I was really surprised when I saw the deluxe edition of Marvin Gaye's 1971 magnum opus, "What's Going On". I asked myself, "How many times has this classic been remastered?" "Isn't this the 4th or 5th time it has been reissued?" After buying this and listening to the whole set, I have to say this is the definitive version of "What's Going On". This edition is split up in six different sections, with the first being the original album, which was released on May 21, 1971. The title track, "What's Going On", is probably one of Marvin's most widely-recognized song. This song creates complex, jazz elements with soulful harmonies and soft strings. Marvin uses social conscious lyrics to create a poignant, yet personal classic about our world. "What's Happening Brother" has Marvin talking about his brother coming out of the war and how and what he is doing. "Flyin' High In The Friendly Sky" has Marvin talking about the dangers of drugs. "Save The Children" is a sad, powerful, and deep song with Gaye using descriptive lyrics on how we are making a negative world for our children. "God Is Love" is where Gaye gets on his spiritual side, and lets the world know that God is his true friend and how we need more love in the world. "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" is the perfect example of an artist tackling the negatives of our environment. Marvin touches on nearly everything our environment lacks. "Right On" is an adventurous, musical journey with a deep latin feel in the song. Gaye discusses social issues such as poverty. "Wholy Holy" has Gaye using a more religious approach to cover an aspect on hate. "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" is the song that just sends chills up my spine. Marvin talks about both the personal and social issues people are going through in America. It is a spare, yet amazing piece of work that closes this brilliant song cycle of a man struggling in America with both personal and social issues of a nation, a revolution, and a state.

The second section, which is the "Detroit Mix" of the whole original album, is really a treat because it gives you a first glance of how this album was going to sound without some of the special overdubbing and multitracking effects that was done on the album you're familiar with. This mix is different because the bass is richer and the production is more raw. The third and final section of disc one is called, "The Foundation", which is a simple rhythm and strings instrumental mix of the title track, "What's Going On". The fourth section opens disc 2 with a 12-track live concert that took place at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center. What is special about this section of this disc is that it showcases Marvin doing a live concert for the first time in four years since his beloved friend, Tammi Terrell died in his arms on stage. It also showcases his stagefright since those four years passed. Over the course of the concert, he sings not only all of the songs from the "What's Going On" album, he does a memorable medley of some of his 60's hits with Tammi Terrell. Marvin and his backing band sounds unfocused here, but they seem to put on a good show. The fifth section, are single versions of the songs, "What's Going On", "God Is Love", and "Sad Tomorrows", which is a different version of "Flyin' High In The Friendly Sky". All of the songs on this section are very differnt from the ones you heard on the original album. The final section called, "In The Meantime...", is a song that is the earlier version of his 1972 hit, "Distant Lover". The lyrics are completely different from that song. It is crucial because it shows his transition from being a social political artist to a timeless balladeer. Overall, this edition of "What's Going On" is certain a set you will treasure forever because it is a revolutionary and timeless soul classic that is made better. This lavish, detailed package comes with a 28-page booklet with insightful essays from Smokey Robinson and Ben Edmonds, rare and unseen pictures, and detailed recording information. The remastering that has been done to this set is top-notch and this is probably the best packaging I've ever seen done to a reissue. This is definitely a package every fan or listener of music should have, even if you're not a soul music fan. It is a historical album that is worth every dollar and worth every bit of your time becuase it is not only one of the greatest soul albums of all-time, but it is certainly one of the greatest albums of all-time. A+

Some quick thoughts on the Deluxe Edition:

1) The previous "deluxe edition" of the album (the one with the slipcase and the David Ritz essay) still may be the ideal issue, although I've noticed the remastering on the newest edition de-emphasizes the bassiness of that remastering (of the released mix.) Some may find this a step backward, but it's my feeling that this time around the technical team was aiming for a more "authentic" mastering - U.S. engineers watched the levels more closely in the early 70s!

2) The Detroit mix begins and ends brilliantly; I prefer the title track, "What's Happening, Brother", and "Inner City Blues" to the released versions; they have more grit and wit than the released mixes, and causes me to wonder if applying a given production strategy to an entire album is always preferable. However, some of the material in the middle simply sounds unfinished, and the mix of Marvin's voices with the instrumental tracks can be uncomfortable.

3) If there's any single reason to buy this set, it is Disc 2. Marvin was reportedly never comfortable in live situations, but his 1972 Kennedy Center show displays some remarkable vocal bits; and the songs sometimes benefit from the skeletally-rhythmic nature of the band's performance. Marvin's pianistic skills are also highlighted, and the entire show sounds more like Trouble Man than What's Going On, which is interesting and, for me, a good thing.

4) The nascent "Distant Lover" is hilarious.

What's Going On is one of the all-time great albums in music history. On any listing of the top albums of all-time, the album is invariably ranked among the top ten. The album combines lush orchestrations, beautiful singing and conscious raising lyrics. If you already own this album, you will still want to purchase this edition for the 1972 Kennedy Center concert on disk two. It contains the entire album live as well as other hits and it finds Marvin Gaye at the top of his game. Perhaps he was propelled by the fact that Washington DC officials had declared it Marvin Gaye Day and gave him a key to the city, but he sang with an urgency and passion that went unmatched. The first disk contains the original album as well as a "Detroit Mix" of the album. It is interesting to hear the alternate version, but the original still stands out. The booklet is top notch with a heartfelt and elegant essay by Mr. Gaye's close friend Smokey Robinson. You cannot give this album enough praise and all the accolades it has received over the past thirty years are well deserved. Perhaps the highest praise you can give it is that the album still sounds fresh, new and relevant after all these years.

Marvin Gaye once said that God was speaking through him when he wrote and recorded What's Going On. This Deluxe Edition of the original release is the living proof of that statement.

In addition to the original recording of the album, the first disc includes "A Detroit Mix" of the album from beginning to end. The result is an immersing and spirtual musical experience. The second disc includes live performances of the album tracks as well as other Marvin Gaye classics. We get to hear a live performance of the music from this album at the time of its release. Given the social message of the work and how it was received at the time, the live recording adds a fascinating dimension to the mythology around it.

Through this deluxe edition we can see that WGO was the product of a musical genius who was in the midst of a spiritual awakening and a creative catharsis. It shows what a cultural AND personal achievement this record was for one of the all time legends of music.

The 1971 release of "What's Going On" surveyed an era's social and political issues with a depth that kept the songs from turning into anachronistic time capsules. Gaye's view of his times, and the clarity and fluency with which he expressed himself is as moving today as when originally unleashed. The personal nature of the subject matter and the album-length form represented a leap of artistic freedom for Mavin Gaye, and the breaking of a creative dam at Motown.

Shaking off his label's steady diet of singles-oriented productions, Gaye authored a set of songs whose conceptual conceit stretched over an entire album. Gaye's view of cultural politics, and especially the Vietnam war, are couched in the person of his brother, recently returned from service. As pictured by the returning veteran the USA circa the early '70s was not such a pretty sight.

In addition to the far-reaching lyrics, the music represented a new dimension for Gaye and Motown. While there are hits singles ("What's Going On" "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)"), they blend smoothly into the album's overall panorama. Gaye's multitracked singing, providing harmonies and counterpoints, forms songs that are essentially conversations.

David Van DePitte's arrangements layered strings on Latin percussion, horns, flute and the usual guitar, bass and drums, employing elements of soul, jazz and funk. Similar blends can be found in contemporaneous work by Isaac Hayes, but the unusual recording and editing process of this album created a superbly fluid result. By stitching the tracks together and overdubbing the album as a whole, an especially holistic effect was created. A scant ten days of recording resulted in the original "Detroit Mix."

Before public release, Gaye rethought the album and completely remixed it in Los Angeles. While the original form would have made a worthy release, the coherency brought by the choices and overdubs of the final mix are truly compelling. In particular, the multitracked vocals of the final mix find a smoother, more organic balance, creating their effect without announcing themselves. Disc one contains both the final and "Detroit" mixes.

Disc two includes Gaye's long-delayed return to the stage (four years in the making). The recording documents a 1972 performance at New York's Kennedy Center, and combines a lengthy medley of Gaye's `60s sides with a slightly jumbled performance of "What's Going On." The medley, which could have been little more than a dutiful tour of hits turned deeper when filtered through Gaye's new found musical sensibility. "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" found a new groove from the expanded percussion accompaniment and looser vocal, while "Pride and Joy" and "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" turned from pop to blues.

The first-ever live performance of the "What's Going On" album shows how deeply the album's music ran in Gaye's soul. While not a carbon copy of the studio recordings, the importance of the songs to their author (and the audience), as well as the conversational musical flow, made a success of the unpolished performance. Gaye's accidental start near the end of the album brought him looping back around to the beginning (leaving out "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" in the process). After completing the song cycle, the chagrined Gaye repeated two tracks by audience request ("Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" and "What's Going On").

The mono concert tapes are quite crisp, and despite a few jumpy edits, give a good sense of the impact this show had on both its performer and audience. Disc two closes with original single versions of "What's Going On," "God is Love" and "Sad Tomorrows," and an improvised-in-the-studio track, "Head Title," that would reappear in finished form as "Distant Lover" on the "Let's Get it On" LP.

Motown's double gatefold packaging includes an introduction from Smokey Robinson, new liner notes from Ben Edmonds and Harry Weingar, numerous photos, complete lyrics and extensively detailed credits. Those unfamiliar with the original album will find Motown's single-CD remastered edition an absorbing (and less costly) place to start. Those who've already made this a favorite will enjoy the expanded scope of this deluxe edition.