on, baby, right on
Right on, baby
Right on, baby, right on

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Marvin Gaye / Renaldo Benson / Alfred Cleveland

here's a couple of kids listening to the album today

www.youtube.com

#3 | Posted by Corky at 2026-03-13 04:53 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

(restart the link in #3, because my Editor sucks!)

#4 | Posted by Corky at 2026-03-13 04:56 PM | Reply

The story of the fight between Barry Gordy and Marvin Gaye over the release of this album is an interesting read.

#2 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-03-13 04:53 PM | Reply | Flag: Thanks, I'll check it out after we play Spades tonight.

Sidenote: "Islands in the Stream" was originally a Motown creation which didn't work out, so they gave it to the country-western folks.

#5 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-13 05:10 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Sidenote: "Islands in the Stream" was originally a Motown creation which didn't work out, so they gave it to the country-western folks.

#5 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS

You're partially right.

It was written by the BeeGees Gibbs, originally intended for Marvin Gaye.

#6 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-03-13 05:22 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

If we ever talk privately I'll share some insider info about Motown/Marvin Gaye.

#7 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-03-13 05:24 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Sir Barry Gibb wrote a lot of great songs for a lot of great artists.

"As a songwriter, he shares with John Lennon and Paul McCartney the record for most consecutive Billboard Hot 100 number ones, each having six. In total, he has written or co-written sixteen Billboard Hot 100 number ones."

Also a writer with his brothers of the only song to come with a, "-------- Free Pass"!

www.youtube.com

#8 | Posted by Corky at 2026-03-13 05:45 PM | Reply

Ah, thanks for that info, AU.

Here's a soothing track from that timeframe and composer. Neatly produced: www.youtube.com

I played Bridge the other day, came in second place.

Now off to play Spades.

Nil!

BTW: I shared a common acquaintance with this 80s rocker, but this arena rockster didn't share any insider info with me. Our photograph is hanging in my kitchen: cdn.shopify.com

#9 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-03-13 06:02 PM | Reply

#9 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS

You're welcome :-) Good luck at the table tonight!

#10 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2026-03-13 06:04 PM | Reply

OK, not in the same league as Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, this song has some lyrics that caught my attention ...

Five for Fighting - Easy Tonight (2001)
www.youtube.com

And the lyrics I noted are...

genius.com

...
Don't know where I'm going yet, no
But I sure am getting there
...

#11 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-13 06:10 PM | Reply

And, paraphrasing what Sec Hegseth says to our Free Press...

Comateens - Get Off My Case (1983)
www.youtube.com

#12 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-03-13 06:15 PM | Reply

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