Marvin Gaye

Arguably the greatest soul album ever made, What's Going On established Motown star Marvin Gaye as a unique and maverick musical talent. His determination and vision resulted in inspirational and pioneering works that, in the era of Vietnam and the civil rights protests, asked America to take a long hard look at itself. Ben Edmonds examines in detail the making of this legendary work — initially rejected by Motown's quality-control department — interviewing many of the artists and record company employees closest to the singer, to arrive at a deeper understanding of what the album means. It is, without question, one of the greatest stories ever told. With a career that exemplified the maturation of romantic Black pop into a sophisticated form spanning social and sexual polities, Marvin Gaye was one of the most consistent and enigmatic of the Motown hit makers. Gaye's determination and vision resulted not only in inspirational, pioneering grooves but in an album that challenged America.