ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the genesis and history of the song “I Heard It through the Grapevine.” Following the path of this song through the famous “assembly line” process associated with Detroit's Motown records during the 1960s, the chapter focuses on the people, technological recording apparatus and creative process used to create the iconic recording of “I Heard It through the Grapevine” with vocals by Marvin Gaye. It focuses especially on the work of writer and producer Norman Whitfield and arranger Paul Riser. Gaye's recording had a particularly long gestation period from recording to release. The chapter contains specific commentary on the song composition, recordings created before Gaye's version, the process of assembling the final multitrack master, mixing and revision, and the eventual release of the single.
