American Bandstand 1967 -In Color Pt. 3- I Heard It Through The Grapevine, Gladys Knight & The Pips

In 1966 Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong wrote this song for Motown. It was first recorded by the Miracles in ’66 but Berry Gordy didn’t like it and “vetoed” it. Then Marvin Gaye recorded it in ’67. Berry again didn’t like this version and shelved it. Finally, Gladys Knight recorded it later that same year. Gordy had it released as a single and it was a huge hit, going all the way to #2 about the time of this clip. In 1968, Gaye’s new album “In The Groove” had the shelved recording on it and disk jockeys started playing it all over the country.  Gordy finally released it as a single and it became the biggest selling Motown record of all time, reaching #1 for 7 weeks in ’68. (“I’ll Be There” by the Jackson 5 later outsold it in the US in 1970.)

Here we see the kids dancing to Gladys Pips and the Knights (lol) hit song in another clip from the “color” episode. Some of the AB regulars shown are Peggy Waggoner sitting in the front row and leading her dance partner out onto the floor, Frank Vanderpuil with Maureen Cohen, Roni Menacker on the riser in the green dress, Don Sanuskar with Deedra Higgins in the corner in front of the riser and Jim Miranda head bobbing to the beat (featured in the thumbnail pic)

….And later today, in a gesture designed to undermine the US, 3 American prisoners of war were released by the Viet Cong to antiwar activist Tom Hayden in Cambodia. The Viet Cong stated that they released the men in response to antiwar protests and as a gesture towards the “courageous struggle” of blacks in the United States as 2 of the soldiers released were African American.

Airdate: Nov. 11, 1967

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