It Happened 50 Years Ago: Gladys Knight & The Pips “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”

In mid-December of 1968, Marvin Gaye would score the biggest hit of his career when “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” climbed to number one for a seven-week reign atop Billboard‘s Hot 100 chart. Gaye’s recording, though, was the second version of the song to appear on the chart. Exactly one year earlier, and exactly 50 years ago, Gladys Knight & The Pips climbed to a peak position of number 2 with their version of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.”