Think I've found my favourite song.

[Twincam]

I never thought I would have a favourite song, but to me, I heard it through the grapevine ticks all the boxes.
It combines my fav bass player, the fantastic James Jamerson (as we all know) and my equal favourite male vocalist Marvin Gaye (who draws with Stuart Adamson as my equal favs).
I think the lyrics are really good, while not being over the top. They potray a good story and it really speaks to me. And of course you have one of the finest singers ever in Marvin Gaye.
The whole arrangement from start to finish really does it for me.
Of course not forgetting the cracking bass throughout. While I don't have the capacity to go through the ins and outs of it, but it sounds great and it's one of those that's much harder to play than initially thought.
Fantastic tune!

Ps I'm knackered as I type but hopefully that all makes sense

Edited November 7, 2017 by Twincam

[DJpullchord]

You may well be correct.

[Count Bassy]

I love the Creedence version

[Geek99]

jamerson at his best.

[Phil Adams]

Motown all through that period was just amazing.
Listening to Tears of a Clown on Radio 2 right now. Bought the 7" with my first pay packet in 1970.

[chris_b]

Good choice. Grapevine has always been one of my Desert Island Discs.

As is Spoonful by Howlin Wolf and Reeling In The Years, which I heard for the first time in a limo rolling down the freeway from LAX to Sunset Strip. Hearing real music on a daytime radio station for the first time. That was early 1973.

[lowdown]

Always liked the version by Gladys Night as well. Although a different vibe and feel from the Marvin Gaye version, it has a terrific, funky Bassline.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQRcUxNJEbs

[casapete]

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1510057493' post='3403573']
Always liked the version by Gladys Night as well. Although a different vibe and feel from the Marvin Gaye version, it has a terrific, funky Bassline.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQRcUxNJEbs[/media]
[/quote]

Love the Gladys version too. This was actually recorded first, predating Marvin's version by a year or so.
But which one is best?.........FIGHT!..................

[chris_b]

[pedant] Recorded originally by the Miracles, secondly by Marvin Gaye, then by Gladys Knight, who had the first single release and hit.[/pedant]

[bassace]

Always dangerous to have a ‘favourite’ anything because there is a danger that you shut out all sorts of nice things. But Marvin’s Grapevine takes a hell of a lot of beating.

[pfretrock]

[quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1510057493' post='3403573']
Always liked the version by Gladys Night as well. Although a different vibe and feel from the Marvin Gaye version, it has a terrific, funky Bassline.
[/quote]

Analysed here [url="http://www.jamersonanalysed.co.uk/2013/11/i-heard-it-through-grapevine-gladys.html"]http://www.jamersona...ine-gladys.html[/url]

[Maude]

I used to love the version by The Slits, quite a funky feel to it.
I had it on a compilation lp called 'We do em our way' but lent it to a mate and never saw it again.
It's been taken off YouTube as well.

[mr zed]

I like the FM version.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qsdhd7SJ3TA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qsdhd7SJ3TA[/url]

Edited November 7, 2017 by mr zed

[mep]

[quote name='Count Bassy' timestamp='1510050154' post='3403455']
I love the Creedence version
[/quote]

We used to gig that version. Goes on a bit but good flun to play,

[Mudpup]

[quote name='mr zed' timestamp='1510079715' post='3403843']
I like the FM version.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qsdhd7SJ3TA[/media]
[/quote]

Me too - we used to do that version of it :-)
You can really dig into the bass line and i love the lead break on it..

Edited November 7, 2017 by Mudpup

[mr zed]

Mudpup - fully agreed. It's a cracking version to play. I played this in my previous band. Excuse the quality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3FHa9zp_fY

[thebigyin]

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1510013050' post='3403315']
I never thought I would have a favourite song, but to me, I heard it through the grapevine ticks all the boxes.
It combines my fav bass player, the fantastic James Jamerson (as we all know) and my equal favourite male vocalist Marvin Gaye (who draws with Stuart Adamson as my equal favs).
I think the lyrics are really good, while not being over the top. They potray a good story and it really speaks to me. And of course you have one of the finest singers ever in Marvin Gaye.
The whole arrangement from start to finish really does it for me.
Of course not forgetting the cracking bass throughout. While I don't have the capacity to go through the ins and outs of it, but it sounds great and it's one of those that's much harder to play than initially thought.
Fantastic tune!

Ps I'm knackered as I type but hopefully that all makes sense
[/quote]

James Jamerson was the reason I wanted to learn Bass....his Basslines are so melodic....i am also a big fan of Tommy Cogbill, Jerry Jemmott, Bob Babbitt, Duck Dunn, Goerge Porter, Willie Weeks ect.

Edited November 9, 2017 by thebigyin