5 Things to Know About Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

It was released on May 21, 1971. The album came out on Tamla Records, a subsidiary of Motown.

It marked a major artistic shift for Marvin Gaye. He moved away from Motown’s polished pop sound toward socially conscious themes.

The album was initially controversial at Motown. Founder Berry Gordy resisted releasing it, calling it “too political” and uncommercial.

It became a critical and commercial success. The album reached No. 1 on the R&B charts and No. 6 on the Billboard 200.

Its influence endures decades later. What’s Going On is widely considered one of the greatest albums ever made.