The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020) - No. 1

Rolling Stone - 2020

The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time

No. 1 - What's Going On

by Marvin Gaye

Released in May 1971

11th album by Marvin Gaye

Genres considered - Soul, R&B, Progressive Soul, Psychedelic Soul

No. 1 on Billboard Top LPs

"...classic of 1970s soul..."

"...one of the greatest albums of all time..."

"...landmark recording in popular music..."

Best album of all time - NME (New Musical Express, 1985)

No. 49 on Pitchfork's Top 100 Albums of the 1970s (2004)

No. 1 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020)

"Greatest Album of the 20th Century" (The Guardian, 1999)

Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (1998)

Entered into the National Recording Registry (2003)

"What's Going On" 

- Released in January 1971

- Title track/Lead single

- No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100

- No. 1 on Billboard Soul Singles

- No. 4 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (No. 6 in 2021 & 2024)

- No. 15 on Rolling Stone's The 100 Best Protest Songs of All Time (2025)

Review Scores -

AllMusic - 5/5 Stars

Chicago Tribune - 4/4 Stars

MusicHound R&B - 5/5

The Observer - 5/5 Stars

Rolling Stone - 4/5 Stars

The Rolling Stone Album Guide - 5/5 Stars

Slant Magazine - 4/5 Stars

The Village Voice - B

Track List -

Side One -

1.  What's Going On

2.  What's Happening Brother

3.  Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)

4.  Save the Children

5.  God is Love

6.  Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)

Side Two -

1.  Right On

2.  Wholy Holy

3.  Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)

Certified Gold in the U.S.

Certified Platinum in the UK

(Wikipedia)