Over 40 years ago, soul singer Marvin Gaye wrote this poignant song about the environment, in which he pondered “How much more abuse from man can you stand?” Produced by Gaye, who plays piano on the track, and backed by session musicians The Funk Brothers, “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)” — from his album What’s Going On — peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s Pop Singles chart and sold more than a million copies. Sadly, such lines as “Oil wasted on the oceans and upon our seas/Fish full of mercury…Radiation in the ground and in the sky/Animals and birds who live nearby are dying” are still relevant today. — K.B.