I Heard it Through the Grapevine - wikipedia I Heard it Through the Grapevine This article is about the song. For the album by Marvin Gaye, see I Heard It Through the Grapevine ( album ). For the idiom, see Wiktionary : hear through the grapevine. `` Heard It Through the Grapevine '' redirects here. For the South Korean television series, see Heard It Through the Grapevine ( TV series ). `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' Single by Marvin Gaye from the album In the Groove B - side `` You 're What 's Happening ( in the World Today ) '' Released October 30, 1968 Format 7 - inch single Recorded February 3, 8, 13, 15, & April 10, 1967 Studio Hitsville USA ( Studio A ), Detroit, Michigan Genre R&B psychedelic soul Length 3 : 16 Label Tamla ( T 54176 ) Songwriter ( s ) Norman Whitfield Barrett Strong Producer ( s ) Norman Whitfield Marvin Gaye singles chronology `` His Eye is on the Sparrow '' ( 1968 ) `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' ( 1968 ) `` Good Lovin ' Ai n't Easy to Come By '' ( 1969 ) `` His Eye is on the Sparrow '' ( 1968 ) `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' ( 1968 ) `` Good Lovin ' Ai n't Easy to Come By '' ( 1969 ) `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' is a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Motown Records in 1966. The first recording of the song to be released was produced by Whitfield for Gladys Knight & the Pips and released as a single in September 1967 ; it went to number two in the Billboard chart. The Miracles recorded the song first and included their version on their 1968 album, Special Occasion. The Marvin Gaye version was placed on his 1968 album In the Groove, where it gained the attention of radio disc jockeys, and Motown founder Berry Gordy finally agreed to its release as a single in October 1968, when it went to the top of the Billboard Pop Singles chart for seven weeks from December 1968 to January 1969 and became for a time the biggest hit single on the Motown label ( Tamla ). The Gaye recording has since become an acclaimed soul classic, and in 2004, it was placed 81 on the Rolling Stone list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. On the commemorative fortieth anniversary of the Billboard Hot 100 issue of Billboard magazine in June 2008, Marvin Gaye 's `` Grapevine '' was ranked sixty - fifth. It was also inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame for `` historical, artistic and significant '' value. In addition to being released several times by Motown artists, the song has been recorded by a range of musicians including Creedence Clearwater Revival, who made an eleven - minute interpretation for their 1970 album, Cosmo 's Factory ; and has been used twice in television commercials -- each time using session musicians recreating the style of the Marvin Gaye version : the 1985 Levi 's commercial, `` Launderette '', featuring male model Nick Kamen, and the 1986 California raisins promotion with Buddy Miles as the singer for the clay animation group The California Raisins. Contents 1 Composition 2 Motown recordings 2.1 Marvin Gaye 2.2 Gladys Knight & the Pips 3 Releases 4 Legacy 5 Covers 6 Media 7 Personnel 8 Chart performance 8.1 Weekly charts 8.1. 1 Reissue version 8.2 Year - end charts 9 References 10 External links Composition The lyrics tell the story in the first person of the singer 's feelings of betrayal and disbelief when he hears of his girlfriend 's infidelity only indirectly `` through the `` grapevine ''. By 1966, Barrett Strong, the singer on Motown Records ' breakthrough hit, `` Money ( That 's What I Want ) '', had the basics of a song he had started to write in Chicago, where the idea had come to him while walking down Michigan Avenue that people were always saying `` I heard it through the grapevine ''. The phrase is associated with black slaves during the Civil War, who had their form of telegraph : the human grapevine. Producer Norman Whitfield worked with Strong on the song, adding lyrics to Strong 's basic Ray Charles influenced gospel tune and the single chorus line of `` I heard it through the grapevine ''. This was to be the first of a number of successful collaborations between Strong and Whitfield. Motown recordings Producer Norman Whitfield recorded `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' with various Motown artists. The first known recording is with the Miracles on August 6, 1966, though there may also have been a recording with the Isley Brothers, or at least Whitfield intended to record it with them ; however a track has not turned up -- some Motown historians believe that a session may have been scheduled but cancelled. The Miracles ' version was not released as a single due to Berry Gordy 's veto during Motown 's weekly quality control meetings ; Gordy advised Whitfield and Strong to create a stronger single. The Miracles version later appeared on their 1968 Special Occasion album, and a slightly different take, possibly from the same session but unreleased, appeared on the 1998 compilation album, Motown Sings Motown Treasures. Marvin Gaye 's version was recorded in spring 1967, and is the second known recording, though was also rejected by Gordy as a single, and would also later go onto an album, In the Groove. The third recording was in 1967 with Gladys Knight and the Pips in a new, faster arrangement. Gordy accepted the new arrangement and the Gladys Knight version was released as a single in September 1967, reaching number 2 in the charts. When Gaye 's album with his version of Grapevine was released in August 1968, radio disc jockeys were playing the song, so Gordy had it released as a single in October, and it went to number one in December. In 1968, Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers recorded a version for their debut album based on Gladys ' recent hit ; however, after hearing the Marvin Gaye version, they felt they 'd made the wrong choice. In 1969, Whitfield produced a version for the Temptations `` psychedelic soul '' album, Cloud Nine, in which he `` brought compelling percussion to the fore, and relegated the piano well into the wings ''. In 1971, the Undisputed Truth recorded the song in a Marvin - styled version as did Bettye Lavette on her 1982 Motown album, Tell Me a Lie. Marvin Gaye `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' Marvin Gaye 's version of the song Problems playing this file ? See media help. Whitfield recorded the song with Marvin Gaye over five sessions, the first on February 3, 1967, and the last on April 10, 1967. Recordings of this version took more than a month due to Whitfield overdubbing Gaye 's vocals with that of the Andantes ' background vocals, mixing in several tracks featuring the Funk Brothers on the rhythm track, and adding the string section from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra with an arrangement by Paul Riser. The session featuring Gaye led to an argument between the producer and singer. Whitfield wanted Gaye to perform the song in a higher key than his normal range, a move that had worked on David Ruffin during the recording of the Temptations ' hit, `` Ai n't Too Proud to Beg ''. The mixture of Gaye 's raspy vocals and the Andantes ' sweeter harmonies made Whitfield confident that he had a hit ; however, despite approval from Motown 's Quality Control Department, Gordy blocked the release. Gladys Knight & the Pips `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' Gladys Knight and the Pips 1967 version of the song Problems playing this file ? See media help. Gladys Knight & the Pips recorded `` Grapevine '' on June 17, 1967 in Motown 's Studio A, with Norman Whitfield as producer. After hearing Aretha Franklin 's version of `` Respect '', Whitfield rearranged `` Grapevine '' to include some of the funk elements of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. According to David Ritz, Whitfield set to record a song that would `` out - funk '' Aretha. After Whitfield presented the demo tapes, Gladys Knight, Bubba Knight, William Guest, and Edward Patten worked for several weeks on their vocal arrangement. To make the song suitable for Gladys, the first line of the second verse ( `` I know a man ai n't supposed to cry / But these tears I ca n't hold inside '' ) was altered to ( `` Take a good look at these tears in my eyes / Baby, these tears I ca n't hold inside '' ). After much talk, Gordy reluctantly allowed the Pips ' version to be a single on September 28, 1967 on Motown 's Soul label. Releases The Gladys Knight & the Pips version released on September 28, 1967 was on Motown 's Soul label, with `` It 's Time to Go Now '' on the B - side. Motown put little support behind it and the Pips relied on connections with DJs across the United States to get the record played. The Pips ' version of `` Grapevine '' reached number one on the Billboard R&B chart on November 25, 1967, and stayed there for six weeks, making it the group 's second R&B number one after 1961 's `` Every Beat of My Heart ''. It reached two on the Billboard Pop Singles chart the same month, with the Monkees ' `` Daydream Believer '' holding top spot. It was Motown 's best - selling single to that point. The song was later placed on the Gladys Knight & the Pips album Everybody Needs Love. Whitfield wanted Gordy to release Gaye 's `` Grapevine '' as a single, but Gordy did n't want to release another version after the Pips had already made a hit out of it. In September 1968, Whitfield added `` Grapevine '' to Gaye 's new album In the Groove. On release `` Grapevine '' became a radio hit and, according to Gordy himself, `` The DJs played it so much off the album that we had to release it as a single ''. So Gaye 's version was released as a single on October 30, 1968. Gaye 's `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' eventually outsold the Pips ', and until The Jackson 5 's `` I 'll Be There '' 20 months later, was the biggest hit single of all time on the Motown label. It stayed at the top of the Billboard Pop Singles chart for seven weeks, from December 14, 1968 to January 25, 1969. Gaye 's `` Grapevine '' also held number one on the R&B chart during the same seven weeks, and stayed at number one in the United Kingdom for three weeks starting on March 26, 1969. The label was pleased with the success, although Gaye, depressed because of issues such as the illness of singing partner Tammi Terrell ( which would kill her less than a year later ), was quoted as saying that his success `` did n't seem real '' and that he `` did n't deserve it ''. Due to the song 's success, In the Groove was re-issued as I Heard It Through the Grapevine and peaked at number two on the R&B album chart and number sixty - three on the album chart, which was at the time Marvin 's highest - charted solo studio effort to date. Because of the success of both versions, `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' was the first and last number one on the Billboard R&B chart in 1968 : the Pips version was the first week of January, the Gaye version the last week of December. Gladys Knight was not pleased that Gaye 's version usurped her own, and claimed that Gaye 's version was recorded over an instrumental track Whitfield had prepared for a Pips song, an allegation Gaye denied. In 1985, one year following Gaye 's death, the song was re-released in the UK reaching number eight thanks to a Levi 's commercial ( starring Nick Kamen ). Legacy The Gaye recording has become an acclaimed soul classic. In 2004, it was placed at number 80 on Rolling Stone 's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, with the comment that Whitfield had produced the song with a number of artists using different arrangements, and that on the Marvin Gaye recording he had a `` golden idea '' when he set the song `` in a slower, more mysterious tempo ''. In a new Rolling Stone list published in 2011, the single was placed slightly lower at number 81. On the commemorative fiftieth anniversary of the Billboard Hot 100 issue of Billboard magazine in June 2008, the Marvin Gaye version was ranked as the sixty - fifth biggest song on the chart. It was also inducted to the Grammy Hall of Fame for `` historical, artistic and significant '' value. Covers In addition to being recorded several times by Motown artists, the song has been covered by musicians including Creedence Clearwater Revival who recorded an 11 - minute version for their 1970 album, Cosmo 's Factory, that was released as a single, reaching 43 on Billboard 's chart, with more modest success in other countries, and funk musician Roger Troutman whose extended version ( nearly 11 minutes itself ) lifted off his 1981 solo album, The Many Facets of Roger, brought the song back to number one on the R&B chart in early 1982 marking the third time the single reached the top spot on that chart. It also made the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 79. Queen Latifah used the music as a basis for her 1998 single `` Paper '', produced by Pras Michel for her album Order in the Court. Media `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' has been used twice in television commercials -- each time using session musicians recreating the style of the Marvin Gaye version. For the 1985 Levi 's 501 commercial, `` Launderette '', featuring male model Nick Kamen, agency BBH and director Roger Lyons, owing to budgetary constraints, brought in Karl Jenkins and Mike Ratledge to recreate the sound of the Marvin Gaye original with Tony Jackson, a Barbadian background singer for Paul Young, handling vocals and P.P. Arnold on backing vocals. The commercial 's success prompted Tamla - Motown to re-release Gaye 's single with the Levi 's 501 logo on the sleeve -- `` an example of integrated marketing almost before the term was invented ''. The record went to number eight on the UK Singles chart, marking its second chart performance. A year later, in 1986, Buddy Miles was the singer for the clay animation group The California Raisins which sang it as part a TV advertising campaign. Marvin Gaye 's version of the song is used in the opening credits of The Big Chill ( 1983 ) as each of the main characters gets to hear ( through the `` grapevine '' ) about the death of their college friend, and then travels to his funeral ; the song serves in an extradiegetic fashion to both unite the main characters ' friendship and to locate it nostalgically for the viewer. Personnel Lead vocals by Marvin Gaye Background vocals by The Andantes : Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow and Louvain Demps Hammond organ by Earl Van Dyke Wurlitzer electric piano by Johnny Griffith Drums by Richard `` Pistol '' Allen and Uriel Jones Bass guitar by James Jamerson Percussion by Jack Ashford Guitar by Joe Messina Instrumentation by the Funk Brothers and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra String arrangement by Paul Riser Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1968 -- 69 ) Peak position Australia ( Go - Set Top 40 ) 40 Canadian RPM Top Singles 8 France ( SNEP ) 88 Ireland ( IRMA ) 7 Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 25 South African Chart UK ( Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 US Billboard Hot R&B Singles US Cash Box Top 100 Reissue version Chart ( 1986 ) Peak position Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 18 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 48 Irish Singles Chart Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 18 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 23 UK ( Official Charts Company ) 8 Year - end charts Chart ( 1969 ) Rank Canada 28 US Billboard Hot 100 88 US R&B ( Billboard ) 40 US Cash Box References Jump up ^ Andy Bennett ( Dec 14, 2005 ). 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Only results when searching `` I heard it through the grapevine '' ^ Jump up to : `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- Marvin Gaye '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Jump up ^ John Samson. `` I heard it through the grapevine in South African Chart ''. Retrieved July 17, 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` Marvin Gaye ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 17, 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` Marvin Gaye awards on Allmusic ''. Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 17, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Cash Box Top 100 1 / 18 / 69 ''. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Marvin Gaye -- I Heard It Through The Grapevine '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- Marvin Gaye -- I Heard It Through The Grapevine ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Marvin Gaye -- I Heard It Through The Grapevine '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1969 / Top 100 Songs of 1969 ''. Jump up ^ Top Records on 1969 ( Based on Billboard Charts ) ``, Billboard, December 27, 1969. pp. 16 - 17. Accessed December 7, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1969 ''. Bibliography John Covach, Mark Spicer, Sounding Out Pop : Analytical Essays in Popular Music, 2010, University of Michigan Press Bill Dahl, Motown : The Golden Years, 2011, Krause Publications David N. Howard, Sonic Alchemy : Visionary Music Producers and Their Maverick Recordings, 2004, Hal Leonard Corporation Gerald Posner, Motown : Music, Money, Sex, and Power, 2002, New York : Random House, ISBN 0 - 375 - 50062 - 6 External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics The Miracles Smokey Robinson Ronnie White Pete Moore Bobby Rogers Claudette Robinson Marv Tarplin Billy Griffin Donald Griffin Carl Cotton Mark Scott Dave Finley Sydney Justin Alphonse Franklin Tee Turner Pre-Miracles : Emerson `` Sonny '' Rogers James Grice Clarence Dawson Production Berry Gordy Smokey Robinson Pete Moore Studio albums Hi... We 're The Miracles ( 1961 ) Cookin ' with The Miracles ( 1961 ) I 'll Try Something New ( 1962 ) The Fabulous Miracles ( 1963 ) The Miracles Doin ' Mickey 's Monkey ( 1963 ) I Like It Like That ( 1964 ) Going to a Go - Go ( 1965 ) Away We a Go - Go ( 1966 ) Make It Happen ( The Tears of a Clown ) ( 1967 ) Special Occasion ( 1968 ) Time Out For Smokey Robinson & the Miracles ( 1969 ) Four in Blue ( 1969 ) What Love Has Joined Together ( 1970 ) A Pocket Full Of Miracles ( 1970 ) One Dozen Roses ( 1971 ) Flying High Together ( 1972 ) Renaissance ( 1973 ) Do It Baby ( 1974 ) City of Angels ( 1975 ) Live albums The Miracles Recorded Live on Stage ( 1963 ) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles LIVE ! ( 1969 ) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles : 1957 - 1972 ( 1972 ) Other albums Christmas with The Miracles ( 1963 ) Compilations Greatest Hits : From the Beginning ( 1965 ) Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 ( 1968 ) Anthology ( 1974 ) Anthology ' 86 ( 1986 ) Anthology : The Best of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles ( 1995 ) The Ultimate Collection ( 1998 ) Ooo Baby Baby : The Anthology ( 2002 ) Depend On Me : The Early Albums ( 2009 ) Singles ( US / UK Top Twenty singles ) `` Shop Around '' `` You 've Really Got a Hold on Me '' / `` Happy Landing '' `` Mickey 's Monkey '' `` Ooo Baby Baby '' `` The Tracks of My Tears '' `` My Girl Has Gone '' `` Going to a Go - Go '' `` ( Come ' Round Here ) I 'm the One You Need '' `` The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage '' `` I Second That Emotion '' `` If You Can Want '' `` Baby, Baby Do n't Cry '' `` The Tears of a Clown '' `` I Do n't Blame You At All '' `` Do It Baby '' `` Love Machine '' Videography The Definitive Performances ( 1963 -- 1987 ) ( 2006 ) Discography Albums Songs Related articles Motown Records List of cover versions of The Miracles songs Book : The Miracles The Miracles singles discography 1950s `` Got a Job '' ( 1958 ) `` Your Love ( Is All I Need ) '' ( 1958 ) `` I Cry '' ( 1958 ) `` I Need a Change '' ( 1959 ) `` It '' ( 1959 ) `` Bad Girl '' ( 1959 ) `` The Feeling Is So Fine '' ( 1959 ) / `` ( You Can ) Depend on Me '' ( 1959 ) 1960s `` Way Over There '' ( 1960 ) `` Shop Around '' ( 1960 ) / `` Who 's Lovin ' You '' ( 1960 ) `` Ai n't It Baby '' ( 1961 ) `` Mighty Good Lovin ' '' ( 1961 ) / Broken Hearted '' ( 1961 ) `` Everybody 's Gotta Pay Some Dues '' ( 1961 ) `` What 's So Good About Goodbye '' ( 1961 ) / `` I 've Been Good to You '' ( 1961 ) `` I 'll Try Something New '' ( 1962 ) `` You 've Really Got a Hold on Me '' ( 1962 ) / `` Happy Landing '' ( 1962 ) `` A Love She Can Count On '' ( 1963 ) / `` I Can Take a Hint '' ( 1963 ) `` Mickey 's Monkey '' ( 1963 ) `` I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying '' ( 1963 ) `` The Christmas Song '' ( 1963 ) `` ( You Ca n't Let the Boy Overpower ) The Man in You '' ( 1964 ) `` I Like It Like That '' ( 1964 ) `` That 's What Love Is Made Of '' ( 1964 ) `` Come On Do The Jerk '' ( 1964 ) `` Ooo Baby Baby '' ( 1965 ) `` The Tracks of My Tears '' ( 1965 ) / `` A Fork in the Road '' ( 1965 ) `` My Girl Has Gone '' ( 1965 ) `` Going to a Go - Go '' ( 1965 ) / `` Choosey Beggar '' ( 1965 ) `` Whole Lot of Shakin ' in My Heart ( Since I Met You ) '' ( 1966 ) `` ( Come ' Round Here ) I 'm the One You Need '' ( 1966 ) `` The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage '' ( 1967 ) `` More Love '' ( 1967 ) `` I Second That Emotion '' ( 1967 ) `` If You Can Want '' ( 1968 ) `` Yester Love '' ( 1968 ) `` Special Occasion '' ( 1968 ) `` Baby, Baby Do n't Cry '' ( 1969 ) `` Here I Go Again '' ( 1969 ) / `` Doggone Right '' ( 1969 ) `` Abraham, Martin and John '' ( 1969 ) `` Point It Out '' ( 1969 ) / `` Darling Dear '' ( 1969 ) 1970s `` Who 's Gonna Take the Blame '' ( 1970 ) `` The Tears of a Clown '' ( 1970 ) `` I Do n't Blame You At All '' ( 1970 ) `` Crazy About the La La '' ( 1971 ) `` Satisfaction '' ( 1971 ) `` We 've Come Too Far to End It Now '' ( 1972 ) `` I Ca n't Stand to See You Cry '' ( 1972 ) `` Do n't Let It End ( ' Til You Let It Begin ) '' ( 1973 ) `` Give Me Just Another Day '' ( 1973 ) `` Do It Baby '' ( 1974 ) `` Do n't Cha Love It '' ( 1974 ) `` Gemini '' ( 1975 ) `` Love Machine '' ( 1975 ) `` Night Life '' ( 1976 ) `` Spy for Brotherhood '' ( 1977 ) `` I Can Touch the Sky '' ( 1977 ) `` Mean Machine '' ( 1978 ) Book : The Miracles Marvin Gaye Studio albums The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye ( 1961 ) That Stubborn Kinda Fellow ( 1962 ) When I 'm Alone I Cry ( 1964 ) Hello Broadway ( 1964 ) How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You ( 1965 ) A Tribute to the Great Nat `` King '' Cole ( 1965 ) Moods of Marvin Gaye ( 1966 ) In the Groove / I Heard It Through the Grapevine ! ( 1968 ) M.P.G. ( 1969 ) That 's the Way Love Is ( 1970 ) What 's Going On ( 1971 ) Trouble Man ( 1972 ) Let 's Get It On ( 1973 ) I Want You ( 1976 ) Here, My Dear ( 1978 ) In Our Lifetime ( 1981 ) Midnight Love ( 1982 ) Posthumous albums Dream of a Lifetime ( 1985 ) Romantically Yours ( 1986 ) Vulnerable ( 1997 ) Duet albums Together ( with Mary Wells, 1964 ) Take Two ( with Kim Weston, 1966 ) United ( with Tammi Terrell, 1967 ) You 're All I Need ( with Tammi Terrell, 1968 ) Easy ( with Tammi Terrell, 1969 ) Diana & Marvin ( with Diana Ross, 1973 ) Compilations Greatest Hits ( 1964 ) Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 ( 1967 ) Marvin Gaye and His Girls ( 1969 ) Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell 's Greatest Hits ( 1970 ) Super Hits ( 1970 ) Anthology ( 1974 ) Marvin Gaye 's Greatest Hits ( 1976 ) Motown Remembers Marvin Gaye : Never Before Released Masters ( 1986 ) The Marvin Gaye Collection ( 1990 ) The Norman Whitfield Sessions ( 1994 ) Love Starved Heart : Rare and Unreleased ( 1994 ) The Very Best of Marvin Gaye ( 1994 ) The Master ( 1961 -- 1984 ) ( 1995 ) Marvin Gaye : The Love Songs ( 2000 ) The Complete Duets ( 2001 ) The Very Best of Marvin Gaye ( 2001 ) Live albums Marvin Gaye Recorded Live on Stage ( 1963 ) Marvin Gaye Live ! ( 1974 ) Live at the London Palladium ( 1977 ) Marvin Gaye at the Copa ( 2005 ) Video albums Greatest Hits Live ( Live in Holland 1976 ) ( 2000 ) Live In Montreux 1980 ( 2003 ) The Real Thing : In Performance ( 1964 -- 1981 ) ( 2006 ) Live In Belgium 1981 ( 2006 ) US / UK Top Ten singles `` Pride and Joy '' `` How Sweet It Is ( To Be Loved by You ) '' `` I 'll Be Doggone '' `` Ai n't That Peculiar '' `` Your Precious Love '' `` If I Could Build My Whole World Around You '' `` Ai n't Nothing Like the Real Thing '' `` You 're All I Need to Get By '' `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' `` Too Busy Thinking About My Baby '' `` That 's the Way Love Is '' `` Abraham, Martin and John '' `` The Onion Song '' `` What 's Going On '' `` Mercy Mercy Me ( The Ecology ) '' `` Inner City Blues ( Make Me Wanna Holler ) '' `` Trouble Man '' `` Let 's Get It On '' `` You Are Everything '' `` Got to Give It Up '' `` Sexual Healing '' Family Marvin Gay Sr. ( father ) Alberta Gay ( mother ) Anna Gordy Gaye ( first wife ) Denise Gordy ( son 's birth mother ) Nona Gaye ( daughter ) Frankie Gaye ( brother ) Gordon Banks ( brother - in - law ) Related topics Discography Songs Albums Songs by Marvin Gaye Albums produced by Marvin Gaye Songs in memory Songs produced by Marvin Gaye Personal life Death Tributes The Marquees Harvey Fuqua Tammi Terrell Leon Ware Marvin 's Room Marvin Is 60 : A Tribute Album Book Category Portal Marvin Gaye singles discography 1960s : ( Tamla ) 1961 `` Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide '' 1962 `` Sandman '' `` Soldier 's Plea '' `` Stubborn Kind of Fellow '' `` Hitch Hike '' 1963 `` Pride and Joy '' `` Can I Get a Witness '' 1964 `` You 're a Wonderful One '' `` Once Upon a Time '' `` What 's the Matter with You Baby '' `` Try It Baby '' `` Baby Do n't You Do It '' `` What Good Am I Without You '' `` How Sweet It Is ( To Be Loved by You ) '' 1965 `` I 'll Be Doggone '' `` Pretty Little Baby '' `` Ai n't That Peculiar '' 1966 `` One More Heartache '' `` Take This Heart of Mine '' `` Little Darling ( I Need You ) '' `` It Takes Two '' 1967 `` Ai n't No Mountain High Enough '' `` Your Unchanging Love '' `` Your Precious Love '' `` You '' `` If I Could Build My Whole World Around You '' / `` If This World Were Mine '' 1968 `` Ai n't Nothing Like the Real Thing '' `` You 're All I Need to Get By '' `` Chained '' `` Keep On Lovin ' Me Honey '' `` You Ai n't Livin ' till You 're Lovin ' '' `` His Eye Is on the Sparrow '' `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' 1969 `` Good Lovin ' Ai n't Easy to Come By '' `` Too Busy Thinking About My Baby '' `` That 's the Way Love Is '' `` Abraham, Martin and John '' `` What You Gave Me '' `` How Can I Forget '' 1970s : ( Tamla ) 1970 `` Gonna Give Her All the Love I 've Got '' `` The Onion Song '' `` California Soul '' `` The End of Our Road '' 1971 `` What 's Going On '' `` Mercy Mercy Me ( The Ecology ) '' `` Inner City Blues ( Make Me Wanna Holler ) '' `` Save the Children '' 1972 `` You 're the Man '' `` Trouble Man '' `` I Want to Come Home for Christmas '' 1973 `` Let 's Get It On '' `` You 're a Special Part of Me '' `` Stop, Look, Listen ( To Your Heart ) '' `` Come Get to This '' `` You Sure Love to Ball '' `` My Mistake ( Was to Love You ) '' `` Do n't Knock My Love '' `` You Are Everything '' `` Distant Lover '' 1976 `` I Want You '' `` After the Dance '' `` Since I Had You '' 1977 `` Got to Give It Up '' 1978 `` Pops, We Love You ( A Tribute to Father ) '' 1979 `` A Funky Space Reincarnation '' `` Anger '' `` Ego Tripping Out '' 1980s : ( Tamla / Columbia ) 1981 `` Praise '' `` Heavy Love Affair '' 1982 `` Sexual Healing '' `` My Love Is Waiting '' `` ' Til Tomorrow '' `` Joy '' Posthumous 1985 `` Sanctified Lady '' `` It 's Madness '' `` Just Like '' 1986 `` The World Is Rated X '' 1991 `` My Last Chance '' `` Lucky, Lucky Me '' 1995 `` This Love Starved Heart Of Mine ( It 's Killing Me ) '' `` Music '' 2005 `` Let 's Get It On ( The M.P.G. Groove Remix ) '' 2015 `` Where Are We Going '' Book Category Portal Gladys Knight & the Pips Gladys Knight Merald `` Bubba '' Knight William Guest Edward Patten Brenda Knight Eleanor Guest Langston George Chris Morante Studio albums Everybody Needs Love Neither One of Us Imagination I Feel a Song 2nd Anniversary The One and Only Soundtrack albums Claudine Compilation albums The Ultimate Collection Singles `` Every Beat of My Heart '' `` Giving Up '' `` Take Me in Your Arms and Love Me '' `` Everybody Needs Love '' `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' `` The End of Our Road '' `` It Should Have Been Me '' `` I Wish It Would Rain '' `` The Nitty Gritty '' `` If I Were Your Woman '' `` Help Me Make It Through the Night '' `` Neither One of Us ( Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye ) '' `` The Look of Love '' `` Midnight Train to Georgia '' `` I 've Got to Use My Imagination '' `` Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me '' `` I Feel a Song ( In My Heart ) '' `` The Way We Were / Try to Remember '' `` Save the Overtime ( For Me ) '' `` Hero '' `` Love Overboard '' `` Baby, Do n't Change Your Mind '' Related topics Discography Aaliyah Barry Hankerson Book Creedence Clearwater Revival Doug Clifford Stu Cook John Fogerty Tom Fogerty Studio albums Creedence Clearwater Revival Bayou Country Green River Willy and the Poor Boys Cosmo 's Factory Pendulum Mardi Gras Live albums Live in Europe The Concert Compilations Creedence Gold More Creedence Gold Pre-Creedence Chronicle, Vol. 1 The Best of Creedence Clearwater Revival 20 Golden Greats Creedence Country Hits Album At the Movies Chronicle, Vol. 2 Rollin ' on the River Heartland Music Presents Creedence Clearwater Revival Keep On Chooglin ' Creedence Clearwater Revival : Box Set Bad Moon Rising : The Best of Creedence Clearwater Revival Platinum Creedence Clearwater Revival Covers the Classics Singles `` Porterville '' / `` Call It Pretending '' `` Suzie Q. ( Part 1 ) '' / `` Suzie Q. ( Part 2 ) '' `` I Put a Spell on You '' / `` Walk on the Water '' `` Proud Mary '' / `` Born on the Bayou '' `` Bad Moon Rising '' / `` Lodi '' `` Green River '' / `` Commotion '' `` Down on the Corner '' / `` Fortunate Son '' `` Travelin ' Band '' / `` Who 'll Stop the Rain '' `` Run Through the Jungle '' / `` Up Around the Bend '' `` Lookin ' Out My Back Door '' / `` Long As I Can See the Light '' `` Have You Ever Seen the Rain ? '' / `` Hey Tonight '' `` Sweet Hitch - Hiker '' / `` Door to Door '' `` Someday Never Comes '' / `` Tearin ' up the Country '' `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' / `` Good Golly Miss Molly '' Related articles Discography Song list The Blue Velvets The Golliwogs Creedence Clearwater Revisited Fogerty v. Fantasy, Inc. Saul Zaentz Fantasy Records Book : Creedence Clearwater Revival The California Raisins TV specials and series A Claymation Christmas Celebration Meet the Raisins ! The California Raisin Show See also California Raisin Advisory Board The Grape Escape Michael McDonald Studio albums If That 's What It Takes ( 1982 ) No Lookin ' Back ( 1985 ) Take It to Heart ( 1990 ) Blink of an Eye ( 1993 ) Blue Obsession ( 2000 ) Motown ( 2003 ) Motown Two ( 2004 ) Soul Speak ( 2008 ) Wide Open ( 2017 ) Compilation albums Sweet Freedom ( 1986 ) Singles `` I Keep Forgettin ' ( Every Time You 're Near ) '' `` No Lookin ' Back '' `` Sweet Freedom '' `` I Heard It Through the Grapevine '' `` Ai n't No Mountain High Enough '' `` Reach Out, I 'll Be There '' `` Baby I Need Your Lovin ' '' `` Stop, Look, Listen ( To Your Heart ) '' `` Deck the Halls / Jingle Bells '' `` Walk On By '' `` ( Your Love Keeps Lifting Me ) Higher and Higher '' `` Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas ! '' Record labels Warner Bros. Reprise Universal Music Group Motown Related articles Discography The Doobie Brothers Toto Amy Holland Chart procession and succession Preceded by `` Soul Man '' by Sam & Dave Billboard Hot R&B Singles number - one single ( Gladys Knight & the Pips version ) December 2, 1967 -- January 6, 1968 Succeeded by `` I Second That Emotion '' by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles Preceded by `` Love Child '' by Diana Ross & the Supremes Billboard Hot 100 number - one single ( Marvin Gaye version ) December 14, 1968 -- January 31, 1969 Succeeded by `` Crimson and Clover '' by Tommy James & the Shondells Preceded by `` Who 's Making Love '' by Johnnie Taylor Billboard Hot R&B Singles number - one single ( Marvin Gaye version ) December 14, 1968 -- January 25, 1969 Succeeded by `` Can I Change My Mind '' by Tyrone Davis Preceded by `` Where Do You Go To ( My Lovely ) ? '' by Peter Sarstedt UK number - one single ( Marvin Gaye version ) March 26, 1969 Succeeded by `` Israelites '' by Desmond Dekker & The Aces Preceded by `` Never Too Much '' by Luther Vandross Billboard Hot Soul Singles number - one single ( Roger version ) November 7 -- 14, 1981 Succeeded by `` Take My Heart ( You Can Have It If You Want It ) '' by Kool & the Gang Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Heard_It_Through_the_Grapevine&oldid=836701445 '' Categories : 1967 singles 1968 singles 1981 singles Marvin Gaye songs Gladys Knight & the Pips songs Creedence Clearwater Revival songs The Miracles songs Trini Lopez songs Michael McDonald ( singer ) songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs number - one singles UK Singles Chart number - one singles Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients Songs written by Barrett Strong Songs written by Norman Whitfield Motown singles Tamla Records singles Fantasy Records singles Song recordings produced by Norman Whitfield 1966 songs Songs about infidelity Hidden categories : Pages using citations with accessdate and no URL CS1 French - language sources ( fr ) Good articles Use mdy dates from July 2011 Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Brezhoneg Deutsch Français Italiano 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Русский Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska 4 more Edit links This page was last edited on 16 April 2018, at 10 : 39. 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Question: what is the song i heard it through the grapevine about
Answer: the singer's feelings of betrayal and disbelief when he hears of his girlfriend's infidelity only indirectly "through the "grapevine"; the singer's feelings of betrayal and disbelief when he hears of his girlfriend's infidelity only indirectly "through the "grapevine"