a very good 'walking around in a big city' headphones record. i adore it.

but it's actually 'What's Going On' minus the question mark, i.e. with a descriptive rather than a questioning tone. I'd say this is quite an important distinction to make, although in the chorus of the title track his intonation does seem to be inquisitive in nature

Anyway, it is a superb album. His voice is just incredible, technically beautiful but imbued with so much emotion. And the way it works around the stunning orchestration is perfect. I really love how incredibly well each track runs into the next (apart from the slightly jarring intro to Mercy Mercy Me, but i suppose that's because it was taken out as a single), and i particularly like the way it ends with the "mother, mother" section, effectively ending it as it began and further imposing that thread of continuity which runs throughout it.

Gaaaah.. it's just fucking awesome, innit

I bought it around the time it cane out (1971/72) and listened to nothing else on my gramaphone player for weeks and weeks

Can we all just stop for a moment and take in the majesty of the greatest bass work on an album as a whole. The man was a legend, the bass is almost as important to the album as Gayes voice. The swing, the soul the heart of the album all came from James Jamersons Bass finger (that's right he used 1 finger to pick all those notes - the finger they called 'the hook'!) and if that isn't enough, legend has it he played the whole thing in one take fucked out of his head lying on his back!!!!! A true musical legend!