<P> The California Raisins released four studio albums on Priority Records between 1987 and 1988, and their signature song, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," landed on the Billboard Hot 100 . However, the Raisins would continue to make their strongest impression through animated endeavors . </P> <P> The campaign was so popular, The California Raisins were the official mascots of Post Raisin Bran, appearing in commercials and on packaging . </P> <P> On November 4, 1988, CBS aired a primetime special entitled Meet the Raisins! . The musical mockumentary was again created by Vinton Studios and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award . It also provided the band members more personality and individual names: A.C., Beebop (drums), Stretch (bass), and Red (guitar / piano). A Saturday morning cartoon series, The California Raisin Show, debuted the following year but lasted merely 13 episodes . While cel animated by Murakami - Wolf - Swenson, it maintained Will Vinton's creative direction . A sequel to the original CBS special aired in 1990 under the title The Raisins: Sold Out!: The California Raisins II . This special saw the Raisins hiring a new manager with the goal of making a comeback . </P> <P> Many of the items created for the campaign have become part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution . Merchandise sales included toys and Raisins images on nearly every conceivable medium: lunch boxes, notebooks, clothing, posters, bedsheets, and even a Halloween costume just to name a few . A California Raisins Fan Club began in 1987 which included a Grapevine Gazette Newsletter and various memorabilia . Blackthorne Publishing also released a 6 - issue comic book series entitled The California Raisins 3 - D which included 3D glasses; these would later be re-released in the Ultimate Collection trade paperback . </P>

The california raisins heard it through the grapevine