What’s Going On (original LP version)
~ Recording by Marvin Gaye
Appears on releases
| # | Title | Length | Track artist | Release title | Release artist | Release group type | Country/Date | Label | Catalog# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official | |||||||||
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 4:00 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Tamla | TS310 |
| 3.7 | What’s Going On | 3:51 | Marvin Gaye | Anthology | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | M9-791A3 |
| 1.6 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye's Greatest Hits | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Tamla | T6-348S1 |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On | Marvin Gaye | Single |
| Tamla Motown (for non-US releases only) | TMG 984 |
| 1.8 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Compact Command Performances: 15 Greatest Hits | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| ||
| 1.8 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Compact Command Performances: 15 Greatest Hits | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| ||
| 1.8 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Compact Command Performances: 15 Greatest Hits | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Tamla, Columbia House (direct‐mailing distributor of club editions of releases) | TD 6069 |
| 1.8 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Compact Command Performances: 15 Greatest Hits | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Tamla | TCD06069TD |
| 1.10 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Greatest Hits | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Telstar Records (UK, mostly compilations) | STAR 2234 |
| 2.11 | What’s Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Motown 50 Certified Original No.1 Hits: A Motown Anniversary Collection | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | SED-10214 |
| 1.13 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | The Big Chill | Various Artists | Album + Compilation + Soundtrack |
| Motown | ZD72347 |
| 1.6 | What's Going On | 3:55 | Marvin Gaye | The Big Chill: More Songs From the Original Soundtrack | Various Artists | Album + Compilation + Soundtrack |
| Motown | 6094ML |
| 1.6 | What's Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | The Big Chill: More Songs From the Original Soundtrack | Various Artists | Album + Compilation + Soundtrack |
| Motown | 3746360942 |
| 1.13 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | The Big Chill: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | Various Artists | Album + Compilation + Soundtrack |
| Motown | 530 017-2 |
| 1.13 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | The Big Chill: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | Various Artists | Album + Compilation + Soundtrack |
| Motown | MCDO6120MD |
| 1.14 | What’s Going On | 3:52 | Marvin Gaye | 25 #1 Hits From 25 Years | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 2-6132 |
| 2.11 | What’s Going On | 3:49 | Marvin Gaye | Anthology | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 374 630 791-2 |
| 1.1 | What's Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | What's Going On / Let's Get It On | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Motown | MOTD-5339 |
| 1.10 | What’s Going On | 3:51 | Marvin Gaye | Hits Revival | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| OTT Import | OTT372010 |
| 1.10 | What’s Going On | 3:51 | Marvin Gaye | Hits Revival | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| K‐tel (international budget record label) | NE 1363 |
| 1.6 | What’s Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye's Greatest Hits (CRC) | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | MDO 5191 |
| 1.6 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye's Greatest Hits | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | MDO 5191 |
| 1.6 | What’s Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye's Greatest Hits | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 3746351912 |
| 1.13 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | Smokey Robinson’s Greatest Hits / The Best of Marvin Gaye | Smokey Robinson / Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Silver Eagle Records | SED-10533A |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Motown | WL72611 |
| 1.13 | What's Going On | 3:52 | Marvin Gaye | The Marvin Gaye Collection | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | MOTD4-6311 |
| 1.4 | What's Going On | 3:50 | Marvin Gaye | Missing You - The Best Of | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| EVA (for use with NL/BE/FR releases only. See annotation) | PD 74592 |
| 1.6 | What's Going On | 3:52 | Marvin Gaye | Soul Collection | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| ZD 72697 | |
| 1.13 | What's Going On | 3:52 | Marvin Gaye | The Marvin Gaye Collection | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 3746363112 |
| 1.12 | What's Going On | 3:52 | Marvin Gaye | The Motown Legend | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | ZD 72719 |
| 1.12 | What's Going On | 3:52 | Marvin Gaye | The Motown Legend | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | ZL 72719 (2) |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Motown | 3746353392 |
| 1.12 | What’s Going On | 3:49 | Marvin Gaye | Hit History, Volume 17: 1971 | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| EVA (for use with NL/BE/FR releases only. See annotation) | PD 74787 |
| 1.8 | What's Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | Every Great Motown Hit of Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 3746360582 |
| 1.4 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | Rhythm & Blues: 1971 | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Warner Special Products, Time–Life Music | OPCD-2618, RHD-09 |
| 1.1 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Great Songs and Performances | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | |
| 1.13 | What’s Going On | 3:50 | Marvin Gaye | 35 soulklassiker 1970-75 | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Diesel Music AB | Diesel C-9 |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On (black/gold CD) | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Motown | 530 022-2 |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On (pink/blue CD) | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Motown | 530 022-2 |
| 1.2 | What’s Going On | 3:51 | Marvin Gaye | The Very Best of Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 530 292-2 |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Motown | 31453-0022-2 |
| 1.2 | What's Going On | 3:51 | Marvin Gaye | The Very Best of Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | POCT-1544 |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:55 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On (club edition) | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Motown, BMG Direct Marketing, Inc. (BMG company that owned their direct marketing company/club editions) | 31453-0022-2, D104913 |
| 2.1 | What's Going On | 3:58 | Marvin Gaye | Anthology | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | |
| 1.14 | What’s Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Groovin: 16 Essential Groovy Tracks | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| CEL Entertainment, Concept Records (Australia) | CEL020/3 |
| 2.9 | What's Going On | 3:52 | Marvin Gaye | Inner City Blues: The Music of Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 530 650-2 |
| 2.1 | What's Going On | 3:58 | Marvin Gaye | The Best of Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 31453-0529-2 |
| 2.1 | What's Going On | 3:58 | Marvin Gaye | The Best of Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 31453-0529-2 |
| 3.1 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | The Master 1961–1984 | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 31453 0492 2 |
| 1.14 | What's Goin' On | 3:50 | Marvin Gaye | The Ultimate Soul Collection | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| WTV (earlier incarnation of Warner.ESP and Warner Music TV) | 9548-33340-2 |
| 2.1 | What's Going On | 3:58 | Marvin Gaye | Anthology | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Universal Music Special Markets | B0008017-02 |
| 1.4 | What’s Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Solid Gold Soul 1971 | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Warner Special Products, Time–Life Music | OPCD-2618A, R838-06 |
| 1.8 | What's Going On | 3:51 | Marvin Gaye | I Heard It Through the Grapevine | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Spectrum Music (Universal Music Group budget label) | 530 793-2 |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Motown | MOTD-0883 |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Motown | 530 883-2 |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Polydor (Japanese domestic artists only, prior to 2023) | POCT-1954 |
| 1.15 | What’s Going On | 3:52 | Marvin Gaye | Motown 40 Forever | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 314530849-2 |
| 1.10 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | Sounds of the Seventies: 70s Gold | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Time–Life Music | M18135 |
| 1.4 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Let's Get It On | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Pegasus (UK budget label till 2008 (later release Pegasus Entertainment)) | PEG CD 120 |
| 2.5 | What’s Going On | 3:51 | Marvin Gaye | Popclassics & Rarities: Het beste uit de Arbeidsvitaminen: Top 100 | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| PolyGram TV (a division of PolyGram Record Operations Ltd.) | 565 777-2 |
| 2.3 | What’s Going On | 3:50 | Marvin Gaye | The Motown Story | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 530 891-2 |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On (UML) | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Motown | 314530883-2 |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On (made in Germany by PMDC) | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Motown | 530 883-2 |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Motown | 314530883-2 |
| 1.2 | What's Going On | 3:51 | Marvin Gaye | The Very Best of Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 530 292-2 |
| 1.2 | What’s Going On | 3:52 | Marvin Gaye | The Ultimate Grammy Box: From the Recording Academy’s Collection of Award Winning Music | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Columbia (Sony Music, worldwide except JP; formerly owned by CBS between 1938–1990 within US/CA/MX), Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment) | C4K 69783 |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | 1970’s R&B Classics | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Compass Productions (budget compilations) | 97307 00572 |
| 1.4 | What's Going On | 3:49 | Marvin Gaye | A música do século, volume 3 | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Editora Caras | SEC-0003 |
| 2.5 | What's Going On | 3:51 | Marvin Gaye | Marvin Is 60: A Tribute Album | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 012153314-2 (012153315-2), 314549520-2 |
| 1.8 | What's Goin' On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Pottery Barn: PB Soul | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Universal Music Special Markets, Rock River | 314564967-2, PB16 |
| 2.4 | What's Going On | 3:48 | Marvin Gaye | Time 100: The Music of Our Lives 1960-1980 | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| wea (has logo with just “wea” on it) | WTVD 37258 |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On (made in Germany by Universal M&L) | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Motown | 530 883-2 |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Marvin Gaye, Vol. 2 – The ’70s | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | |
| 1.1 | What's Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Marvin Gaye, Volume 2: The '70s | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | |
| 1.1 | What's Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Marvin Gaye, Volume 2: The '70s | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Universal Music (plain logo: “Universal Music”) | |
| 1.1 | What's Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Marvin Gaye, Volume 2: The '70s | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 012 153 732-2 |
| 1.10 | What’s Going On | 3:50 | Marvin Gaye | The Love Songs | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown, Universal Music TV (UK, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited) | 545 470-2 |
| 1.1 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Classic Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown, Universal (plain logo “Universal” used by Universal Music and Universal Pictures) | 157 609-2 |
| 1.2 | What’s Going On | 3:52 | Marvin Gaye | The '70s: Original NBC Motion Picture Soundtrack | Various Artists | Album + Soundtrack |
| Island (imprint of Island Records, a division of Universal Music Group) | 314 542 473-2 |
| 2.17 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | Motown: The Classic Years (BMG club edition) | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| UTV Records, BMG Direct (BMG’s direct marketing company/club editions) | 012 159 466-2, D236325 |
| 1.2 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Entertainment Weekly: The Greatest Hits 1971 | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Buddha Records (1998–2002, formerly known as Buddah Records) | 74465 99644 2 |
| 1.10 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Every Great Motown Hit of Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 314 549 517-2 |
| 1.4 | What's Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | Singers and Songwriters: 1970-1971 | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Universal Music Special Markets, Time–Life Music | 314545891-2, 3145458922, 3145458932, R812-02 |
| 1.9 | What's Going On | 3:56 | Marvin Gaye | Soul Train: The Dance Years 1971 | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Rhino (reissue label) | 79834 |
| 1.9 | What's Going On | 3:51 | Marvin Gaye | The Love Songs | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown, Universal Music TV (UK, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited) | 545 470-2 |
| 1.5 | What’s Going On | 3:48 | Marvin Gaye | Funked!: Volume 1 1970 - 1973 | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Débutante | |
| 1.1 | What’s Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | What’s Going On (deluxe edition) | Marvin Gaye | Album |
| Motown | 440 013 404-2 |
| 2.1 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | The Very Best of Marvin Gaye | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Motown, UTV Records | 440 014 367-2 |
| 1.2 | What’s Going On | 3:52 | Marvin Gaye | The Ultimate Grammy Box: From the Recording Academy’s Collection of Award Winning Music | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Columbia (Sony Music, worldwide except JP; formerly owned by CBS between 1938–1990 within US/CA/MX), Legacy (reissue division of Sony Music Entertainment) | C4K 85669 |
| 1.1 | What's Going On | 3:52 | Marvin Gaye | Pure Soul Power | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Universal Music TV (UK, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited) | 556 328-2 |
| 1.2 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Motown 1970s, Volume 2 | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Motown | 440 016 162-2 |
| 1.10 | What’s Going On | 3:52 | Marvin Gaye | Easy | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Universal (plain logo “Universal” used by Universal Music and Universal Pictures) | 520 835-2 |
| 1.5 | What's Going On | 3:48 | Marvin Gaye | Funked! Volume 1 | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| Universal Music Ltda. (Brasil) | 73145249542 |
| 1.7 | What’s Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Heartbeat: Moments | Various Artists | Album + Soundtrack |
| Universal Music TV (UK, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited) | 584093-2 |
| 1.14 | What's Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | Legends of Soul | Marvin Gaye | Album + Compilation |
| Time–Life Music | R616-02 |
| Promotion | |||||||||
| 3.8 | What’s Going On | 3:54 | Marvin Gaye | CD 6 Pack: Compiled From the Charts of Billboard Magazine | Various Artists | Album + Compilation | CEMA Special Markets (a division of Capitol‐EMI Music, Inc.), Pioneer (USA imprint with italic text logo) | S26-57999 | |
| 1.2 | What's Going On | 3:50 | Marvin Gaye | Grandes mitos | Marvin Gaye | EP |
| Universal Music Spain, S.L. (not for release label use!) | GDA GAYE |
| (unknown) | |||||||||
| 1.10 | What's Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Peace Love & Music | Various Artists | Compilation |
| ||
| 1.9 | What’s Going On | 3:53 | Marvin Gaye | Motown Millenium | Various Artists | Album + Compilation |
| ||
Relationships
| producer: | Marvin Gaye |
|---|---|
| mixer: | Lawrence Miles (on 1971-05-06) |
| instruments: | Detroit Symphony Orchestra (on 1971-05-06) The Funk Brothers (on 1971-05-06) |
| percussion [box drum], piano and lead vocals: | Marvin Gaye (on 1971-05-06) |
| background vocals: | Lem Barney (on 1971-05-06) Mel Farr (on 1971-05-06) Marvin Gaye (on 1971-05-06) |
| conductor: | David Van dePitte (on 1971-05-06) |
| recorded at: | Hitsville (Motown Records) in Detroit, United States (on 1971-05-06) |
|---|
| has remixes: | Marvin Gaye - What's Going On (Lóbo Bootleg Remix) by Lóbo (Electronic Musician) What's Going On (NiT GriT remix) |
|---|---|
| sampled by: | W.G.O.N.R.S. by Big Daddy Kane |
| mash-ups: | What’s Going On? by Ill Poetic |
| part of: | Helsingin Sanomat: 100 maailman parasta laulua (2022-1-15) (number: 4) (order: 4) Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 4) (order: 4) The Rolling Stone Magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 6) (order: 6) |
|---|
| recording of: | What’s Going On (on 1971-05-06) |
|---|
Related works
What’s Going On
| lyricist and composer: | Renaldo Benson Al Cleveland (songwriter 1930-1996) Marvin Gaye |
|---|
| publisher: | FCG Music Jobete Music Co., Inc. MG III Music NMG Music Sony/ATV Music Publishing Ltd. Stone Agate Music Corp. イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (until 2021-06-30) ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (from 2021-07-01 to present) |
|---|
| later translated versions: | What’s Going On (Japanese version) |
|---|---|
| is the basis for: | What’s Going On? |
| arrangements: | The Planet Need Protection (What’s Going On) (Forbidden Planet arrangement) |
Play on ListenBrainz