Based on Allan Slutsky's award-winning book, Standing In The Shadows of Motown tells the story of The Funk Brothers, the backing musicians for such legendary performers as Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and The Supremes, The Temptations and Marvin Gaye. This outstanding documentary combines interviews with archive footage, re-.. Read more
| Starring | The Funk Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, The Supremes |
|---|---|
| Director | Paul Justman |
| Genres | Documentary, Music/Musical |
loading...
Based on Allan Slutsky's award-winning book, Standing In The Shadows of Motown tells the story of The Funk Brothers, the backing musicians for such legendary performers as Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and The Supremes, The Temptations and Marvin Gaye. This outstanding documentary combines interviews with archive footage, re-enactments, reminiscences and new performances by the reunited Funk Brothers alongside performers such as Joan Osborne and Chaka Khan.
| Starring | The Funk Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, The Supremes, The Temptations, Joan Osborne, Marvin Gaye, Chaka Khan |
|---|---|
| Director | Paul Justman |
| Studio | MOMENTUM PICTURES |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Documentary, Music/Musical |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 26 Jan 2004 Production year: 2002 |
| Format | DVD |
Packed with anecdote and insight, this documentary pays overdue tribute to the unheralded session musicians who helped create the unique Tamla Motown sound. What's remarkable about this group known as the Funk Brothers is their equanimity towards missing out on the fame and fortune that befell the label's biggest stars. They are also generous in their praise for the contribution of deceased members such as drummer Benny Benjamin and bassist James Jamerson, who were remarkable characters as well as pioneering artists. What doesn't quite ring true, however, is the contention that the musicianship is so impeccable that anyone could sing these legendary 1960s hits, as the disappointing reunion concert footage featuring guest vocalists testifies.
Fine documentary, ten years in the making, on the adumbrated musicians largely responsible for the unique sound of... read more on Time Out
This is a musical documentary about the musicians behind almost every Motown hit from 1959 to the early seventies.
You've heard of The Four Tops - yes?
Diana Ross and the Supremes - yes?
The Temptations - yes?
Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson - yes, yes, yes?
The Funk Brothers? - who????
Exactly. Yet they were the people making the music!
The Funk Brothers, a group of exceptional 'backing' musicians, each of them masters of their own (and often everyone else's) instruments, are the unsung heroes who gave Motown hits their characteristic rhythmic and soulful 'Motown' sound.
The Funk Brothers were the greatest hit machine in the history of popular music. For almost every hit soul record you know - it was probably them playing! The spirit and talent of the Funk Brothers was to give Motown songs such success that this little known group of musicians have played on more Number One hits than the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles COMBINED!
This documentary will be of interest to anyone who loved these hits ? but be aware it is a documentary/music video and not a film. It's not a brilliantly well made documentary - there are some interesting interviews and facts but it makes up for any weaknesses with the revival Funk Brothers concert hits included in the film. Using, not so well known, but fabulously talented vocalists, these wonderful versions of classic hits including 'I heard it through the grapevine', 'Reach out I'll be there', and 'What becomes of the broken hearted' prove once and for all that, although a good vocalist can sing well and credit to them, it's the Funk Brothers who make this sound! I suspect you could have the worst singer in the world take the mike with these guys and they?d probably make something funky out of it!
The delivery of the songs in this film is extraordinary. The preciseness, clarity and soulfulness of the performances is so eerily good you almost can't believe it's live and real.
As the film ends and the titles of every hit song ever created by the Funk Brothers scroll down the screen it?s astounding how many are there to recognise. Everyone, no matter age or background, knows over half the songs on that list. Personally, I loved ?em all and I never, until now, knew the same guys made them.
Watch the film, buy the soundtrack, find a concert if you can but whatever you do, enjoy dancing round your house singing 'Ain't no mountain high enough' at the top of your lungs now knowing that it?s the Funk Brothers you are grooving to!
I own this film and being a musician i can recommend it to anyone who loves, plays or listens to music. This is a very sad story of the engine behind the frieght train that was the Motown hit factory. Through out the 60's and 70's Berry Gordy made an enormous amount of money and success with his artists. The singers worked hard but no way near as hard as the Funk Brothers! These boys were the heart and soul of the motown sound and often freelanced for other soul lables like Atlantic and Stax because they never earned enough (typical musician complaint). If you love old soul music then you owe it to yourself to learn who really made the hits. One thing tho try not to hate Chaka Khan for ruining whats going on with all her riffing. Big respects to James Jamerson the bass player and groove of the Funk Brothers who along with a few other member of his band never lived long enough to finally see his work be recognised. Which is a travisty as anyone who can play the bass as great as he can with only one finger should already be in the rock n roll hall of fame. YOU MUST SEE THIS FILM!
* The Amazon.co.uk prices on our site are updated every 24 hours and may not be up to date at the time you view this page.
To see the current new and "new and used" Amazon.co.uk prices, please click on the Buy button.