Marvin Gaye. Motown. Sigh … they just don’t make it like that anymore, my friends. In some ways, this is a redux, for I did play it here three years ago, but I have added some trivia and two additional versions (Glady’s Knight and the Pips, and Smokey Robinson) to the post.
This song was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Motown Records in 1966. Strong first came up with the idea and asked the famous Motown songwriters Holland-Dozier-Holland to work on it with them, but the team refused to credit another writer (egos, egos everywhere), so Whitfield and Strong it was.
The first recording of the song to be released was produced by Whitfield for Gladys Knight & the Pips and released as a single in September 1967 when it went to number two in the Billboard chart. Smokey Robinson and the Miracles were the first to record the song, but theirs wouldn’t be released until years later on an album called Special Occasion. The Isley Brothers then took a crack at it, but their version wasn’t released. Whitfield and Strong then had Marvin Gaye record the song but still no luck: Motown head Berry Gordy chose Holland-Dozier-Holland’s Your Unchanging Love over Grapevine as his next single. Finally, a new Motown act Gladys Knight and the Pips recorded the song as a gospel rocker. Their version was a hit, entering the Top 40 in November 1967 and going to #2 in the U.S.
The Marvin Gaye version was placed on his 1968 album In the Groove, where it gained the attention of radio disc jockeys, and Motown founder Berry Gordy finally agreed to its release as a single in October 1968, when it went to the top of the Billboard Pop Singles chart for seven weeks from December 1968 to January 1969 and became for a time the biggest hit single on the Motown label.
Mavin Gaye’s version is, and will likely always be, my favourite, but Gladys Knight and Smokey Robinson certainly deserve honourable mention, so I have included them here.
I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Marvin Gaye
Ooh, I bet you’re wonderin’ how I knew
‘Bout your plans to make me blue
With some other guy you knew before
Between the two of us guys you know I love you more
It took me by surprise I must say
When I found out yesterday
Don’tcha know that I
Heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
Oh I’m just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey yeah
(Heard it through the grapevine)
(Not much longer would you be my baby, ooh, ooh, ooh)
I know a man ain’t supposed to cry
But these tears I can’t hold inside
Losin’ you would end my life you see
‘Cause you mean that much to me
You could have told me yourself
That you love someone else
Instead I
Heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
And I’m just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey yeah
(Heard it through the grapevine)
(Not much longer would you be my baby, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
People say believe half of what you see, son
And none of what you hear
But I can’t help bein’ confused
If it’s true please tell me dear
Do you plan to let me go
For the other guy you loved before?
Don’tcha know I
Heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Baby I heard it through the grapevine
Ooh I’m just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey yeah
(Heard it through the grapevine)
(Not much longer would you be my baby, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Honey, honey, I know
That you’re lettin’ me go
Said, I heard it through the grapevine
Heard it through the grapevine
Songwriters: Barrett Strong / Norman Whitfield
I Heard It Through the Grapevine (American Tour Live) lyrics © Stone Agate Music, Emi Music Publishing France, Jobete Music Co Inc, Stone Agate Music Corp
Bring on that Motown! Three great versions, although Gladys Knight is my fave.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad you liked it! In my book, Motown rules the day and I can’t think of many I don’t love.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hear, hear! Pun intended. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the history of the songs. They are also great. Michael
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure, Michael! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Marvin Gaye does the definitive version, it’s brilliant, I didn’t mind Smokey’s version, I’m big fan but much as I adore Gladys (and i do) I never want to hear that again. I thought it was a very poor arrangement and the tempo was off for what is a love song.
Cwtch
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m with you on this one. I don’t dislike any of the three, but give me Marvin for this song!
Cwtch
LikeLiked by 1 person
But, but, but, you didn’t mention the CCR long version (what, ten, eleven minutes), which also modestly charted. But all these hits based on the same song shows what a great song it is. Funny, but when friends talk about it, people have different recollections of the various hits and are often surprised to hear of other versions.
Great memories. Cheers
LikeLiked by 3 people
Well, for one thing I wasn’t aware there was such a thing until Clive mentioned it in an earlier comment. But even if I had known, I likely would not have included it here, for 11 minutes is just too darned long for one song! Glad you liked the song, even if I left out the CCR version!
Hugs ‘n cheers!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Classic
LikeLiked by 3 people
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so right:” they don’t make it like that anymore” 😊🙋♀️🐝
LikeLiked by 3 people
I’m glad you liked it! 🙋♀️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jill, I like both version by Gladys Knight and Marvin Gaye. They each use the unique style of the singer. Keith
LikeLiked by 3 people
That’s true. My favourite is still Marvin Gaye, but I respect both other versions. Clive tells me that Creedence did an 11-minute version of it!
LikeLike
Jill, I remember them doing one, but did not know it lasted so long. Sounds like an Allman Brothers’ song in length. Keith
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this song!!!! A great choice!!!! 💙👍💙
LikeLiked by 3 people
Awesome! I’m so glad! ❤
LikeLike
For me, Marvin Gaye’s has always been the ‘go to’ version of this song. I love it! So much so that it was one of my Tuesday Tunes a few weeks ago. Now, I wonder why you didn’t mention Creedence’s 11 minute epic version…
LikeLiked by 3 people
Me too. While I adore Smokey Robinson, Marvin has this one hands down. Ha ha … I didn’t know there was a CCR version that runs 11 minutes! I might find it just to have a listen, but I usually try to keep the songs on my music posts to somewhere around 4 minutes. People have short attention spans!
LikeLiked by 2 people
The CCR version is on their Cosmo’s Factory album, which I played to bits at the time. I’m with you on the short songs thing – I try to avoid longer ones but if they’re good I’ll include them anyway!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll give it a listen a bit later. Yes, if a song is really great, I’ll play a longer version, but I do prefer shorter ones as a rule.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d be interested to see what you think. It’s the same song, but different.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did listen … to all 11+ minutes, in fact … and you may be surprised to know that I really liked it! It sounded very familiar, so I’m guessing I had heard it before, or perhaps a shortened version. I expected not to like it, but I really did!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m really pleased you enjoyed it – I loved every track on that album, which I bought on its release.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was surprised, but as soon as it started, I was hooked!
LikeLiked by 1 person
All three have their good points, Jill. Thanks for the backstory.
LikeLiked by 3 people
My pleasure, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person