Peak
9
Weeks
9
Score
1,668
Chart Year
1971
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Marvin Gaye recorded a string of hit love songs in the '60s, which were usually written by Motown songwriters. In the early '70s, he took control of his career and began writing and performing songs with a more socially conscious message. Gaye grew up in Washington, DC before moving to Detroit in 1960. This song deals with the poverty and hopelessness people living in the ghettos of urban America often felt. >> Gaye gave James Nyx a songwriting credit on this as well as "What's Going On." Nyx was a longtime friend of Gaye who helped him organize and arrange his songs. "Inner City Blues" was covered by four artists/groups in 1972 alone: Grover Washington Jr., Sarah Vaughan, The Chi-Lites and The Impressions. John Mayer covered the song on his 2004 live album, As/Is. Mayer credits hits like "Waiting On The World To Change" as being rooted in the tradition of Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield. This was used in the soundtrack of the 2007 film Zodiac. "Inner City Blues" was featured in the HBO Sports Documentary A City on Fire: The Story of the '68 Detroit Tigers. Gaye was loyal to Detroit teams and even wanted to become a professional football player with the Lions in 1970 after the death of his singing partner Tammi Terrell left him depressed and confused about his role in the music industry. The singer had never played football before in his life, but he was confident he could become just as big a star on the field as he was in the recording studio. Former Lions cornerback Lem Barney told the LA Times of Coach Joe Schmidt's first interaction with the newly bulked-up Gaye: "If I could sing like you, I certainly wouldn't want to play football," he had said. With the weight of Gaye's music career also resting on the tryout, Schmidt decided the singer was too much of a liability. Would-be teammates Barney and running back Mel Farr provided backing vocals on subsequent, politically charged hit "What's Going On."
Rockets, moon shots Spend it on the have nots Money, we make it Fore we see it you take it Oh, make you wanna holler The way they do my life Make me wanna holler The way they do my life This ain't livin' This ain't livin' No, no baby, this ain't livin' No, no, no Inflation no chance To increase finance Bills pile up sky high Send that boy off to die Make me wanna holler The way they do my life Make me wanna holler The way they do my life Hang-ups, let downs Bad breaks, set backs Natural fact is I can't pay my taxes Oh, make me wanna holler And throw up both my hands Yea, it makes me wanna holler And throw up both my hands Crime is increasing Trigger happy policing Panic is spreading God knows where We're heading Oh, make me wanna holler They don't understand Make me wanna holler They don't understand
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oct 9, 1971 | 62 | 64 |
| 2 | Oct 16, 1971 | 35 | 91 |
| 3 | Oct 23, 1971 | 21 | 105 |
| 4 | Oct 30, 1971 | 19 | 107 |
| 5 | Nov 6, 1971 | 9 | 117 |
| 6 | Nov 13, 1971 | 9 | 117 |
| 7 | Nov 20, 1971 | 12 | 114 |
| 8 | Nov 27, 1971 | 22 | 104 |
| 9 | Dec 4, 1971 | 29 | 97 |