 Marvin Gaye 's version was recorded in spring 1967 , and is the second known recording , though was also rejected by Gordy as a single , and would also later go onto an album , In the Groove . The third recording was in 1967 with Gladys Knight and the Pips in a new , faster arrangement . Gordy accepted the new arrangement and the Gladys Knight version was released as a single in September 1967 , reaching number 2 in the charts . When Gaye 's album with his version of Grapevine was released in August 1968 radio disc jockeys were playing the song , so Gordy had it released as a single in October , and it went to number one in December . 
