“I Heard It Through The Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye

What was old (for Motown) became new again.

Programming note: It’s Motown Hits Week! This week, I’m writing about five R&B classics that sold millions of copies for the world-famous label. Unlike other themed weeks, these songs are all massive hits and will likely be recognizable to many of you. If you’re new to or unfamiliar with Motown and its rich history, this week’s content is also a great starting point. All killer, no filler … not to mention some of the best vibes around.

Hope you enjoy it!

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Hello! 😊👋

Welcome to a new edition of the Daily Music Picks newsletter!

Today’s music pick is a prime example of Motown cannibalizing its own material for massive gains.

Genre: R&B, Pop

Label: Motown

Release Date: August 26, 1968

Vibe: 😌

When a song really works, sometimes it doesn’t matter who performs it … until it does.

By the time Marvin Gaye’s version of “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” was released as a single in the latter part of 1968, he was the second Motown artist to record it. The first was the Miracles, who laid down their version in 1966, shortly after Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong penned it—the latter already had a hit single under his belt with “Money (That’s What I Want).” But neither Gaye nor the Miracles were the first to bring the song to market—that distinction belongs to Gladys Knight & the Pips, who released their version in 1967, nearly a full year before Gaye. Famous for recycling songs from their existing repertoire, “Grapevine” is an excellent example of how Motown could breathe new life into a single by handing it off to another personality, even if Knight had already enjoyed some measure of chart success.

It’s safe to say that Gaye’s version took his career and Motown’s prospects to an entirely new level as 1968 transitioned into 1969. It was the soul legend’s first of three No. 1 Hot 100 hits, staying on the chart for 15 weeks. It’s been consistently ranked as one of the greatest songs of all time by everyone from Rolling Stone to the Grammy Hall of Fame, to say nothing of its status as an enduring needle drop in film and TV. And yet, when you boil it down to its essence, this is a simple but effective heartbreak anthem—the kind that Gaye could do in his sleep. It features the kind of passionate vocal he was best known for, wearing his heart on his sleeve as few other Motown stars could. It’s also a testament to his acute sense of rhythm and presentation, packaging what are essentially downer lyrics into something that’s become universally accessible.

As the saying goes, there’s never been another like Marvin Gaye before or since.

👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈