Standing In The Shadows of Motown

Standing In The Shadows of Motown


Starring:Richard 'Pistol' Allen, Jack Ashford, Bob Babbitt (II), Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin, Eddie 'Bongo' Brown, Bootsy Collins, Johnny Griffith, Ben Harper (II), Joe Hunter, James Jamerson, Uriel Jones, Montell Jordan, Chaka Khan, Gerald Levert, Joe Messina, Me'Shell NdegéOcello, Joan Osborne, Rudy Robinson, Tom Scott, Earl Van Dyke
Director: Paul Justman
Studio: Lions Gate
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a must-see film for any fan of the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, or any other classic Motown stars. This swinging documentary celebrates the Funk Brothers--the team of studio musicians who powered dozens and dozens of hit Motown songs--by combining reminiscences, reenactments, and clips from a recent concert put on by the Funk Brothers, featuring singers like Chaka Khan, Ben Harper, and Joan Osborne on classic tunes like "What's Going On," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," and "Heatwave." This crafty gang of elderly musicians will charm your pants off with a slew of entertaining anecdotes. Though it seems that there's a lot of dirt they're declining to dish, the movie deftly outlines the history of Motown, surely the most significant music label in American history--the label that turned segregated "race music" into chart-topping success. A soulful delight. --Bret Fetzer
Description
Detroit, Michigan, 1959. Berry Gordy gathers the best musicians from the city's thriving jazz and blues scene for his new record company: Motown. For the next 14 years these players are the heartbeat on "My Girl," "Baby Love," "Ooo Baby Baby," "Bernadette," "I Was Made To Love Her," "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," "Dancing In The Street," and every other hit from Motown's Detroit era. By the end of their phenomenal run, the unheralded group of musicians plays on more Number One hits than the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles combined, making them the greatest hit machine in the history of popular music. They call themselves the Funk Brothers. But no one knows their names...this is their story.
Standing In The Shadows of Motown
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Do yourself a favor and get it
  • Motown disappointment
  • FANTASTIC!
  • I never really liked Motown...
  • Standing In The Shadows of Motown
 Standing In The Shadows of Motown
Starring: Richard 'Pistol' Allen , Jack Ashford , Bob Babbitt (II) , Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin , and Eddie 'Bongo' Brown
Director: Paul Justman
Manufacturer: Lions Gate
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:
  1. Standing in the Shadows of Motown: Deluxe Edition
  2. Standing in the Shadows of Motown
  3. The Temptations
  4. Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Life and Music of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson
  5. 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Funk Brothers

ASIN: B00008J2HC
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Amazon.com

Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a must-see film for any fan of the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, or any other classic Motown stars. This swinging documentary celebrates the Funk Brothers--the team of studio musicians who powered dozens and dozens of hit Motown songs--by combining reminiscences, reenactments, and clips from a recent concert put on by the Funk Brothers, featuring singers like Chaka Khan, Ben Harper, and Joan Osborne on classic tunes like "What's Going On," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," and "Heatwave." This crafty gang of elderly musicians will charm your pants off with a slew of entertaining anecdotes. Though it seems that there's a lot of dirt they're declining to dish, the movie deftly outlines the history of Motown, surely the most significant music label in American history--the label that turned segregated "race music" into chart-topping success. A soulful delight. --Bret Fetzer

Description

Detroit, Michigan, 1959. Berry Gordy gathers the best musicians from the city's thriving jazz and blues scene for his new record company: Motown. For the next 14 years these players are the heartbeat on "My Girl," "Baby Love," "Ooo Baby Baby," "Bernadette," "I Was Made To Love Her," "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," "Dancing In The Street," and every other hit from Motown's Detroit era. By the end of their phenomenal run, the unheralded group of musicians plays on more Number One hits than the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles combined, making them the greatest hit machine in the history of popular music. They call themselves the Funk Brothers. But no one knows their names...this is their story.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Do yourself a favor and get it.......2007-07-04

This might be the best 10 bucks you'll ever spend if you like Motown or heck if you like music. It leaves you wanting to know more and many of us who grew up with this music should know more. While some of their stories are heartbreaking it was a pleasure to see Pistol Allen smiling behind the drums even though he was so sick he would die shortly after the completion of the film. It was a sad moment too when two of the surviving brothers describe their last encounter with James Jamerson who would die the day after their visit. But there is fun too, fun for the Funk Brothers and fun for us as we are honored to hear these guys play and play they still can. The band is still very tight and very good. The vocalist do an admirable job of interpreting the hits. It would have been nice to have been graced with Marvin Gaye's and David Ruffin's presence but this is about the Funk Brothers and I for one am damn glad I got to see it.
Thanks to Dr. Lick's for putting this together.

2 out of 5 stars Motown disappointment.......2007-06-27

I was looking forward to seeing the actual footage of the singers. I do appreciate the story of the fellows behind the artists but still, I think the video would have been more enjoyable had they included the actual singers.

5 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC!.......2007-06-18

I rented this from Blockbuster,and immediately bought it. It's sooooo good and informative, I can't describe it. I loaned it to someone who stayed up until 2:00 a.m. to see the whole thing. There are absolutely great live performances from: the late Gerald Levert, (His "Shotgun" is outstanding) Me'shell Indegeocello (sp.)(who sexes up "You Really Got A Hold On Me"), Bootsy Collins, ("Cool Jerk"). Joan Osborne does a great ("What Becomes of the Broken Hearted") and Ben Harper all sing 2 songs. (The only performance I HATED was Ben Harper's "Heard it through the Grapevine"). Chaka Khan, Montell Jordan & Tom Scott also appear. The remaining "Funk Brothers" musicians who played behind the Motown groups,tell funny stories about each other, how they met, Berry Gordy and the label's performers. They even go to "Hitsville" where it all started. There are reinactments, and old photos. It's so good I've seen it at least six times. You will almost cry at the finale when they introduce everyone, even the musicians that have passed away. Their photos are on stage with the remaining members. There is a second disc of extras that I have yet to finish, but the movie itself is wonderful. I've watched it with Black and White people, young and old, and everyone loves it. Go get it. Now.

5 out of 5 stars I never really liked Motown..........2007-05-25

...and the Motown sound. I saw it as a saccharine, watered-down parody of Soul for mass consumption.

This DVD changed all that for me.

The story of the Funk Brothers and their different personalities --personal and musical-- was fascinating and a revelation. The music is top-notch and the modern vocalists they got for this film and for the excellent soundtrack --buy it, even if you think you don't like the Motown sound-- bring out the magic of those famous tunes I dismissed at an earlier age.

Maybe the current crop of singers have more soul or more influences to draw on than the originals artists, or maybe the engineers/producers sucked some of the guts out of the original tracks... I don't know, but these songs sound great!

What is more or less the same is the line-up of the Funk Brothers, finally getting a very small measure of the recognition they deserve.

The filmmakers and the the artists featured in this film turned me from detractor to a fan of the Motown sound. I can't give a better review than that.

If you like music documentaries and you haven't seen this one, you're missing one of the best!

5 out of 5 stars Standing In The Shadows of Motown.......2007-05-14

Excellent documentary brings to light the artists behind the music that was the "Motown Sound".
Standing in the Shadows of Motown / The Temptations
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Standing in the Shadows of Motown / The Temptations
    Starring: Richard 'Pistol' Allen , Jack Ashford , Bob Babbitt (II) , Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin , and Eddie 'Bongo' Brown
    Director: Paul Justman , and Allan Arkush
    Manufacturer: Live / Artisan
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

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    Similar Items:
    1. Standing In The Shadows of Motown
    2. The Temptations
    3. The Temptations - Live in Concert
    4. Soul Comes Home: A Celebration of Stax Records
    5. Standing in the Shadows of Motown: Deluxe Edition

    ASIN: B0000JBULY
    Release Date: 2003-12-16
    Standing in the Shadows of Motown [Region 2]
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Do yourself a favor and get it
    • Motown disappointment
    • FANTASTIC!
    • I never really liked Motown...
    • Standing In The Shadows of Motown
    		 Standing in the Shadows of Motown [Region 2]
    Starring: Richard 'Pistol' Allen , Jack Ashford , Bob Babbitt (II) , Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin , and Eddie 'Bongo' Brown
    Director: Paul Justman
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

    GeneralGeneral | R&B | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music
    GenresGenres | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
    Justman, PaulJustman, Paul | ( J ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
    Used DVDsUsed DVDs | Stores | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
    ( S )( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
    Similar Items:
    1. Standing in the Shadows of Motown: Deluxe Edition
    2. Standing in the Shadows of Motown
    3. The Temptations
    4. Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Life and Music of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson
    5. 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Funk Brothers

    ASIN: B0000V6S6E

    Amazon.com

    Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a must-see film for any fan of the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, or any other classic Motown stars. This swinging documentary celebrates the Funk Brothers--the team of studio musicians who powered dozens and dozens of hit Motown songs--by combining reminiscences, reenactments, and clips from a recent concert put on by the Funk Brothers, featuring singers like Chaka Khan, Ben Harper, and Joan Osborne on classic tunes like "What's Going On," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," and "Heatwave." This crafty gang of elderly musicians will charm your pants off with a slew of entertaining anecdotes. Though it seems that there's a lot of dirt they're declining to dish, the movie deftly outlines the history of Motown, surely the most significant music label in American history--the label that turned segregated "race music" into chart-topping success. A soulful delight. --Bret Fetzer

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Do yourself a favor and get it.......2007-07-04

    This might be the best 10 bucks you'll ever spend if you like Motown or heck if you like music. It leaves you wanting to know more and many of us who grew up with this music should know more. While some of their stories are heartbreaking it was a pleasure to see Pistol Allen smiling behind the drums even though he was so sick he would die shortly after the completion of the film. It was a sad moment too when two of the surviving brothers describe their last encounter with James Jamerson who would die the day after their visit. But there is fun too, fun for the Funk Brothers and fun for us as we are honored to hear these guys play and play they still can. The band is still very tight and very good. The vocalist do an admirable job of interpreting the hits. It would have been nice to have been graced with Marvin Gaye's and David Ruffin's presence but this is about the Funk Brothers and I for one am damn glad I got to see it.
    Thanks to Dr. Lick's for putting this together.

    2 out of 5 stars Motown disappointment.......2007-06-27

    I was looking forward to seeing the actual footage of the singers. I do appreciate the story of the fellows behind the artists but still, I think the video would have been more enjoyable had they included the actual singers.

    5 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC!.......2007-06-18

    I rented this from Blockbuster,and immediately bought it. It's sooooo good and informative, I can't describe it. I loaned it to someone who stayed up until 2:00 a.m. to see the whole thing. There are absolutely great live performances from: the late Gerald Levert, (His "Shotgun" is outstanding) Me'shell Indegeocello (sp.)(who sexes up "You Really Got A Hold On Me"), Bootsy Collins, ("Cool Jerk"). Joan Osborne does a great ("What Becomes of the Broken Hearted") and Ben Harper all sing 2 songs. (The only performance I HATED was Ben Harper's "Heard it through the Grapevine"). Chaka Khan, Montell Jordan & Tom Scott also appear. The remaining "Funk Brothers" musicians who played behind the Motown groups,tell funny stories about each other, how they met, Berry Gordy and the label's performers. They even go to "Hitsville" where it all started. There are reinactments, and old photos. It's so good I've seen it at least six times. You will almost cry at the finale when they introduce everyone, even the musicians that have passed away. Their photos are on stage with the remaining members. There is a second disc of extras that I have yet to finish, but the movie itself is wonderful. I've watched it with Black and White people, young and old, and everyone loves it. Go get it. Now.

    5 out of 5 stars I never really liked Motown..........2007-05-25

    ...and the Motown sound. I saw it as a saccharine, watered-down parody of Soul for mass consumption.

    This DVD changed all that for me.

    The story of the Funk Brothers and their different personalities --personal and musical-- was fascinating and a revelation. The music is top-notch and the modern vocalists they got for this film and for the excellent soundtrack --buy it, even if you think you don't like the Motown sound-- bring out the magic of those famous tunes I dismissed at an earlier age.

    Maybe the current crop of singers have more soul or more influences to draw on than the originals artists, or maybe the engineers/producers sucked some of the guts out of the original tracks... I don't know, but these songs sound great!

    What is more or less the same is the line-up of the Funk Brothers, finally getting a very small measure of the recognition they deserve.

    The filmmakers and the the artists featured in this film turned me from detractor to a fan of the Motown sound. I can't give a better review than that.

    If you like music documentaries and you haven't seen this one, you're missing one of the best!

    5 out of 5 stars Standing In The Shadows of Motown.......2007-05-14

    Excellent documentary brings to light the artists behind the music that was the "Motown Sound".

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