In the Groove

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

In the Groove was released on 26 August 1968 on Tamla, Marvin Gaye's first solo album in two years. In the meantime he had become best known as a duet partner of, among others, Kim Weston and Tammi Terrell. Motown brought him back to the studio in early 1967. Producer Norman Whitfield and his protégé Frank Wilson wrote songs that suited Gaye's restless life. Terrell became seriously ill in late 1967, which weighed heavily on him.

The best-known track is I Heard It Through the Grapevine. Whitfield pushed Gaye to sing higher than he was used to. Berry Gordy at first did not want to release the song, so You and Chained came out first as a single. When Grapevine was released after all in October 1968, it became a number one. Motown then reissued the album under that title. Gaye also tried his hand as a producer for the first time here and wrote songs himself. The reviews were generally positive.

Listening

Track list

1. 1You2:27Apple Music ↗
2. 2Tear It On Down2:38Apple Music ↗
3. 3Chained2:40Apple Music ↗
4. 4I Heard It Through the Grapevine3:17Apple Music ↗
5. 5At Last (I Found a Love)2:40Apple Music ↗
6. 6Some Kind of Wonderful2:21Apple Music ↗
7. 7Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever2:46Apple Music ↗
8. 8Change What You Can2:40Apple Music ↗
9. 9It's Love I Need2:56Apple Music ↗
10. 10Every Now and Then3:07Apple Music ↗
11. 11You're What's Happening (In the World Today)2:22Apple Music ↗
12. 12There Goes My Baby2:23Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗