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.
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