On this day in music history: December 14, 1968 - I Heard It Through The Grapevine by Marvin Gaye hits #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B singles charts for 7 weeks. Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, it is the first number one pop single for the Motown superstar. Gaye will be the third artist on the label to record the song in April of 1967, with previously recorded versions by The Miracles and The Isley Brothers but are shelved. Motown founder Berry Gordy initially believes Gayes version it isnt a hit either so it is also shelved. In the interim, Whitfield will cut the song on Gladys Knight & The Pips who will have a runaway smash with it in December of 1967 (#1 R&B, #2 Pop). Marvin Gayes version will remain in the Motown vault until September 1968, when it is finally issued on the album In The Groove. DJs will begin playing it as a LP cut, eventually forcing it to be released as single on October 30, 1968. Entering the Hot 100 at #34 on November 23, 1968, it will leap to the top of the chart only three weeks later, unseating Motown label mates Diana Ross & The Supremes Love Child from the top spot. Two weeks after Grapevine hits number one on the Hot 100, it will reside over a unique Top 10 in which Motown Records will hold down five of the top ten chart positions including the top three positions on the chart for four consecutive weeks. I Heard It Through The Grapevine will sell over four million copies in the US, becoming Motowns largest selling single to date, and is inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 1998.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 20:00:08 +0000
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