The Song Berry Gordy HATED Became Motown’s Biggest Hit
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Trey is back this week to break down the crazy story of the classic song “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” – including the fact that this song was recorded multiple times by different artists before being released, comparing different version of the songs, and exploring a distinct Aretha Franklin influence.
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TOPICS COVERED
Berry Gordy
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Marvin Gaye
The Miracles
Gladys Knight and the Pips
Aretha Franklin
Breakdown
Motown
#motown #marvingaye #musichistory
@diggingthegreats
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Thank you to Bombas for sponsoring this video! Head to https://bombas.com/diggingthegreats and use code DIGGINGTHEGREATS at checkout for 20% off your first purchase.
@sakaridis
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Marvin's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine has been my absolute favorite song of all time for more than 25 years now! Up until my early to mid-20s, the title holder for "my favorite song of all time" had changed at least half a dozen times, but somewhere near the turn of the century, it became clear that this was it.
And there hasn't been a doubt in my mind since then!
@jestapartyliva4343
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
I fxz wit you, sun….
@erikhoffman2866
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Quality control…J5….nuff said:)
@lRyanlGl
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Excuse me, this WASN'T about Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell, HOW!?
@adrianbyrne114
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Glad to have another video on Motown.
One thing to note: its very obvious that Trey is either reading off of a teleprompter or cue cards, or looking at the camera's screen.
@justinrichardson9554
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
My girl gladys did that.
@sexymama1966
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Gladys Knight and Company's version will always be my favorite. I love the breakdown and the visual charts. Very easy to follow and there's a life lesson at the end. What's not to like?!
@Patthew
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Lift Weights
@kelvinhatcher6092
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
❤❤❤❤ You guys did a great job on how the Drums were played ❤❤❤❤❤ Thanks again
@FujitheChef
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Love the Motown stuff! Any good story with the Blue Note Jazz artist/label?
@wssuramnation
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
This song is inexplicably black. The phrase “Heard It Through The Grapevine” dates back to the way enslaved African Americans communicated messages.
@wssuramnation
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
This is great! Keep these coming!
@Buster_Chestnut
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
whoa whoa whoa… no mention of my favorite version…. The California Raisins… that's how I learned about this song first.
@hiztorydadj4132
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
When you think about he got it right… his no made a new sound
@supersyncspaz7
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
The Gladys Knight version was the first I heard, when I was about 6 years old. It's been a favorite since then.
@fitpersonaltrainingstudio
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
This channel is the best.
@AutiNathan06
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Can You Guys Talk About Anxiety By Doechii & How Its Not Really A Sample & More Of An Interpretation & That The OG Is An None Profit Song Which She Is Profiting Off Of (Pretty Sure)!
@Rocknsoulmusic
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Berry was just being a perfectionist to appease and garner a white audience 😂"quality control" ridicoulous .its music not car safety!we had lots of non motown successful artist that wernt that strick!and still made hits.i hate over thinking in music.thinking is for math not art!😂
@customjohnny
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Such an awesome story! Also, Brandon, have you considered doing a video on Nujabes, or the Sound Providers?
Been a big fan of your work for a long time 😊
@ryanknjenga
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
he is not a good addition to the series ngl.
@spencer-Tee
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
When I was a kid I thought the California Raisins made this
@thesuncollective1475
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Credence? Wow I just listened to their version, the man's got soul. Nice Job and Thank you that was cracking
@OdinOfficialEmcee
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Marvin Gay's version is my absolute favourite take on this song. It just feels so damn good
@bltvd
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
I always thought John Fogerty wrote this song.
@Cadeho3
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
I am glad you guys told this story! The Miracles recorded it twice. Still in-house, the Rustix and the Undisputed Truth also recorded it.
@carlrice1774
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Ill be honest, while its not a bad song I don't love that track either but realize why people do. But that's about the only thing I have in common with Gordy, who I cane to understand is EXTREMELY difficult.
@nicosekano
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
he also wanted to shelve the single "what's going on" out of concern that marvin will lose his female audience & appeal by being too preachy & political. marvin went behind his back & released it anyway to positive reception. only then did he give marvin creative control to make one of the greatest soul albums of the 20th century, what's going on
@driftgut
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
not to forget the slits' epic punk version of the song on their 1979 album "cut"
@matteopagani1176
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
love from italy❤❤
@grofbeton
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
this showed up in my feed , i subbed your channel is awsome
@standarddeviation7314
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
In 1986 the California Raisin Advisory Board ( a marketing firm) created The California Raisins.. an animated claymation group who sang this song.. it was well known in CA at the time.
@AlmosRIF
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Love your videos so much, please do more videos where u do physical stuff like your i pod series
@gezblair
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Creedence did the best version. Well, maybe just the longest 😀
@cromatoast
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Couldn't it be argued that Berry Gordy's rejection(s) of the song made it what it turned out to be?
@artisans8521
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
You mispronounced the word global to nationwide. A common mispronounciation among Americans 😂.
@eldorado5319
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Another song with James Jamerson on it, god I love his basslines
@treymahagony
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@brianb6507
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
That was great!!!!
@enochakorli3407
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
I receive it so well, your videos are everything, you craft it so well.
1. Mm.. food video is Goated
2. The OutKast video with train diagram is amazing at the end you used the plane and train diagram to explain your point so well
3. J Dilla’s doughnut video where you correlated the artist + the art(music) to our judgement to the sun, the rain and the rainbow at the end of the day you gave us the decision to make. Love it to bits❤️
Honourable mentions
The secret to MADVILLAINY: Indifference
Sir please please keep giving use this gems. People like me is appreciating music and art more because of you.
@witabif
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
trey!!!
@intolerant_left
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
The Coasters "Little Egypt" > Heard it through the Grapevine
@nicolesherman8974
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Digging the greats Friday just in time for the three day weekend 🔥
@pervertedalchemist9944
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Berry Gordy was also notoriously against funk music. Ironically, Rick James was keeping the lights on at Motown when other projects were flopping at the label.
@theonlycaamz
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
common digging the greats w
@KennyLauderdale
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Man your videos are the best
@MusicFromAnotherTime
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Trey appearing like Noob Saibot in Mortal Kombat…
@macadon041
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
2nd
@AcidSoundz
August 21, 2025 at 1:38 pm
Wowee zowee
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