What's Going On : Live＜限定盤/Turquoise Vinyl＞

Lost somewhat in the bounty of previously unreleased material distributed across the deluxe editions of Marvin Gayes 1971-1981 studio albums, this performance appeared in totality on the second disc for Whats Going On. Eighteen years later, newly mixed by John Morales, it gets an appropriate, separate release with in-depth contextualization from Gaye biographer David Ritz. Context here is crucial, and theres a lot of it. For starters, the occasion was Washington, D.C.s Marvin Gaye Day, the events of which culminated in the reluctantly present singers first concert in four years. Struck with stage fright, still deeply affected by the death of duet partner Tammi Terrell, and resentful of his hometown, he took to the stage of the then-new Kennedy Center to perform the entirety of Whats Going On, backed by most of the album contributors, including the Funk Brothers and the Andantes, and locally sourced musicians for strings and horns. The star begins with a 13-minute medley of nine hits from the 60s. The tempo on some of the hits is slowed, setting the tone for the run-through of Gayes year-old masterpiece. He erroneously starts with Right On instead of the title song, so the second side is played first. The sets emotional peak is therefore reached early with Wholy Holy, one of many instances where Gayes voice sounds unaffected by years away from the stage. Rather than end the set by promoting Gayes new single, Youre the Man, Gaye and company roll through second renditions of Inner City Blues and Whats Going On. Thats when it sounds like a proper celebration. ~ Andy Kellman