A music icon’s timeless hit has been ranked the No. 1 Motown song of all time.
Motown Records, founded in 1959, produced famous singers and musical groups including Diana Ross, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, The Contours, Gladys Knight & The Pips and The Jackson 5.
When it comes to debating the No. 1 Motown singer or musical group, there is no clear consensus. It’s a testament to the empire that Motown Records has become since it was opened by Berry Gordy Jr. 67 years ago.
far magazine recently published its rankings for100 Greatest Motown Songs of All Time‘. A cover of Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”, written by Motown songwriters Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield, took the top spot.
“Fortunately, the efforts of Motown’s QC department, as well as Whitfield’s, meant that Gaye’s version, the Definitive Edition, was released as a single in 1968, whereupon it quickly became a number one hit, and the best-selling Motown track up to that point.” far magazine wrote. “In light of that success, accompanied by one of the greatest vocal performances of Gaye’s entire career, it’s almost impossible to think of Motown without bringing that iconic bassline to mind.”
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles first recorded “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” in 1966, but it was not released until 1968 via their album, special occasion. This was actually Gladys Knight and the Pips’ version of the song which was first released in September 1967. Gay’s cover was not released until October 1968.
Of course, for Gaye and his fans, it was worth the wait.
‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’ was Marvin Gaye’s first No. 1 hit in the US
(Photo by Angela Dean-Drummond/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
“I Heard It Through the Grapevine” First of three Marvin Gaye songs which reached number 1 board Hot 100. The song remained at number 1 for an impressive seven weeks, from December 14, 1968 to January 25, 1969.
Their second No. 1 hit, “Let’s Get It On”, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for the weeks of September 8 and September 22, 1973. Their last No. 1 hit, “Got to Give It Up (Pt. I)”, topped the chart. board For the week of June 25, 1977.
