Marvin Gaye entered the studio to record his signature hit “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” on April 10, 1967. The track was written by the Motown songwriting duo of Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and had initially been recorded by Smokey Robinson. Having already notched hit status for Gladys Knight in 1967, Gaye would release the track as a single in 1968. He recorded the track with Whitfield, who pushed the singer to use a higher key signature, producing a higher pitched and raspy tone. Motown chief Berry Gordy was initially unimpressed with the recording and waited to release it until the following year. “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” went on to become one of Marvin’s biggest hits and a defining track of the Motown sound. It later enjoyed renewed popularity in the 1980s after being featured in the movie “The Big Chill” and appearing in commercials with the California Raisins.