Tune du Jour: “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” – Gladys Knight and The Pips
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes: Bettye LaVette vs. Amy Winehouse and Paul Weller vs. Rare Earth
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The Original
Original version and first to be a hit.
Gladys Knight and The Pips:
The Definitive Version
Marvin Gaye:
Yet Another Hit
Creedence Clearwater Revival:
THE CLASH of Cover Tunes
Bettye LaVette vs. Amy Winehouse and Paul Weller vs. Rare Earth
Bettye LaVette:
Amy Winehouse and Paul Weller:
Only recently learned that Rare Earth was on the Motown label.
Rare Earth:
SPACE
Oh the disharmony! Much like Harlan County there are no neutrals here. It is your solemn responsibility to decide which cover song prevails. In other words … Which Side Are You On!??!
Disclaimer: Votes cast from Florida may or may not be counted.
cover me impressed 
Such a venerable classic that has inspired many excellent covers.
Bettye LaVette consistently turns out impressive, soulful covers of songs of every ilk. Nice job here but a bit too similar to the original.
Mega duo, Amy and Paul, along with a fine orchestra, predictably spin a beautiful cover of this classic.
Rare Earth kicks out a nice rocking version befit of its era.
Amy and Paul got my vote.
I probably knew CCR’s version before Marvin Gaye’s. This title confused me as a kid when I first heard it. I didn’t know the idiomatic expression and took things literally. Bettye LaVette does a gritty, classic reading but it just doesn’t pop. I like that she is willing to do unexpected covers. I have three of her albums, most notably Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook where she takes on Pink Floyd, The Who, Moody Blues etc.
I had two or three Rare Earth 45s as a young teenager and knew their takes on Get Ready and I’m Losing You before I knew The Temptations originals. Here though they offer little. I like the fuzzy wah-wah guitar but the pedestrian jam with strings atop is just bad.
I voted Winehouse and Weller in a rout. The video helps and the live horns are great.
Winehouse and Weller were terrific, and I figured they couldn’t be beat, but Rare Earth gave them a run for the money for the first two minutes, but then the extended jamming lost me. Amy and Paul are such a great pairing. Can’t top it.
CCR’s version is always the definitive versions, but second would be the Slits version, which was not included but is a great ska-punk rendition, IMO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSq3-lE377Q