Motown's first all-time chart-topper, "What's Going On" was a conceptual album that addressed social and political issues, broadening the scope of popular music.
- The album was recorded and mixed at what was then Motown's main studio, Hitsville U.S.A., in Detroit, between January and March 1971.
- "What's Going On" reached number 1 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart and stayed there for weeks. It also reached number 6 on the Billboard 200.
- Gaye co-wrote the title track in response to a proposal by Renaldo "Obie" Benson of the Four Tops, who had been dismayed by the violence and social injustice he witnessed in Los Angeles.
Marvin Gaye was a Detroit-area singer, songwriter, and producer whose smooth vocal style made him a star. In 1971, he was looking to gain more artistic control over his recordings, moving beyond the hit-making formulas of Motown.
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