Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a music documentary about the
Funk Brothers, the unrecognized and uncredited musical backbone who
played on Motowns’ recordings right from 1959 up to 1972 that had
far more number 1 hits as compared to The Rolling Stones,The Beatles,
The Beach Boys and Elvis Presley combined. Directed by Paul Justman,
this film show how a band of Detroit musicians put meaning on soul as
well as R&B music in its golden years.
The documentary comprises of the Funk Brothers’ career through
interviews with remaining band members, video footages from archive
and old photographs, re-enactments, dramatization and narrated by
Andre Braugher. Filmmakers also includes new live acts of various
Motown hit songs, together with the Funk Brothers on the back for
Me’shell Ndegeocello, Gerald Levert, Bootsy Collins, Joan Osborne,
Ben Harper, Montell Jordan and Chaka Khan.
It’s really sad James Jamerson, Benny Benjamin and Robert White were
all pass away when this documentary was released. Even so, Robert
White had a opportunity to include some of his insight. This film is a
moving tribute that unveil these influential musicians beyond their
anonymity.
November 18, 2011 at 4:26 am | aruna peters
i love this! i still love the music. <3
November 22, 2011 at 5:43 am | Anonymous
Wow. What a tribute to these unsung heroes who brought so much joy, romance and heartache into the sound whilst the beat just moved you. Great to see these funky old coots generating the vibe and whether we knew or know of their genuis or not, we loved them. This example speaks volumes about the music and film industry but Motown moving to LA so abruptly (rudely) must have been a huge shock. The day Motown died. It is very sad that we were not able to know the men behind the magic and that they did not profit as they should have done. It’s a bit odd that The Blues Brothers made such a hit with the film and soundtracks but this is the first time I’ve heard of The Funk Brothers. Must be those obsequitous copyright regulations; put the music business in the hands of the musicians and leave it as a matter between them and their fans. Everyone gets screwed by the middlemen.
November 25, 2011 at 1:39 pm | Bruno Sweetdog
AAARGH! soo good, thanks for uploading! Berry GORDY LEGEND!!
I was soo inspired i wrote a song about this EPPPIC story!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRxxe0tO61c&feature=autoshare
November 25, 2011 at 1:44 pm | Axel White
Haha incredible, your music speaks the truth.
November 30, 2011 at 12:04 pm | unrepentant_expat
A musical empire that will echo though the centuries…