What's Going On Live
| What's Going On Live | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington, D. C., United States | ||||
| Genre | Soul | |||
| Length | 63:58 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Marvin Gaye chronology | ||||
| ||||
What's Going On Live is a live album recorded in 1972 by American
What's Going On
and has received mixed feedback from critics.
Recording and release
The songs on this album were recorded at
What's Going On but this is the first edition of the concert as a standalone album and has a new mix;[3] it comes shortly after Motown's release of You're the Man, a studio album intended to follow What's Going On but shelved for decades.[1] Gaye resumed touring in 1974 but this was the only time that he performed the entire album live in one show. However the recording misses his performance of “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)”, which was missed due to a technical error.[4]
Reception
The editorial staff of
AllMusic Guide gave What's Going On Live three out of five stars, with reviewer Andy Kellman noting that the performance is generally tentative and that it is "basically a rehearsal in front of a rapt and vocal audience" but praising Gaye by writing that his "voice sounds unaffected by years away from the stage".[3]
Track listing
- Sixties William "Mickey" Stevenson, and Whitfield / M. Gaye, George Gordy, and Stevenson) – 13:24
- "Right On" (Earl DeRouen and M. Gaye) – 7:34
- "Wholy Holy" (Renaldo Benson, Al Cleveland, and M. Gaye) – 3:31
- "James Nyx) – 9:06
- "What's Going On" (Benson, Cleveland, and M. Gaye) – 5:41
- "What's Happening Brother" (Gaye and Nyx) – 2:54
- "Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky)" (Anna Gordy Gaye, M. Gaye, and Elgie Stover) – 3:49
- "Save the Children" (Benson, Cleveland, and M. Gaye) – 4:21
- "God Is Love" (A. Gaye, M. Gaye, Nyx, and Stover) – 1:44
- Stage dialogue – 2:33
- "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" (Reprise) (M. Gaye and Nyx) – 5:10
- "What's Going On" (Reprise) (Benson, Cleveland, and M. Gaye) – 4:11
Personnel
- Marvin Gaye – vocals, piano
Additional musicians
- The Andantes – backing vocals
- Louvain Demps – soprano
- Marlene Barrow – mezzo-soprano
- Jackie Hicks – contralto
- Robert White – guitar
- George Baker – guitar
- congas
- James Jamerson – bass guitar
- Uriel Jones – drums
- Jack Ashford – glockenspiel, kazoo, percussion
- Maurice King – conductor
- arrangement
Gaye was also supplemented by a 20-piece brass and string band, led by King
Technical personnel
- Alex Abrash – masteringat AA Mastering
- Jo Almeida – photo coordination
- Bob Gratts – engineering
- Matthew Lewis – cover photo
- John Morales – mixing at M+M Mix Studios
- Meire Murakami – design
- David Ritz – liner notes
- Beth Stempel – production
- art direction
- Harry Weinger – re-release production
References
- ^ a b c Burks, Tosten (August 30, 2019). "Marvin Gaye's What's Going On Live Album Coming to Streaming and Vinyl". Spin. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ Harrington, Richard (May 11, 2001). "Remembering Marvin Gaye Day". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ AllMusic Guide. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (August 31, 2001). "Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On Live' Set for Reissue". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 24, 2020.
External links
- What's Going On Live at Discogs (list of releases)
- What's Going On Live at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- What's Going On Live at Rate Your Music
