Marvin Gaye

What’s Going On

First released1971

What's Going On was recorded primarily at Hitsville U.S.A., Motown's Studio A in Detroit, between 1970 and 1971. The album was produced by Marvin Gaye himself along with producer David Van De Pitte, who arranged much of the orchestral material that defined the album's sophisticated sound. Engineer John Flis and other Motown technical staff oversaw the recording sessions, which featured live orchestral arrangements alongside Motown's house musicians. Gaye's innovative approach included recording multiple vocal layers and using the studio as an instrument to create the album's lush, conceptual soundscapes that addressed social and political issues. The production represented a significant shift in Motown's approach, moving beyond the label's traditional formula to allow artistic expression on socially conscious material during the turbulent early 1970s.