Ann and Nancy were more than suburban babes. From a young age, the sisters exhibited talent that turned heads everywhere they went.

Their questionable decision making and unquestionable talent would lead to Heart’s breakout album, Dreamboat Annie.

Really, what better way to skyrocket into the rock n’ roll industry than having Ann shack up with a Vietnam-dodging music man?

How else do you build a healthy work environment by having little-sister Nancy settle for the music man’s brother, even if it’s just for convenience?

What could possibly be wrong with being women on tour when a toxic war is going on in the background?

Buckle up, Heart has a lot to say about that!

Sources:

Wikipedia, ChatGPT, Billboard, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with an honorable mention to the book “Kicking and Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll” by Ann and Nancy Wilson

And we're back with part 2 of our What's Going On Marvin Gaye series. In this episode, we talk about the end of Marvin's beginning and the beginning of his end. This album made him a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. No longer was he doing what everyone was telling him to do, now Marvin was putting out the music he wanted to put out. But at what cost? In this episode, you will learn about Marvin's rise in paranoia, talent, record sales, and the shocking truth behind his death. Rock on my dudes!

Marvin Gaye was on a roll. He had worked his way up from a studio musician to a solo artist in record time. In fact, by 1971, his talent transformed him into the face and voice of Motown. But behind the scenes of the great Marvin Gaye, he was tired. He was tired of the lovey dovey love songs that got him his fame. Real things like the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War had captured his attention. Marvin had the voice, and wanted to use it to spread awareness of the atrocities happening in his community. But Marvin was told no. Motown wasn’t supposed to be edgy, it was supposed to pump out a variation of the same-old love song to get the American dollar. Marvin was tired of following the rules though. He was tired of doing everything everyone told him to do. So Marvin rebelled and made a masterpiece of a protest album we now know of as What’s Going On. This defiance marked the beginning of Marvin’s best work...and the beginning of his dramatic demise.

References

Billboard. (n.d.). Marvin Gaye. https://www.billboard.com/artist/marvin-gaye/.

Hill, M. (1987). Marvin Gaye. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

https://rockhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Marvin_Gaye_1987.pdf

Ritz, D. (2010). Divided soul: The life of Marvin Gaye: The life of Marvin Gaye. Omnibus Press.

Rolling Stone. (2024, January 4). The 500 greatest albums of all time.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/prince-and-the-revolut

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