1968
I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE * MARVIN GAYE * TAMLA MOTOWN 686 * UK
One of those records that was instantly recognizable, likeable and got dancers on their feet I Heard It Through The Grapevine was written and produced by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and originally recorded by Smokey Robinson in 1966, it was then recorded by Marvin Gaye the following year, but still didn't come up to Berry Gordy's expectations, and was eventually recorded and released by Gladys Knight And The Pips in September that same year (see below). Marvin Gaye's version was put on his album In The Groove, and finally in October 1968 it was released as a single on Tamla 54176 in the US. Grapevine hit the number 1 spot on the Billboard Pop charts and stayed there for seven weeks, eventually selling well in excess of a million copies and for a time was Tamla Motown's biggest selling record. So iconic had the song become that even as late as 1985 it was reissued with a picture sleeve (see below) - and used in an advert for Levi jeans - when it entered the charts for a second time.
I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE * GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS * TAMLA MOTOWN 629 * UK
I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE * MARVIN GAYE * TAMLA MOTOWN 40701 * UK
See also:
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| Hitch Hike | You’re a Wonderful One | Stubborn Kind Of Fellow | When I Had Your Love |
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| Can I Get A Witness | Ain’t That Peculiar | I’ll Be Doggone | Little Darling | One More Heartache |
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| Save The Children | Mercy Mercy Me | What’s Going On | Inner City Blues | How Sweet It Is |