10 Pop Albums That Are Perfect From Front To Back

If there was one common thread going through the pop realm in the '60s, it was the fact that everyone was pissed off. From The Beatles making their stance against the Vietnam War abundantly clear and the entire rock sphere rebelling against violence, people were ready for a change of the guard. For as harsh as most of the protest music could sound, Marvin Gaye made this idealistic society seem like heaven on Earth.

Make no mistake, there's a lot of genuine anger and frustration on What's Going On, from the title track's indictment of innocent soldiers being put to death overseas to the hopeless future many urban families live in "Inner City Blues." However, this record really shines in its melodic sensibilities, which are able to bring these messages across right under the noses of the authority.

You may not want to learn about the harsh realities that afflict the world, but when the choruses and arrangements are this beautiful, you stand up and you take notice. Gaye had expressed during recording that he felt like the songs he was writing were being channeled by God, which makes a lot of sense considering the heavenly forces needed to make something as gorgeous as "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology.)" With messages that are still pertinent to modern society, Marvin was either way ahead of his time or we still have a lot of work to do.