The name says it all. What's your favorite version of I Heard It Through The Grapevine? Mine is Roger's version... a funky eargasm that lasts over ten minutes

I get beat up anytime I say I prefer Gladys Knight and The Pips' version to Marvin's. Roger's is a lot of fun.

I'd have to go with Marvin. Although, there is a sweet live version of Marvin performing it with Gladys and the Pips.

Now if I'm at the rink gettin' my pearl on, yeah, it's Roger all the way!

Gladys Knight's version is my favorite. It's all in the bass line.

i *HATE* the creedence clearwater revival version. i guess i like the gladys version, though i like the original too.

All Music's review of Gladys' recording. The song's got a bit of a confusing history :

Song Review by Ed Hogan
After having a 1961 number one R&B/top six pop hit with "Every Beat of My Heart" on Chicago-based Vee-Jay Records, Gladys Knight & the Pips were offered a recording contract with Motown Records in 1966. Being a group based on democratic values, they put the decision to a vote. Merald "Bubba" Knight, Edward Patten, and William Guest voted to sign with the Detroit label while Gladys Knight voted an apprehensive "no," feeling that the group would get "lost in the shuffle" and not get the attention that they needed. Motown producer Norman Whitfield had recorded "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" on two other acts on the label's roster, the Isley Brothers and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. None of those recordings were issued. Whitfield wanted to have a hit with Gladys Knight & the Pips because he enjoyed working with them. Co-written by Whitfield and Barrett Strong, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" stayed at number one R&B for six weeks while going to number two pop for two weeks in late 1967. About a month later, Whitfield recorded another version with Marvin Gaye, giving him a number one R&B/ pop hit in early 1968.

Being a huge Marvin Gaye fan, I like his better. But Roger Troutman comes in at a close second.

ThePunisher said:

I have to agree.
But it depends on what mood I'm in or whats going on (no pun intended).
Is it a party for two (Marvin) or just a party (Roger).
Marvin is one my fave artists of all time but damn Roger's version is slammin.
BTW I picked up a CD recently of Marvin's called The Funk Collection which collects a lot of his funk stuff. Granted I had almost all the tracks but it's cool to have them all remastered and together on one CD.

It's really a coin toss between Marvin & Gladys 'nem - Marvin's hits you in the soul, Gladys' makes you wanna dance. Depends on my mood I guess...

RipHer2Shreds said:

I like their version better too. It's the same with Summertime. I love Billy Stewart's the most.....I'm always in the minority on that one too.

Stax said:

well that,a my favorite too

Roger!! It's funk, country, blues, and electronica all at the same time.

GENIUS!

I like the mash up version with Marvin and Talk Talk.....very new wave.

OK, at the risk of sounding i'norant..... where is Roger Troutman's version from?? And this is "Roger" as "I wanna be your man" Roger?? Was he in a group before?


Getting back to the quetsion, Marvin and Glady's are so different you can't compare.

I was in a motown band last year and we did the Gladys version so now I kinda like that one better. More upbeat.

Marvin's verison, besides being slower and in a different key, I think uses slightly different chord progressions.

Roger, by a landslide


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[Edited 2/10/06 8:52am]

GaryMF said:

yes, the very same Roger from the grpup Zapp. his 10+ minute version comes from his solo debut album "The many facets of Roger" (see picture above)

RipHer2Shreds said:

OdysseyMiles said:

I have that live version and I like it too, but overall it's

M
A
R
V
I
N

all the way.

GaryMF said:

FunkMistress said:

Got it as part of Marvin's box set, The Master. That set is pure gold.

OdysseyMiles said:

That's what I have, and I wouldn't trade it for all the gold in the world! The best box set I've ever laid my hot little hands on. The liner notes are pretty cool too.

Gladys

AnckSuNamun said:

That's a good one.

FunkMistress said:

Yes, they are. I learned a lot I didn't know about Marvin just from those notes.

Roger's version. A very close 2nd would be Marvin's.

I like Queen Latifah's 1997 version called "Paper" with Pras from the Fugees.

Tina Turner's version from the 24/7 tour, then Marvin's.

the California Raisins'

Roger's

Definately Roger's by a mile.