The Enduring Impact Of ‘What’s Going On’

Plus, a Tiny Desk (home) concert from Laurie Anderson and a review of Olivia Rodrigo's debut album.

View this email online by LaTesha Harris, Marissa Lorusso, Lyndsey McKenna and Alex Ramos Soul Train/Getty Images When Rolling Stone magazine updated its famed “500 Greatest Albums Of All Time” feature last year, a new No. 1 was named: Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, released 50 years ago this past Friday. This week, author and scholar Mark Anthony Neal explored the classic album’s momentous impact, and the moment of its release, during which a critical mass of Black musicians brought their politics to the forefront of their work.  1971 also saw the release of Aretha Franklin’s Live at Fillmore West, Sly and the Family Stone’s There's a Riot Goin' On, the debut release from Earth, Wind & Fire and Gil Scott-Heron’s “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.” “The spirit of the '60s lingered,” Neal writes, “but the tone of Black protest had changed – and some artists, like many activists, were no longer invested in presenting their demands with the elixirs of decorum and civility.” Musicians released tributes to the Soledad Brothers, three Black men accused of killing a guard at the California prison where they were jailed, and to the uprising at the Attica Correctional Facility in New York.  Film was also a space of radical revolution in 1971, with the release of the Blaxploitation touchstones Shaft and Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song and their accompanying scores, which transcended the screen and became genuine pop sensations.  The essay, and its exploration of the world into which What’s Going On was released, is a powerful read. It felt especially resonant for us, as NPR celebrates its 50th anniversary and we examine our institutional history. Morning Edition shared the sentiment, and told the story of three individuals – a Vietnam veteran and composer, a civil rights lawyer and an environmental sociologist— inspired by the album's music and its messages. Newsletter continues after sponsor message New Music Bob Boilen’s latest All Songs Considered new music mix features a track from Sleater-Kinney’s forthcoming 10th record, a reimagining of Peter Gabriel by Lowland Hum and a piece written by pianist Bill Evans and recorded by the band Green-House for the label Secretly Canadian’s 25th anniversary celebration series.  On this week’s New Music Friday episode of All Songs Considered, guest host Stephen Thompson runs through the week’s biggest releases, including clever and creative hip-hop from The Internet’s Patrick Paige II, the latest from inventive multi-hyphenate Georgia Anne Muldrow and a triumphant solo release from Allison Russell of Our Native Daughters and Birds of Chicago. Less than six months after smashing streaming records with her runaway hit “drivers license,” Olivia Rodrigo released her debut record this week. Expressive and atmospheric, Sour plays like one bottled-up soliloquy after another, bursting from a quiet observer who’s been paying closer attention than you think. From NPR Live Sessions: Watch British-Nigerian artist Samm Henshaw perform a session from Blundell Studios in London for KUTX.  Featuring This September marks the centennial of golden-age pianist and composer Erroll Garner. It will be celebrated with the release of a previously unissued album, Symphony Hall Concert, a performance from 1959. NPR Music premieres “Moment’s Delight” from the concert, an impressionistic idyll previously only known as a B-side. Play It Forward, All Things Considered's series featuring artists on their music and the musicians who inspire them, features long-time dealer of funky music, George Clinton. Previous guest Angel Bat Dawid's praise set off butterflies in the P-Funk pioneer’s stomach, inspiring him to show love for opera singer and keyboardist Constance Hauman. In 1971, three albums captured a moment when music, culture and current events collided. Alt.Latino turns back the clock to tell the story of WAR's All Day Music, El Chicano's Revolución and Santana's Santana III in this new episode. When they released Skeletons last October, the Nashville duo Brothers Osborne hoped to perform the album for loud, rowdy audiences on tour. But the pandemic-enforced pause in those plans provided an opportunity for brothers John and T.J. Osborne to reflect on who they are and how they present themselves.  Tiny Desk NPR Laurie Anderson is a true artistic revolutionary who has been breaking the boundaries between music, storytelling and technology for decades. Her Tiny Desk (home) concert celebrates the breathtaking album she released in 1982, Big Science. Also this week: The punk band Palberta makes magic out of repeated phrases sung in tight harmony and charmingly zany pop hooks; its Tiny Desk (home) concert is a playful and exuberant reminder of the magic of collaboration. Plus, Kathleen Edwards’ set celebrates her musical journey: from her time as a rising star in the early aughts; to her decision to drop out of the music scene and open a coffee shop; to her first album in eight years, Total Freedom, which came out last year. Plus: We can’t wait to find out who will be this year’s Tiny Desk Contest winner. But winning isn’t everything; check out this Tiny Desk playlist of Contest entrants who didn’t win, but got to come play a Tiny Desk anyway. Incoming On Monday, May 24, Bob Dylan turns the big 8-0. Our friends at World Cafe will be celebrating with a special episode, but we want to hear from you: Do you have an enduring Dylan memory to share? Use the email link at the bottom of this message to send us your story! One More Thing "Poser! Blockhead! Riff raff! Jerk face!" Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WUFT 89.1 (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprmusic@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Books, Pop Culture, Health and more! Need a new playlist? Follow NPR Music on Spotify and Apple Music! You received this message because you're subscribed to NPR Music emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy