01/11/2026
On this day in 1969... Marvin was atop the charts with "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" ... and boy oh boy you couldn't turn on a radio without hearing its iconic, brooding drum fill and the haunting electric piano. He enjoyed a massive seven-week run at #1—marking a true turning point for Motown Records.
It’s fascinating to think that this legendary track almost never saw the light of day. It was actually recorded in 1967 but sat in the Motown vaults for over a year because label boss Berry Gordy wasn't convinced it was a hit. It took Gladys Knight & the Pips releasing their own uptempo version first to prove the song had legs.
When Marvin's version was finally released, it revealed a much darker, more anxious side of soul music. Producer Norman Whitfield famously pushed Marvin to sing in a higher key than he was comfortable with to get that strained, raspy vocal that sounds so desperate and raw. Marvin later reflected on the demanding session, saying, "I'm a singer who's always been searching for a sound... Whitfield brought out a grit in me I didn't know I had."
The music scene surrounding Marvin in early '69 was absolutely electric. While he held the top spot, Stevie Wonder was right on his heels at #2 with "For Once in My Life," and the powerhouse collaboration between The Supremes and The Temptations, "I’m Gonna Make You Love Me," was climbing fast. Meanwhile, The Beatles’ White Album was dominating the album charts, and a young band called Sly & The Family Stone was just starting to change the world with "Everyday People."
It was a time when the "Motown Sound" was evolving into something deeper and more complex. Marvin’s success with "Grapevine" gave him the leverage he eventually needed to take more creative control, leading us toward his later masterpieces like What's Going On.
Are you a purist who oves the grit of Marvin's version, or do you find yourself dancing more to the Gladys Knight rendition? I’d love to hear which "Grapevine" gets you moving!
