"I Heard it Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye - Acoustic Cover

Our acoustic cover of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye.

The song “I Heard it through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye was released in 1968 and was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, while it was produced by Whitfield on Berry Gordy's Detroit based Motown Records. The track features Gaye on vocals, with Robert White on guitar, James Jamerson on bass and Uriel Jones on drums.

The lyrics tell the story of a person who hears a rumour that their lover is cheating on them with the lyrics expressing feelings of confusion, betrayal, and anger. The narrator (Marvin) is left feeling heartbroken and unsure whether or not to believe the rumour.

Marvin Gaye's version of this song is notable for its iconic intro played on the electric piano and for featuring the bass guitar of the legendary James Jamerson which gives the song a unique, soulful sound. Whitfield’s production style was also uncommon for soul music at the time as he leaned towards using a psychedelic rock sound that was not typical for Motown songs.

“I Heard it through the Grapevine” was a huge hit for Motown Records, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968 and staying there for seven weeks while it was also a number one hit in the UK and Canada. The song has been covered by many artists since its release, including Creedence Clearwater Revival, Gladys Knight & The Pips, and Smokey Robinson.

Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard it through the Grapevine” is the classic version and it has stood the test of time with its unique funk and soul sound and powerful lyrics, making it an iconic song that will live on for generations to come.

Here's a great live version from Marvin at the Montreux jazz festival in 1980 https://youtu.be/5ZnrZnFSlWU

We hope you like our acoustic version of this classic and thanks to everyone who has liked and subscribed!