# "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" Which Artist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 3, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789 "2009-12-03T01:04:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/21 "2009-12-03T16:04:51Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Marvin, Marvin, Marvin. > > To my knowledge it was written for Marvin by Norman Whitfield and others but for some reason Marvin couldn’t get to it, so Gladys and the Pips recorded it. When she got a hit with it, Marvin released his and it blew up even bigger. > > Gladys is wonderful, but few can surpass Marvin’s delivery of a lyric and Grapevine is no exception. > > I enjoy CCR’s and love Fogerty, but I am sure John would acknowledge that Marvin is the master… Marvin and Norman had creative differences with how the song should be sung, so the release was delayed. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/22 "2009-12-03T16:11:37Z")
I pick Marvin’s version first, but give second place to the cover done by [The Slits.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQxvo_9DEqY) ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/23 "2009-12-03T16:16:40Z")
I prefer Marvin’s. ---
**Author:** ![Hallucinex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba9def/32.png) [@Hallucinex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hallucinex)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/24 "2009-12-03T16:22:09Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > the cover done by [The Slits.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQxvo_9DEqY) That’s the one I came in to mention ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/25 "2009-12-03T16:44:34Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Marvin and Norman had creative differences with how the song should be sung, so the release was delayed. Cool - that sounds right. But you mention the Miracles upthread. Was that a typo and you meant to say The Pips? I know of no Smokey version from that timeframe… ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/26 "2009-12-03T16:57:16Z")
> [@choie](#): > > Marvin. I mean really. > > (Actually I don’t even remember the Gladys Knight version, so maybe I should give that a listen. But how can it beat Marvin Gaye’s sublime _cri de coeur_?) > > Edited to add: Okay, listening now. Gladys has an amazing voice (no surprise there!) and this is a solid jazzy interpretation. But I miss the melody – if I didn’t know how the song went, it would seem like it has no melody at all. So it’s a good subsequent interpretation for people who already know the song, but for the actual song? Gimme Marvin. His version is more ominous. > > Girlfriend sure can wail, though! I would like to echo these exact sentiments adding that I’m no fan of CCR in general and their version of this is way too long and way to Fogertyesque. “I hoid it through the grapevaaaaaahn” ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/27 "2009-12-03T17:19:42Z")
Marvin, without a doubt. I love Gladys’ version I didn’t know CCR had one, I’ll have to find it. :slight hijack: Speaking of covers and Marvin Gaye, I think his version of ‘Yesterday’ is much more powerful than John Lennon’s, which I also love. (The En Vogue cover doesn’t exist) 🔚 ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/28 "2009-12-03T17:23:42Z")
Dang, **WOOKIN** beat me to the 'hoidit" slam. You’d think I’d enjoy it, being from Brooklyn but it sounds like some bad actor pretending to be from Brooklyn. Oh and to add more about different covers of songs-- Al Green’s cover of How Can You Mend a Broken Heart is killer. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/29 "2009-12-03T18:07:31Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Cool - that sounds right. But you mention the Miracles upthread. Was that a typo and you meant to say The Pips? I know of no Smokey version from that timeframe… [Here](http://wapedia.mobi/en/I_Heard_It_Through_the_Grapevine) is a site that talks about the release history. Looks like the Miracles’ version may not have been released after all, making Gladys Knight’s version the first release. It’s all clouded and depends on whose story you believe at this point. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/30 "2009-12-03T18:11:59Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > [Here](http://wapedia.mobi/en/I_Heard_It_Through_the_Grapevine) is a site that talks about the release history. Looks like the Miracles’ version may not have been released after all, making Gladys Knight’s version the first release. It’s all clouded and depends on whose story you believe at this point. Ah - okay. A quick read of Wikipedia - which I will use here for discussion purposes - states that the Miracles recorded it but Berry Gordy deemed in unreleaseable. They also state that the Isley’s may have recorded it but no evidence remains. Cool background, but, IMHO, I would be inclined to NOT count either of those simple because they weren’t released to the public, in which case we are left with Gladys and then Marvin. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/31 "2009-12-03T18:27:11Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Ah - okay. A quick read of Wikipedia - which I will use here for discussion purposes - states that the Miracles recorded it but Berry Gordy deemed in unreleaseable. They also state that the Isley’s may have recorded it but no evidence remains. Cool background, but, IMHO, I would be inclined to NOT count either of those simple because they weren’t released to the public, in which case we are left with Gladys and then Marvin. Berry Gordy may not have released it as a [single,](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOFzn_5alVE) but it was on the 1968 album [_Special Occasion_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Occasion_(Miracles_album)) ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/32 "2009-12-03T18:31:47Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Dang, **WOOKIN** beat me to the 'hoidit" slam. You’d think I’d enjoy it, being from Brooklyn but it sounds like some bad actor pretending to be from Brooklyn. Agreed. It’s embarrassingly bad. I’m not sure what it is about CCR that kind of turns me off. They’re an okay group and all, but I used to think Proud Mary was just okay till I heard the Ike and Tina Turner version of it. John Fogerty seems like a lovely guy but I think he has a dearth of soul… ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/33 "2009-12-03T18:42:53Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Berry Gordy may not have released it as a [single,](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOFzn_5alVE) but it was on the 1968 album [_Special Occasion_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Occasion_(Miracles_album)) Fascinating - thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Ceejaytee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ceejaytee/32/2956_2.png) [@Ceejaytee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ceejaytee)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/34 "2009-12-03T19:08:42Z")
Gladys. It’s one of my favorite recordings ever. Marvin is a very close second; I love listening to him sing. ---
**Author:** ![davidw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/35 "2009-12-03T19:30:36Z")
Marvin first, then the [Roger Troutman and Zapp version.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_4q5IOkfRg&feature=player_embedded) ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/36 "2009-12-03T19:31:16Z")
> [@G0sp3l](#): > > :slight hijack: Speaking of covers and Marvin Gaye, I think his version of ‘Yesterday’ is much more powerful than John Lennon’s, which I also love. Lennon did a version of ‘Yesterday’? Whoa. _That_ I’d like to hear! ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/37 "2009-12-03T19:53:54Z")
Marvin Gaye. He did an a capella version of Grapevine, that melted me to a puddle. Yum. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/38 "2009-12-03T20:10:22Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Agreed. It’s embarrassingly bad. > > I’m not sure what it is about CCR that kind of turns me off. They’re an okay group and all, but I used to think Proud Mary was just okay till I heard the Ike and Tina Turner version of it. John Fogerty seems like a lovely guy but I think he has a dearth of soul… The New Orleans accent is remarkably close to the Brooklyn accent, and is often mistaken for such. I believe there was little of it “put on”. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/39 "2009-12-03T20:32:46Z")
Marvin Gaye. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/40 "2009-12-03T20:36:40Z")
I love the Gladys Knight version. I hate the Creedence version. First of all, that it’s so long is really annoying. Plus, ugh! I just hate the way it sounds, man. Hate it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789.md?page=3)