Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

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Should we keep to a single album a week or do two?

Poll ended at Wed Aug 27, 2014 5:10 pm

One album per week
16
80%
Two albums per week
4
20%
 
Total votes: 20

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BleuPanda
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Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by BleuPanda »

The basic idea is to rank the tracks off the album each week to see how each track compares to each other. It's an excuse to go back to classic albums and a way to gauge the best and worst tracks of the most acclaimed albums. Simply rank all the tracks from your favorite to your least.

I plan to go in cycles of decades with the 1950s and 2010s once every other cycle. I will go with the top album of each respective decade, but I might skip questionable albums (I doubt anyone wants to rank the tracks of 69 Love Songs, no matter how great the album is). Next week will be Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back. Though, as asked in the poll above, I'm seeing if people would want to do 2 albums per week instead of one. Depending on how the vote turns out, we may also do Nirvana's Nevermind.

Also, if you missed an album that you want to rank, you can do so in this thread. Please keep it to 1 old album per week. I will update the results. Please don't bump previous threads. I'd like to keep everything in the current topic and the result topic.

Image

What's Going On track listing:
1. What's Going On
2. What's Happening Brother
3. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
4. Save the Children
5. God is Love
6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
7. Right On
8. Wholy Holy
9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
Last edited by BleuPanda on Thu Aug 21, 2014 2:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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BleuPanda
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by BleuPanda »

My Ranking:
What's Going On
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Right On
What's Happening Brother
Save the Children
Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
God is Love
Wholy Holy

This was a whole lot harder than last week. What's Going On has a consistent sound through a lot of the tracks.
Henry
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by Henry »

6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
1. What's Going On
9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
2. What's Happening Brother
5. God is Love
7. Right On
4. Save the Children
3. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
8. Wholy Holy
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Romain
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by Romain »

BleuPanda wrote:The basic idea is to rank the tracks off the album each week to see how each track compares to each other. It's an excuse to go back to classic albums and a way to gauge the best and worst tracks of the most acclaimed albums. Simply rank all the tracks from your favorite to your least.

Also, if you missed an album that you want to rank, you can do so in this thread. Please keep it to 1 old album per week. I will update the results. Please don't bump previous threads. I'd like to keep everything in the current topic and the result topic.
We can maybe add a second parameter: like/dislike the song.

I can classify all the songs of an album without any like, even the first one in my list.

What do you thinl? To complicated?!

Whatever, here is my choice for this great album :

6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
2. What's Happening Brother
9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
1. What's Going On
7. Right On
4. Save the Children
8. Wholy Holy
3. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
5. God is Love
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by TimmyWing »

1. What's Going On
2. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
3. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
4. Save the Children
5. What's Happening Brother
6. God Is Love
7. Right On
8. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
9. Wholy Holy
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Honorio
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by Honorio »

1. What's Going On
6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
5. God is Love
2. What's Happening Brother
4. Save the Children
7. Right On
3. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
8. Wholy Holy

We all know which songs will end at the top. Marvin knew it too because he (or the record company) put these three songs as the A-side of the three singles. Moreover those three songs were the only ones that received Top 20 votes on our recent 1971 Poll (only nicolas voted for two other songs on his Top 20).
It's not easy at all to rank an album like "What's Going On" in my opinion because Marvin Gaye focused on the album, designing it like a big medley with the songs flowing smoothly and fusing easily one into another, especially songs 1-6 (the original vinyl A-side).
Last edited by Honorio on Fri Aug 22, 2014 6:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
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GucciLittlePiggy
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by GucciLittlePiggy »

1. What's Going On (landslide victory for this song and I actually love the next few songs, so that tells you how I feel about this one)
9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
2. What's Happening Brother
6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
7. Right On
5. God is Love
4. Save the Children
3. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
8. Wholy Holy

The songs in the 2nd through 5th positions were very difficult to rank. Also, this album features one of the best opener/closer combos I've heard.
I just wanted to be one of those ghosts
You thought that you could forget
And then I haunt you via the rear view mirror
On a long drive from the back seat...
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by Rocky Raccoon »

This has always been an album of thirds for me. Three great songs, three good songs, and three that are merely okay. As already noted, it's had to differentiate some of the songs because of the similar sound throughout.

1. What's Going On
6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
2. What's Happening Brother
3. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
5. God is Love
4. Save the Children
7. Right On
8. Wholy Holy
DaveC
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by DaveC »

1. What's Going On
9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
4. Save the Children
2. What's Happening Brother
7. Right On
6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
3. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
8. Wholy Holy
5. God is Love
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Maschine_Man
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by Maschine_Man »

I voted for 1 album, just because there are already so many games going on at the moment, maybe when some of them finish, we could bump it up to two?

I actually just started listening to this album for the first time this week (as it is the first on the top albums list that I'm not familiar with) so this is perfect timing!

EDIT:
What's Going On is clearly the top for me. It's a brilliant song that I know will hit my 'Best Of' list very soon. Inner City Blues is a brilliant closer and What's Happening Brother is another highlight. The second band of songs are still wonderful, but to me they make more sense within the album.

1. What's Going On
9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
2. What's Happening Brother

6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
7. Right On
3. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
4. Save the Children
8. Wholy Holy
5. God is Love
Last edited by Maschine_Man on Mon Aug 25, 2014 3:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by Bruno »

1. What's Going On
6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
2. What's Happening Brother
7. Right On
5. God is Love
4. Save the Children
3. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
8. Wholy Holy
stone37
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by stone37 »

What's Going On track listing:

1. What's Going On (Ranks in my all-time top 100)
2. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) (top 600)
3. God is Love (top 1000)
4. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky) (top 1100)
5. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (top 1400)
6. What's Happening Brother (Top 2700)
7. Save the Children (Top 3000)
8. Wholy Holy (OK, nothing spectacular)
9. Right On (OK, nothing spectacular)
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Pierre
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by Pierre »

9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
1. What's Going On
6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
7. Right On
2. What's Happening Brother
4. Save the Children
8. Wholy Holy
3. Flyin' High (in the Friendly Sky)
5. God Is Love

Hard to rank this album, not because of the continuity between the songs, but because it is one of my very favourite albums of all time. The only minor setback is the too heavy religious imagery on two songs for my tastes, but otherwise it's a perfect piece of art and a real pleasure to go back to every time. :music-listening:
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by jamieW »

1. What's Going On
9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
3. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
2. What's Happening Brother
4. Save the Children
5. God is Love
7. Right On
8. Wholy Holy
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BleuPanda
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by BleuPanda »

Two more days
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by BleuPanda »

New topic will be up once I get back from class, which should be sometime in the 5 range (it's a class on Italian Comedy films, so I have no idea if we're going to be watching an entire film on the first day or not).
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by Sweepstakes Ron »

1. What's Going On
2. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
3. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
4. What's Happening Brother
5. God Is Love
6. Right On
7. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
8. Save the Children
9. Wholy Holy
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bootsy
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by bootsy »

1. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
2. What's Going On
3. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
4. What's Happening Brother
5. God Is Love
6. Save the Children
7. Right On
8. Wholy Holy
9. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
slick
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by slick »

9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
1. What's Going On
6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
2. What's Happening Brother
7. Right On
5. God is Love
4. Save the Children
8. Wholy Holy
3. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
antonius
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by antonius »

1. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
2. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
3. What's Going On
4. Right On
5. What's Happening Brother
6. God is Love
7. Save the Children
8. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
9. Wholy Holy
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IllumiThottie
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by IllumiThottie »

1) Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)
2) Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
3) What's Going On
4) Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
5) What's Happening Brother
6) Right On
7) Wholy Holy
8) Save the Children
9) God Is Love

Favorite album :D
Inner City Blues is also my favorite song. Obvious from my profile pick? Thought there'd be some more love for Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky), I think it has the most brilliant lyrics on the album.
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by krendler »

06 | Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
01 | What's Going On
09 | Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
02 | What's Happening Brother
05 | God is Love
04 | Save the Children
07 | Right On
03 | Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
08 | Wholy Holy
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by bonnielaurel »

1. What's Going On
6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
2. What's Happening Brother
4. Save the Children
5. God is Love
8. Wholy Holy
7. Right On
3. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
De gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum.
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by ordinaryperson »

"You see, war is not the answer. For only love can conquer hate."

01 | What's Going On
02 | What's Happening Brother
03 | Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
04 | Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
05 | God is Love
06 | Right On
07 | Save the Children
08 | Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
09 | Wholy Holy
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by CupOfDreams »

1) Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
2) What's Going On
3) What's Happening Brother
4) Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
5) Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
6) Right On
7) Wholy Holy
8) God Is Love
9) Save the Children
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by Toni »

1. What's Going On
2. What's Happening Brother
6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
5. God is Love
7. Right On
9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
3. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
8. Wholy Holy
4. Save the Children

All songs are good, though, specially when the album is heard as a whole.
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by mileswide »

06| Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
07| Right On
09| Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
05| God Is Love
03| Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
01| What's Going On
08| Wholy Holy
02| What's Happening Brother
04| Save the Children
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Re: Rank the Tracks: Marvin Gaye's What's Going On

Post by ArcadeFire »

1. What's Going On
2. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
3.Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
4. Right On (always felt this is one of his best, beautiful vocals)
5. Flyin' High (In the Friendly Sky)
6. God is Love
7. Save the Children
8. What's Happening Brother
9. Wholy Holy
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