1971 Hit Motown Album That Was Expected to Flop Released 55 Years Ago Today
Marvin Gaye's iconic 'What's Goin' On' album just marked over 5 decades since its release.
Following the hit song, by the same name, that came out in January of 1971, Gaye's full album which was ultimately a form of political activism, touching on themes of police brutality and references to the Vietnam War, was released later that year on May 20, 1971.
However, as the iconic singer was signed to Motown, the label known for upbeat and lighthearted dance music by the artists like the Jackson 5 and Stevie Wonder, the album reportedly wasn't expected to do well, if it was released at all, by the record label's head exec, Berry Gordy. In fact, he reportedly said the album would be, "the worst thing he ever heard," according to Apple Music. Gordy was also hesitant to move forward with the song and album as Gaye had established himself as a romantic singer with songs like "Sexual Healing" and "Let's Get It On," and singing about heavier topics would be a major pivot.
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"Motown thought Marvin was absolutely insane, and that I had lost my marbles too," the album's arranger David Van DePitte said, per The Independent in 2009. "This was going to be the biggest fiasco that ever was. Nobody believed in it at all."
However, the famed music exec caved and gave Gaye one month to write the rest of the album.
"I work best under pressure and when I'm depressed," he told the Detroit Free Press at the time, according to Rolling Stone. "The world's never been as depressing as it is right now."
Related: 1971 Career-Defining Classic Was a Massive No. 1 Hit 55 Years Ago Today
Gaye, who perhaps knew the album would strike a chord, put somewhat of a disclaimer in the album's liner notes, per The New York Times.
"If you like the artist well enough to buy his or her album, you don't have to be told how groovy it is, or which tunes you should dig, or how great his or her majesty is," he wrote. "I mean the fact that people just won't let us think for ourselves really bugs me! Now just because I like "Mercy Mercy Me" and the one that says "Save The Children," shouldn't influence anyone. And you shouldn't have to pay any special attention to the lyrics on "Flyin' High In The Friendly Sky" just because I think you ought to."
The album went on to spend nine weeks at No. 1 of the Billboard Soul chart.
Most recently the it was included in a "Greatest of All Time" ranking by Rolling Stone.
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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 5:00 AM.