Fact Finder - Music

Marvin Gaye’s version of 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' is a masterclass in tension and atmosphere. However, it wasn't the first version of the song released. It was originally recorded by Gladys Knight & the Pips, whose version was a faster, gospel-influenced hit. Producer Norman Whitfield had to fight Motown founder Berry Gordy to release Gaye's slower, more ominous version. Gordy initially hated it, but when it was finally released as a single, it became Motown’s biggest hit of the 1960s, spending seven weeks at number one. The song is famous for its opening electric piano riff and Gaye’s strained, soulful vocals, which were recorded in a higher key than he was comfortable with to create a sense of desperation. It remains a definitive example of the 'Motown Sound' and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its historical and artistic significance.