1971 Hit, Ranked 'Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On', Ranked 'Best Album of All Time', Turns 55 Today Album of All Time', Turns 55 Today
On May 21, 1971, Marvin Gaye released a formative album that would later be recognized as one of, if not the very best, albums ever recorded. What's Going On was Gaye's eleventh studio album, and it cemented his legacy as a legendary figure in the world of soul music.
Although Gaye was already well-known for his soulful singles long before What's Going On, this album saw him operate on a whole new creative level. The record loosely tells the story of a Vietnam war veteran returning home to the United States and witnessing the suffering and injustice he left behind. Most of the songs blend into one another, making it a true album experience that benefits from being listened to as a complete piece.
What's Going On sees Gaye operating at his most political and rebellious, telling stories about povery, classism, and social unrest that remains just as relevant today as they were over fifty years ago. It was a huge step forward for the singer, who had previously been involved in this kind of activism but rarely let it bleed into his work.
When asked about the themes of his album, Marvin Gaye said: "The world's never been as depressing as it is right now. We're killing the planet, killing our young men in the streets, and going to war around the world. Human rights … that's the theme." (via Rolling Stone).At the end of the final song on What's Going On, the lament "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)," the music shifts back into a jazzier reprise of the title track. As the album fades out, the groove continues on. Five decades later, it still hasn't stopped.
Gaye's album was an immediate commercial success, landing at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Soul Albums chart and remaining there for nine weeks. It also spent over a year on the Billboard Top LPs, though it never reached No. 1.
The album is widely credited with introducing mainstream audiences to soul music, turning what had previously been a fairly niche genre into one of the top-performing records of the year. Today, it's remembered as one of the foundational albums of the genre.
Beyond this commercial success, What's Going On was an immediate hit with critics-and has since been named the greatest album ever recorded by several noteworthy publications. Perhaps most famously, the record was ranked No. 1 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list.
They wrote: "At the end of the final song on What's Going On, the lament "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)," the music shifts back into a jazzier reprise of the title track. As the album fades out, the groove continues on. Five decades later, it still hasn't stopped."
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published May 21, 2026 at 10:03 AM.