# "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:** 3
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/41 "2009-12-03T20:44:37Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > 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”. All of it was “put on.” Fogarty was born in Berkeley, Ca. and went to school in the Bay Area. The closest he ever got to New Orleans during his formative years was eating a poor boy sandwich. ---
**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, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/42 "2009-12-03T21:08:58Z")
> [@choie](#): > > Lennon did a version of ‘Yesterday’? Whoa. _That_ I’d like to hear! I thought I was being whooshed then I checked that other place and it said The Beatles. My ipod says Paul McCartney. I plead the fifth. :smack: Still, Paul sang it, Marvin owns it. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/43 "2009-12-03T22:17:11Z")
Knight’s is an accusation, Gaye’s is a plea, and CCR’s is not worth mentioning. Which of the first two depends on whether I’m more angry or more hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/44 "2009-12-03T22:30:15Z")
Another vote for Marvin. I love CCR but they didn’t do the song justice. GK and the P’s version is good but Marvin’s was incomparable. ---
**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, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/45 "2009-12-03T23:57:14Z")
On the Marvin Gaye “The Master” boxset that came out in the 90s, there’s a live version of Grapevine performed by Marvin and Gladys Knight and the Pips together. It’s absolutely awesome, and Marvin just blows everyone off the stage. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/46 "2009-12-04T00:27:33Z")
I like them all, but CCR does the best version in my book. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/47 "2009-12-04T00:38:54Z")
Marvin’s is the only one in my opinion where you can actually hear the emotion; it’s one of my favorite recordings. CCR comes in a distant second. And I loathe Gladys’ version. ---
**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 4, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/48 "2009-12-04T00:57:02Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > All of it was “put on.” Fogarty was born in Berkeley, Ca. and went to school in the Bay Area. The closest he ever got to New Orleans during his formative years was eating a poor boy sandwich. Coulda fooled me. All of their songs have that Cajun twang. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/49 "2009-12-04T01:22:53Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > This is one of those songs where every version of it is good. I agree. Glady’s Knight’s versions is awesome and exhilarating, Gaye’s is simply legendary - it gives me goosebumps just to hear the first five or ten seconds of it. I even have a sort of guilty pleasure relationship with the Slits cover. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Mondegreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/91b2a8/32.png) [@Lord\_Mondegreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Mondegreen)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/50 "2009-12-04T01:25:15Z")
> [@BigNik](#): > > Doug Anthony All-Stars, but not Paul McDermott’s solo work. I agree with this. First time I heard it was when I saw DAAS live. I was _not_ expecting that in the middle of the mayhem that was their act. It was brilliant. ---
**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 4, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/51 "2009-12-04T01:26:52Z")
[Jesus Christ.](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6kjcv_marvin-gaye-i-heard-it-through-the_music) His voice is…perfect. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/52 "2009-12-04T01:46:53Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > [Jesus Christ.](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6kjcv_marvin-gaye-i-heard-it-through-the_music) > > His voice is…perfect. … I’m speechless. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/53 "2009-12-04T01:55:20Z")
Marvin Gaye’s version was definitely the best. Gladys did a great cover (regardless of who released it first), and Credence did a decent job with the song, considering their youth and racial handicap. ETA: tongue firmly in cheek ---
**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 4, 2009, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/54 "2009-12-04T02:29:25Z")
> [@cactus\_waltz](#): > > … I’m speechless. So was he. 🙂 That’s not a real a capella performance – if you look closely, he’s not really singing. I actually think that’s the regular vocal track from the song we all know and love, removed and added to a video of him performing. Notice how his claps aren’t even audible? Also, I just synced it up with the recording and it’s note-for-note the same. Even the fade out! 🙂 No way a soulful singer like Gaye repeats every single grace note, every single pause, from a recorded performance. Not that this takes away from the quality of the singing tself – it’s terrific to hear his voice track on its own; really emphasizes the power and emotion. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/55 "2009-12-04T02:33:09Z")
Marvin Gaye by a mile. CCR gets the words wrong, which annoys the hell out of me. Fogerty sings: _People say that you hide from what you see Na na na, from what you hear_ when the correct lyric is: _People say believe half of what you see son and none of what you hear_ ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/56 "2009-12-04T02:35:05Z")
> [@choie](#): > > So was he. 🙂 That’s not a real a capella performance – if you look closely, he’s not really singing. I actually think that’s the regular vocal track from the song we all know and love, removed and added to a video of him performing. Notice how his claps aren’t even audible? > > Also, I just synced it up with the recording and it’s note-for-note the same. Even the fade out! 🙂 No way a soulful singer like Gaye repeats every single grace note, every single pause, from a recorded performance. > > Not that this takes away from the quality of the singing tself – it’s terrific to hear his voice track on its own; really emphasizes the power and emotion. Hah. I actually thought when I listened to it: “Wow, the phrasings are curiously similar to the recording”. Usually musicians like to re-interpret themselves live. Still though, hearing it a capella was a moving experience. ---
**Author:** ![BigNik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/73ab20/32.png) [@BigNik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigNik)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/57 "2009-12-04T02:39:28Z")
> [@Lord\_Mondegreen](#): > > I agree with this. First time I heard it was when I saw DAAS live. I was _not_ expecting that in the middle of the mayhem that was their act. It was brilliant. Yeah, to extend **Amarinth’s** relativity, the Dougles’ is just a scream of impotent pain. Paul dropping into the minor key to add “Dear God” before one of the last choruses is one of the best twists to a cover version I’ve seen. It’s just one of those cover versions that tells you that everybody else got the song _wrong_. No matter how many times you hear the Marvin Gaye version, you know that’s not the way it’s supposed to go. ---
**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 4, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/58 "2009-12-04T03:15:13Z")
> [@cactus\_waltz](#): > > Still though, hearing it a capella was a moving experience. You’re telling me! It is the actual sound of his voice that is breathtaking. No clue why someone felt the need to sinc it with a video of him. I could listen to that looking at a video of paint drying. ---
**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 4, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/59 "2009-12-04T15:13:24Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > [Jesus Christ.](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6kjcv_marvin-gaye-i-heard-it-through-the_music) > > His voice is…perfect. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789/60 "2009-12-04T15:35:22Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > [Jesus Christ.](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6kjcv_marvin-gaye-i-heard-it-through-the_music) > > His voice is…perfect. This should be required [del]reading[/del] listening in school. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-heard-it-through-the-grapevine-which-artist/519789.md?page=2)