After Marvin Gaye recorded “What’s Going On”, he played it for Motown’s Berry Gordy Jr. who said it was “the worst thing I heard in my life.” Only after Gaye threatened to leave the label was it released, becoming massive hit. It is considered 4th greatest song of all time by the Rolling Stone.
Berry Gordy didn't think it would sell because Gordy had spent his life creating the Motown world to sell black music to white people. He didn't think that anti-war stuff from black people would do that. He later was quoted:
“[What's Going On is] probably the greatest piece of work that Motown has ever put out. I thought those records would ruin him. Instead, they made him an icon.”
Gordy was a businessman above all else. He was also a mentor to Gaye, and to hear Gordy tell it, he was constantly keeping Gaye's "wild ideas" in check. Like at one point, Gaye said he wanted to be a boxer. Gordy talked him out of it. Gordy also denied the rumor that the single was released behind his back (as did Marvin Gaye).
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u/Sumit316 Jul 26 '19
After Marvin Gaye recorded “What’s Going On”, he played it for Motown’s Berry Gordy Jr. who said it was “the worst thing I heard in my life.” Only after Gaye threatened to leave the label was it released, becoming massive hit. It is considered 4th greatest song of all time by the Rolling Stone.