Marvin Gaye: What's Going On and the Last Days of the Motown Sound

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With a career that exemplified the maturation of romantic black pop into a sophisticated form spanning social and sexual polities, Marvin Gaye was one of the most consistent and enigmatic of the Motown hit makers. Through interviews with many of the artists and record-company employees closest to the singer, Edmonds examines in detail the making of the legendary What's Going On. In an era of Vietnam and civil rights protests, Gaye's determination and vision resulted not only in inspirational, pioneering grooves but in an album that challenged America to take a long, hard look at itself.