Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson make an adorable double act in Hitsville: The Making of Motown

MOTOWN’s story has been widely documented . . . but not like in this documentary.

It is made by the same company that found genius in the recent Bros biopic – and while there are no Matt Goss-style goofs, the access they’ve been given makes this a glorious, nostalgia-fuelled riot.

Rather than focus on the turbulent but dull stories of litigation and financial fallouts, Hitsville sets out its stall with a simple mission – to tell us how Berry Gordy went from car-factory worker to creating the production line that allowed Motown to churn out an enviable amount of hits.

Berry himself talks us through it, aided by his right- hand guy Smokey Robinson – the pair make an adorable double act – along with other key players such as the writing powerhouse trio Holland- Dozier-Holland.

Stevie Wonder is there, as are celebs such as Oprah, John Legend, Jamie Foxx and, er, Sam Smith. These stories are excellent, yet pale into insignificance when compared with the music.

From the opening wah pedal of Papa Was A Rolling Stone, they just keep coming, hit after hit – it’s as much a sing-a-long as a documentary.

While I have to confess to missing Diana Ross, the creative way the makers play with the original multi-track tapes is amazing.

Two sequences – one being Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On? and the other The Temptations’ My Girl – sucked the air out of the room.

As David Ruffin’s voice was pulled out of the classic and laid bare, you’d swear you were in the room. With such access and catalogue it’s impossible not to fall for this.

Hitsville: The Making Of Motown (12) 112mins

★★★★☆

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