Did the Isley Brothers ever record "I Heard It Through the Grapevine"?

[marymary]

Excuse the question that I'm sure has been asked many times before but...is the Isley Brothers' version of I Heard it through the Grapevine available anywhere? I looked for it years ago and it was apparently still elusive, has anything changed?

I have also heard theories that the song was never recorded [[there was an intention to do with the IBs but it fell through); this seems plausible as I can't imagine how something like this could have remained unreleased for half a century.

On a similar note, who else at Motown performed I Heard it through the Grapevine? I know of the Miracles, The Pips and Marvin of course.

[thomas96]

I'm fairly positive that they never recorded a version. If they did, it's never seen the light of day...

Other versions include, Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers, The Undisputed Truth and the Temptations did a version.

[Roger Polhill]

All the available Isley Bros. Motown tracks have been released we`re told. The Temptations and Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers have also recorded "I Heard It Through The Grapevine"

[Roger Polhill]

Please disregard my post.

[jboy88]

From what i've heard, either they never cut a version at all or they did and it was wiped by Marvin's version. Again, this is based on hearsay.

[bradburger]

I agree with what's been said above about the Isley's and 'Grapevine'.

As you probably know, it was The Miracles who cut the tune first, I think in mid 66.

Whilst it might have been mooted at the time that it was intended for them, or rumours coming out later on that they cut a version, I think it's been confirmed by those in the know that a backing track was never actually cut for them, or that they never actually recorded their vocals on one of the existing backing tracks.

I guess Keith Hughes, or one of the other folk closely involved with the session logs etc. will be able to confirm this.

Cheers

Paul

[tamla617]

Don' t forget non Motowners Creedance Clearwater,s"Grapevine". And Edwin starr

[mysterysinger]

The Isleys are thought to have recorded the song before Marvin Gaye.

[marymary]

Thank you everyone - sounds like there's no gem hiding in the vaults! Would be interested in anyone here with first-hand knowledge of the sessions to confirm, would be quite an accomplishment to put this urban legend to bed one way or another!

[MotownLover]

The band, Rustix, did a cover of this song on one of their Rare Earth label albums.

[thomas96]

Thank you everyone - sounds like there's no gem hiding in the vaults! Would be interested in anyone here with first-hand knowledge of the sessions to confirm, would be quite an accomplishment to put this urban legend to bed one way or another!

I don't think there's anybody who has first-hand knowledge of the sessions enough to put the myth to rest. And anyone who claims they do wouldn't have remembered for sure. Remember, at the time they were recording so much material it's unfathomable, and they didn't know they were making history at the time, they were just grinding away. Even if one of the Isley's had some memories of that, I doubt they could even know for sure, considering the amount of material they recorded. It would all get mixed together and there's no clear evidence of it happening, or not happening. Unfortunate, but that's just the way it is.

[bradburger]

I don't think there's anybody who has first-hand knowledge of the sessions enough to put the myth to rest. And anyone who claims they do wouldn't have remembered for sure. Remember, at the time they were recording so much material it's unfathomable, and they didn't know they were making history at the time, they were just grinding away. Even if one of the Isley's had some memories of that, I doubt they could even know for sure, considering the amount of material they recorded. It would all get mixed together and there's no clear evidence of it happening, or not happening. Unfortunate, but that's just the way it is.

That is true to an extent, as some peoples memories get cloudy and mixed up as time goes on.

But in the case of Motown, at least the session logs, tape filing cards, and other important paperwork exist, and these usually provide proof of who recorded what, where, and when!

Cheers

Paul

[thomas96]

That is true to an extent, as some peoples memories get cloudy and mixed up as time goes on.

But in the case of Motown, at least the session logs, tape filing cards, and other important paperwork exist, and these usually provide proof of who recorded what, where, and when!

Cheers

Paul

Very true but I do know that in this particular case, there are no session logs of this or any other paperwork providing proof that the Isley's recorded it.

[midnightman]

The Isleys didn't record it. They were probably thought of first [[or were told they were gonna be given the song) and then instead Norman gave it to the Miracles. Ron Isley seems to have some memory lapse or something whenever he mentions that he recorded it lmao

[Roger Polhill]

The notes from T.C.M.S. 1968 state"At some point the track was assigned to the Isley Brothers, and they claim to have recorded the first version, but no vocals by them have survived.Their backing track was used for the released Temptations version."

[bradburger]

Thanks for posting the notes form TCMS 68 Roger.


Very true but I do know that in this particular case, there are no session logs of this or any other paperwork providing proof that the Isley's recorded it.

I agree. I guess that's what I was trying to say! ;)

Like I said earlier, and midnightman says, maybe the idea might have been that they cut the song first, or they were unofficially told that it was for them, but for whatever reasons, it didn't work out that way.

It reminds me a bit of the story about 'What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted' and that it was originally intended for the Spinners [[it may well have been), but, as the session logs indicate, it was never officially assigned to them, and there is no evidence that they cut any vocals to the existing backing track.

Cheers

Paul

[imnokid]

It is also on Bettye LaVette's 1982 Motown LP, Tell Me A Lie.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

The band, Rustix, did a cover of this song on one of their Rare Earth label albums.

Yes, they did, Motownlover. It was on their first Motown/Rare Earth album, "Bedlam". I keep waiting for a CD release but, so far, to no avail.

RUSTIX - "Grapevine"
https://youtu.be/SwF-UvYbr9E

[grapevine]

...according to DFTMC...

I Heard It Through The Grapevine [[Norman Whitfield-Barrett Strong) published Jobete 15-Nov-67
Marvin Gaye; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 10-Apr-67 ; produced by Norman Whitfield
26-Aug-68; LP [[M): Tamla T285 In The Groove [[retitled I Heard It Through The Grapevine) [DJ copies only]
26-Aug-68; LP [[S): Tamla S285 In The Groove [[retitled I Heard It Through The Grapevine)
30-Nov-68; 45 [[M): Tamla T 54176 A
Sep-70; LP [[S): Tamla TS300 Super Hits
Mar-71; LP [[S): Motown MS731 The Motown Story Volume 5 [with intro by Marvin Gaye]
01-Apr-74; LP [[S): Motown M9-791A3 Anthology
Mar-86; LP [[S): Motown 6172 Motown Remembers Marvin Gaye [with overdubs added 1986]
14-Sep-90; CD [[M): Motown MOTD4 6311 The Marvin Gaye Collection
03-Nov-92; CD [[M): Motown MOTD 6312 Hitsville USA The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971
28-Mar-94; CD [[S): Motown 530 292 2 The Very Best Of Marvin Gaye [UK]
23-Aug-94; CD [[S): Motown 530 355 2 The Norman Whitfield Sessions
25-Apr-95; CD [[M): Motown 530 492 2 The Master 1961-1984
13-Jun-95; CD [[S): Motown 530 507 2 Motown Year By Year / The Sound Of Young America 1968
03-Sep-96; CD: Motown 530 529 2 Anthology / The Best Of Marvin Gaye
1997; CD [[S): Britannia 530 709 Motown: The History: The Happening [UK]
1997; CD [[M): DPSM 5942 The Complete Motown Anthology Vol 6
02-Nov-98; CD [[S): Spectrum 554 146 2 Motown Chartbusters Volume 3 [UK]
02-Aug-99; CD: Spectrum 530 793 2 I Heard It Through The Grapevine [UK]
26-Feb-01; CD [[S): Motown 013 185 2 Moods Of Marvin Gaye / In The Groove [UK]
20-Aug-01; CD [[S): Motown 014 367 2 The Very Best Of Marvin Gaye
23-Sep-03; CD [[S): Motown B000101602 The Motown Story Volume 1: The 1960s
11-May-04; CD [[S): Motown 066 365-2 Standing In The Shadows of Motown - De Luxe
14-Sep-04; CD [[S): Singing Machine G8857 Motown Classics - I Heard It Through The Grapevine Vol. 7
14-Sep-04; CD [[S): Singing Machine G8857 Motown Classics - I Heard It Through The Grapevine Vol. 7 [band track]
12-Mar-05; CD [[S): Reader's Digest RDCD 4631-3 The Ultimate Motown Collection - Soul Brothers
03-Aug-05; CD [[S): Shout B0004999-02 The Motown Box [extended soundtrack version]
03-Oct-07; CD [[M): Hip-O Select B0009708-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 8 1968
26-May-09; CD: Motown UICY-94127 Motown Remembers Marvin Gaye [with overdubs added 1986] [Japan]
[B]Gladys Knight & The Pips; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 21-Jun-67 ; produced by Norman Whitfield
unreleased announced July 2000; CD: Motown no catalogue number Motown Lost & Found: Time Can't Erase 1966-1970
28-Sep-67; 45 [[M): Soul S 35039 A [2nd pressing] [alt mix]
28-Sep-67; 45 [[M): Soul S 35039 A [1st pressing]
Sep-67; LP [[S): Soul SS706 Everybody Needs Love
Sep-67; LP [[M): Soul S706 Everybody Needs Love
Apr-69; LP [[S): Motown S684 A Collection Of 16 Original Big Hits Vol. 10
Mar-70; LP [[S): Soul SS723 Greatest Hits
Mar-71; LP [[S): Motown MS730 The Motown Story Volume 4 [with intro by Gladys Knight]
16-Jan-74; LP [[S): Motown-M-792S2 Anthology
01-Jul-91; CD [[S): Motown MOTD 5457 A Collection Of 16 Original Big Hits Vol. 10
03-Nov-92; CD [[M): Motown MOTD 6312 Hitsville USA The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971
21-Mar-95; CD: Motown 530 483 2 Anthology / The Best Of Gladys Knight & The Pips
07-Oct-97; CD [[M): Motown 530 826 2 The Ultimate Collection
1997; CD [[S): Britannia 530 709 Motown: The History: The Happening [UK]
1997; CD [[M): DPSM 5240 The Complete Motown Anthology Vol 4
02-Nov-98; CD [[S): Spectrum 554 145 2 Motown Chartbusters Volume 2 [UK]
Jul-00; CD [[S): Spectrum 544 313 2 The Motown Years [UK]
16-Jul-01; CD [[M): Spectrum 544 545 2 Mod Fave Raves Volume 1 [UK]
23-Sep-03; CD [[S): Motown B000101602 The Motown Story Volume 1: The 1960s
14-Sep-04; CD [[S): Singing Machine G8857 Motown Classics - I Heard It Through The Grapevine Vol. 7
14-Sep-04; CD [[S): Singing Machine G8857 Motown Classics - I Heard It Through The Grapevine Vol. 7
27-Jul-05; CD [[M): Reader's Digest RDCD 4621-3 The Ultimate Motown Collection - The Sixties
03-Aug-05; CD [[S): Shout B0004999-02 The Motown Box
06-Nov-06; CD [[S): Motown 984 1943 Everybody Needs Love / Feelin' Bluesy [UK]
25-May-07; CD [[M): Hip-O Select B0008993-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 7 1967
25-May-07; CD [[M): Hip-O Select B0008993-02 The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 7 1967 [alt mix]
[B]Gladys Knight & The Pips; recorded live Fox Theatre, Detroit, completed 28-Dec-68
Jul-69; LP [[S): Motown S688 Motortown Revue Live
26-Aug-05; CD [[S): Hip-O Select B0003623-02 The Motortown Revue Collection
Gladys Knight & The Pips; recorded live Copa, N.Y., Oct-69
Oct-70; LP [[S): Soul SS730 All In A Knight's Work - Live!
The Miracles; recorded Hitsville, completed 16-Aug-66 ; produced by Norman Whitfield ; [v1]
22-Sep-98; CD [[M): Motown 530 960 2 Motown Sings Motown Treasures
12-Jan-05; CD [[M): Hip-O Select B0003619-02 Motown Sings Motown Treasures Volumes 1+2
The Miracles; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 21-May-68 ; produced by Norman Whitfield ; [v2 [[LP)]
26-Aug-68; LP [[S): Tamla S290 Special Occasion
26-Aug-68; LP [[M): Tamla T290 Special Occasion
03-Mar-97; CD [[S): Motown 530 774 2 Master Series [UK]
07-May-01; CD [[S): Motown 013 183 2 Make It Happen / Special Occasion [UK]
The Rustix; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 02-Jul-69 ; produced by R. Dean Taylor
Sep-69; LP [[S): Rare Earth S508 Bedlam
Sounds Nice; recording details unknown
Sep-70; LP [[S): Rare Earth RS512 Love At First Sight [first released on Parlophone [[UK) PCS 7089 [[1970)]
Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 15-Dec-67 ; produced by Norman Whitfield ; [v1]
Sep-68; LP [[M): Gordy G930 Bobby Taylor And the Vancouvers [DJ copies only]
Sep-68; LP [[S): Gordy S930 Bobby Taylor And the Vancouvers
01-May-06; CD [[S): Motown 983 8511 The Motown Anthology [UK]
The Temptations; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 18-Dec-68 ; produced by Norman Whitfield ; [v2, lead Dennis Edwards]
17-Feb-69; LP [[S): Gordy S939 Cloud Nine
23-Oct-00; CD: Spectrum 544 383 2 From 1966-1969 [UK]
23-Oct-00; CD: Motown 159 446 2 Cloud Nine / Puzzle People [UK]
The Undisputed Truth; recorded Hitsville-GW, completed 02-Oct-70 ; produced by Norman Whitfield ; arranged by Dave Van DePitte ; [odb on Temptations v2]
Jul-71; LP [[S): Gordy GS955L The Undisputed Truth
08-Aug-95; CD: Motown 530 570 2 Motown Milestones - The Best Of The Undisputed Truth
25-Aug-17; CD [[S): Kent CDTOP2 469 Nothing But The Truth [[3 Motown albums on 2 CDs plus bonus Tracks) [UK]

…other Motown artists who recorded it after 1972 include…

Barrett Strong
Ben Harper & Funk Brothers
Bettye Lavette
Edwin Starr
Martha Reeves
Michael McDonald
Rare Earth

…but alas …no Isley Brothers...!

Grape :)