SATCHMO

" In 1969 or 1970, I began to re-evaluate my whole concept of what I wanted my music to say... I was very much affected by letters my brother was sending me from Vietnam, as well as the social situation here at home. I realized that I had to put my own fantasies behind me if I wanted to write songs that would reach the souls of people. I wanted them to take a look at what was happening in the world."
—Marvin Gaye


I think the above quote exemplifies the greatness and depth of Marvin Gaye's Monumental album much greater than my own words ever could. It is a musical work that has profound significance not only in its own prophetic nature regarding the state of our world today, but also, on a personal level, it's release just weeks prior to my own birth in the early summer of 71' echoes my own evolving perceptions of the quickly shrinking world around me and my relationship to all of its inhabitants.

Much more than this, this album symbolizes an auspicious moment in the history of modern music as it is the first album of which Motown's own house band The Funk Brothers were publicly credited for their work on a Motown album. All this seems fairly inconsequential until you take into consideration that since beginning recording with the Motown record label in 1959 The Funk Brothers had the majority share in creating more #1 hits than Elvis, The Beatles, and Michael Jackson combined.

This album is largely considered a song cycle. Similar to what most of us more familiarly know as a concept album, a song cycle not only shares the same lyrical and narrative themes but stays within a dominant key, time signature, and rhythm structure as well, and often returns to the central musical theme from whence it came. This album, even for Motown soul, is very jazzy and laid back in nature. More notably, besides Gaye, are the contributions of legendary bassist James Jamerson providing the soulful forward momentum that propels the album from beginning to end and tenor saxophone player Eli Fountain interjecting his own musical commentary often reinforcing and affirming Marvin's own. Make no mistake, The Funk Brother's as a whole are a cohesive and intuitive musical entity and one must notice while listening the way in which all the musicians seem to nod and "amen" the sentiments expressed by Marvin throughout the course of the album; both musicians and singer perpetuating and promoting the call to its purpose.

What's Going On is replete with seemingly contradictory, yet in this case very harmonious themes such as warning and lament for the destruction of the environment overlayed with music that could best be described as soulful and rejoicing. It is a call for us to acknowledge and revel in the intimacy and connection we all share with our fellow brothers and sisters of this planet, and to take care and be good stewards to the world we live in. It's very laid back and embracing musical backdrop is every bit as much an invitation to do just that.