"Right On"-1971 (What's Going On) Marvin Gaye's Thesis

The Enduring Gifts of MARVIN GAYE Podcast

Hi friends, in this episode we explore the song "Right On" from Marvin Gaye's 1971 work-of-art album "What's Going On." I believe, if Marvin Gaye could only play you one song off of this album, he'd play you THIS song. I feel that this one song conveys the full message of the album more than any other, making it Marvin's thesis. It is one of only 2 songs on the album that is not segued into from a previous track, the song "What's Going On" being the only other. I go so far as to declare the song "Right On" to be the most unique in Marvin Gaye's catalog. I make this declaration pensively, with a challenge to prove myself wrong, but I think it will be hard to do. In this episode, when it comes to this song, I ask more questions than provide opinions. What IS this song? What is the sound of this song? How long is this song and why? What instruments are played in this song? And most importantly, WHAT IS THE FORM of this song?

I provide my insights into the experience we receive by listening to this song from the 1972 live-recorded concert of the entire "What's Going On" album. Marvin gave this performance at the Kennedy Center Auditorium as the conclusion to his Washington D.C.-declared "Marvin Gaye Day" festivities. It was a huge honor, to be recognized for the day, and this was a landmark concert performance delivered in the very early months of the Kennedy Center being in existence. And more than that, it is his first concert performance since he'd removed himself from live performing, following Tammi Terrell's death. The concert's opening performance "Sixties Medley" fully gives us the magnitude of that significance.

We discuss the fact that Marvin Gaye was a "physical" musician, meaning he had a masterful ability to physically play objects/instruments; His piano playing ability is on full display in this track. I share how it is this year alone, that my mind is being blown by this fact. Because the only instrument I've focused on studying for these past 26 years has been Marvin's unparalleled VOICE! The song "Right On" is the longest song Marvin Gaye had recorded and released by this point in his 10+ year career. And with it, he fully takes us into the orbit of his musical world in 7 minutes and 31 seconds. It is a masterful, unique presentation from his very first, FULL UNLEASHING of his enduring musical gift upon us, and he delivered it at an expert-level, being nothing less than an expert at his craft by this point in his career.

Please visit our PInterest page which is full of some very hard and fun work I'm putting in to capture all of the beautiful and relevant imagery I can find, of our revered subject: Marvin Gaye. It really is my goal for you to be able to see (and hear, via many videos I'm finding) for yourself, relevant references I make in these episodes. I've got 1000+ pictures & videos of rare television and concert performances, documentaries, and even the one and only MOVIE that Marvin Gaye made!! You can find us at: https://www.pinterest.com/marvingaye_enduring_gifts/

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