A celebration ofMotown's mostmarvellous hits

Celebrating the golden anniversary of the song’s release, brand-new stage show Get Ready embarks on a nationwide Heard if Through the Grapevine tour, arriving locally in the coming weeks. It is a chance to take a trip back to 1960s Detroit and enjoy the music of the Temptations, Four Tops, Supremes, Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, says show producer Pete Tobit of GRT Entertainments.

“Velvet vocals from a stellar cast of critically-acclaimed performers combine with divinely-gifted musicians,” he says, “to authentically recreate the sound responsible for lifting an entire generation to its dancing feet. Immaculate costumes and astounding dance moves truly revive the most pulsating era of music the world has ever seen.”

I Heard it Through the Grapevine ranks among Motown Records’ most iconic tunes, says Pete. “Its organ, snaredrum and tambourine intro certainly makes it Motown’s most instantly recognisable song.”

Incredibly, the track was never intended to be released as a single. Indeed, Motown supremo Berry Gordy originally refused to entertain putting the song out as a seven inch single as it had already been a hit for Gladys Knight and the Pips. However, Marvin Gaye’s version was picked up as an album track by radio DJs, eventually forcing its release on October 30, 1968.

I Heard it Through the Grapevine is just one of 40 hits featured in the Get Ready stage show with other highlights including Dancing in the Street, Jimmy Mack, ABC, Stop in the Name of Love, Signed Sealed Delivered, Reach Out, Endless Love and, of course, Get Ready.

Tickets £23-£25 available from the Box Office 01323 802020 royalhippodrome.com