1971: A Great Year in Black Pop Ambition

Marvin Gaye's 'What's Goin' On' is just one part of an historic year

This month I’ve done a number of interviews about Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Goin’ On’ album, which turns fifty this year. In a poll Rolling Stone magazine named it the number album of the rock era. It’s been cited by activists and social commentators as a recording that speaks to the Black Lives Matter movement like few contemporary albums do. It’s seamless…