Many tracks recorded on Motown Records are called by music critics as iconic songs for the legendary studio. Suffice it to recall Dancing in the Street by Martha and the Vandellas, Superstition by Stevie Wonder and The Tracks of My Tears by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.
Marvin Gaye has released several songs on the iconic label that are considered milestones in the company’s history. Among them is I Heard It Through the Grapevine, with which he first conquered the top of the charts.
The story of creation and the meaning of the song I Heard It Through the Grapevine
The phrase “I heard it through the grapevine” literally as “I heard it through the grapevine”. It means that a person has heard rumors about something. They say she appeared among black slaves during the Civil War.
The idea for the song came to Barrett Strong while he was living in Chicago. According to him, the locals constantly used this expression.
Barrett recalled:
Nobody wrote a song about it, so I sat down at the piano and composed the bass line.
Strong invited the famous trio Holland – Dozier – Holland from the Motown studio to work on the track, but they did not want to share copyright with him. Then he went for help to Norman Whitfield. Together they wrote a future hit about a guy in love who finds out that a girl is cheating on him.
Recording I Heard It Through the Grapevine
As often happened in the history of modern music, the label’s management did not recognize the future hit in the song and did not want to release it as a single.
On August 6, 1966, I Heard It Through the Grapevine recorded Smokey Robinson with The Miracles, but this version was not released until two years later on Special Occasions.
The Isley Brothers also tried to perform it, but their track was not released.
Gay recorded I Heard It Through the Grapevine with producer Norman Whitfield. Five sessions were required, taking place between the third of February and the tenth of April, 1967.
Whitfield made Marvin sing higher than usual, which is why the singer’s voice sounds so tense. Gay said:
I accepted his instructions without any problems, because I felt that they were correct. If I had recorded it myself, I would have sung it quite differently. But, you see, there are a lot of advantages to playing other people’s material, following the instructions. Interpretation is very important, because when people cannot express what is in their heart, but there is an artist who can, then it is very valuable.
NME
The fate of the song was decided at one of the traditional Motown staff meetings held regularly by Berry Gordy. She was chosen for the next single by a general vote, but Gordy insisted on releasing the track Your Unchanging Love.
He later wrote in his autobiography:
Personally, I liked Grapevine better, but I also felt that the other record was in a more romantic vein that Marvin needed.
As a result, the audience first heard I Heard It Through the Grapevine performed by soul singer Gladys Knight. Her version was released in September 1967 and climbed to number two on the US charts.
In August 1968, Marvin Gaye released the album In the Groove, later renamed I Heard It Through the Grapevine. The title track drew the attention of Chicago DJ Rodney Jones (Rodney Jones), who worked on radio WVON. He often aired it, and the audience loved the track. Only after that Gordy gave in and allowed the song to be released as a single.
Marvin Gaye’s version of I Heard It Through the Grapevine topped the Billboard Hot 100, the R&B chart and the UK Singles Chart. It has become a classic of soul music. She was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and included in Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Other cover versions
Later, the composition was played by many other musicians. Let’s take a look at a few famous versions.
In 1970 Creedence Clearwater Revival recorded I Heard It Through the Grapevine for the album Cosmo’s Factory.
In 1981, Roger Troutman’s I Heard It Through the Grapevine from The Many Facets of Roger topped the R&B chart.
Listen to Amy Winehouse sing I Heard It Through the Grapevine.
Interesting Facts
- Barret Strong claimed that I Heard It Through the Grapevine and Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone were the best songs he wrote with Norman Whitfield.
- The song performed by Marvin Gaye was included in the soundtrack of the film The Big Chill.
I Heard It Through the Grapevine Lyrics by Marvin Gaye
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 loved you more
It took me by surprise I must say
When I found out yesterday
Don’t you 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.
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine baby
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 loved 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
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby
People say believe half of what you see
Son and none of what you hear
But I can’t help but be confused
If it’s true please tell me dear
Do you plan to let me go
For the other guy you loved before?
Don’t you know I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
I heard it through the grapevine
I’m just about to love my mind
Honey, honey, yeah
I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
Lyrics of I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye Alternate
I bet you’re surprised I knew
About your plans to upset me
Some guy you knew before.
You know, of us two guys
I love you more.
I must admit I was surprised
When I figured it out yesterday.
Don’t you know I’ve heard rumors
That you won’t be mine anymore.
Oh, I’ve heard rumors
Oh, I’m about to lose my mind.
Honey, honey
I’ve heard rumors
That you won’t be mine anymore, baby
I know it’s believed that a man shouldn’t cry
But I can’t hold back my tears.
Losing you would mean the end of my life.
You could tell me yourself
that she loved another.
Instead, I heard rumors
That you won’t be mine anymore.
Oh, I’ve heard rumors
And I’m about to lose my mind.
Honey, honey
I’ve heard rumors
That you won’t be mine anymore, baby
They say believe only half of what you see
Son, and none of what you hear
But I can’t be confused
If it’s true, dear, please tell me
Are you going to give me a resignation
For the guy you loved before?
Don’t you know I’ve heard rumors
That you won’t be mine anymore, baby
I’ve heard rumors
I’m about to lose my mind.
Honey, honey
I’ve heard rumors
That you won’t be mine anymore, baby
