Bruce Springsteen on the inspiration of Marvin Gaye: ‘This entire record is a masterpiece’
Since hearing The Beatles on the car radio as a child, Bruce Springsteen felt certain that music would shape his life. Although he could never have predicted that he would one day be known as ‘The Boss’ and revered as a musical icon, Springsteen couldn’t envision any other path where he truly belonged. Music wasn’t just a passion—it was his destiny.
The impact of the Fab Four’s iconic performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 made him purchase his first guitar and attempt to emulate his earliest musical heroes. As soon as he could play the instrument to an adequate standard, the songs began to flow out of him, and Springsteen’s appreciation for music became an all-encompassing obsession. Additionally, it wasn’t restricted solely to rock ‘n’ roll, and Springsteen would seek out as many records as possible to bolster his understanding of songwriting.
Springsteen has spent countless hours immersed in records, making him a fountain of musical knowledge whose insights carry significant weight. The Boss doesn’t hand out praise lightly, but when a piece of music resonates with his soul, he isn’t shy about sharing its importance. When an album or song moves him, he ensures everyone knows just how deeply it has impacted him.
One album Springsteen views as the peak of musical artistry is Marvin Gaye’s timeless What’s Going On. The record is one that every music lover should own a copy of in their collection, and Springsteen certainly subscribes to that belief. Similarly to Springsteen’s Nebraska, which he considers to be the album that represents himself best, Gaye suffered immensely during the making of What’s Going On. Nevertheless, they successfully created their magnum opus amid the personal torture they felt while making the respective albums.
When Gaye recorded the material, his mental health issues dragged him toward the brink, a state that left him questioning his existence while also examining the dire condition of the world around him. His mental health had slowly been deteriorating for some time for a number of reasons, which collided to create a nightmare cocktail.
Tragically, his singing partner Tammi Terrell developed a brain tumour, which led to her death in 1970. Additionally, Gaye was going through marital problems with Anna Gordy, issues with the IRS and Motown Records, as well as a growing dependency on cocaine, which likely stemmed from his other issues.
Gaye’s life was a recipe for disaster. Everything that could go wrong did, and he saw no light at the end of the tunnel during the darkest moment of this period. Therefore, one night, in a Detroit hotel room, Gaye attempted to take his own life with a handgun, but thankfully, his father-in-law intervened. Thankfully, Gaye viewed music as a way to deal with these issues. His social consciousness had also been awakened before making What’s Going On, which altered his vision for the record. Therefore, the seminal album wasn’t just about his own life but also about tackling the struggles and injustices that society throws up.
Gaye explained to Rolling Stone: “In 1969 or 1970, I began to re-evaluate my whole concept of what I wanted my music to say … I was very much affected by letters my brother sent me from Vietnam, as well as the social situation here at home. I realised that I had to put my own fantasies behind me if I wanted to write songs that would reach the souls of people. I wanted them to take a look at what was happening in the world.”
While Gaye’s brand of soul isn’t overtly similar to Springsteen’s heartland rock, he connected with the pain that inspired the album. Speaking on the BBC radio programme Desert Island Discs, Springsteen said: “This entire record, from start to finish, is a masterpiece. It was sultry and sexual while at the same time dealing with street-level politics. That had a big influence on me.”
Masterpieces come in all shapes and sizes, as Springsteen recognises. The likenesses between his work and Gaye’s are almost nonexistent at face value, but the influence becomes clear upon digging underneath the surface. They both acknowledged the opportunity to use their art to help spread positive messages to improve the world, enlighten the public about the plight of others, and, most importantly, provide a voice to the voiceless.
