"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1966, the single was first recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, but it was not released.

In 1967 Gladys Knight & the Pips altered the lyric a bit and hit the top of the R&B chart.
Marvin Gaye recorded his version of the song prior to the Pips' but released it after theirs on the "In The Groove" album, October 1968. Versions of this classic can be found as an eleven minute version on CCRs "Cosmo's Factory" and naturally The California Raisins had their hit with the tune in 1986.