Standing in the Shadows of Motown details
| Format: | PG DVD |
|---|---|
| Starring: | The Supremes, The Funk Brothers, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Chaka Khan, Joan Osborne, The Supremes /The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye |
| Director: | Paul Justman |
| Genres: | Documentary - Music, Music/Musical - Music - Rock/Pop |
| Studio: | MOMENTUM PICTURES |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
Standing in the Shadows of Motown |
PG Feature |
DVD Information
| Rental release: | 26 Jan 2004 |
|---|---|
| Main languages: | English |
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Most helpful review
Great music documentary/video for lovers of Motown hits
By Rebecca Harrop from London, England , 31 Mar 2004[Highly rated reviewer]
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!- Was this review helpful to you?
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(33)Brilliant, Absolutely Brilliant, Nostalgia Is What It's Cracked Up To Be!
By Crazytrucker (11 reviews) from Anywhere-But-Here UK , 20 Jan 2013I originally gave this 4 and a half stars, just re-rated it to 5 stars! A pleasure to watch and listen to the guys and girls that made the music that many of us grew up with, so many have passed on though and a couple since this doc was made. And the recreations of the songs were done brilliantly with various other artists doing the vocals whilst the guys played and sounding exactly like the recordings, many of which I have in my record collection. Recommended highly!- Was this review helpful to you?
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A real history lesson
By TrevorR (74 reviews) from Boston , 25 Jan 2011If you like motown or the Motown sound then you should watch this documentary about the Funk Brothers who played on every Motown hit but remain largely unknown.- Was this review helpful to you?
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standing in the shadow of motown
By joshytw (5 reviews) from southampton , 29 Jul 2010as a documentary about forgotten musicians and great characters it's a good watch. however as a lover of motown I was disappointed that there wasn't really any motown originals played, instead you get a concert where you see great musicianship let down by the guest singers. Nowhere near as good as The Buena Vista Club which is a shame as the guys had just as much vim as the musicians showcased in that documentary- Was this review helpful to you?
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Motown without the music!
By a customer from London , 12 Jan 2009Yes there is an excellent documentary about the Funk Brothers here.
BUT we do not get to hear any of the original Motown music.
What we do get to hear is a contemporary concert with of few of the now aged Funks joined by a group of second raters. Second raters compared to Marvin, Smokey, Diana etc.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Boring
By a customer from Bakewell , 10 Jan 2009I was recommended this film which in fact is a documentary. Unless you're a devoted fan of the Mowtown music (which I'm not) you'll be disappointed. . A lot of talk, a bit of stage music : don't bother !- Was this review helpful to you?
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