Standing in the Shadows of Motown

In 1959, Berry Gordy Jr. gathered the best musicians from Detroit’s thriving jazz and blues scene to begin cutting songs for his new record company. Over a fourteen year period they were the heartbeat on every hit from Motown’s Detroit era. By the end of their phenomenal run, this unheralded group of musicians had played on more number ones hits than the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis and the Beatles combined – which makes them the greatest hit machine in the history of popular music. They called themselves the Funk Brothers. Forty-one years after they played their first note on a Motown record and three decades since they were all together, the Funk Brothers reunited back in Detroit to play their music and tell their unforgettable story, with the help of archival footage, still photos, narration, interviews, re-creation scenes, 20 Motown master tracks, and twelve new live performances of Motown classics with the Brothers backing up contemporary performers.

Standing in the Shadows of Motown review by Soap2day

Standing in the Shadows of Motown - a flawless and tasteful cinematography for the demanding viewer.

You won`t regret spending 108 minutes at the screen.

This movie stands out among similar films in the genre Documentary, Music with its unconventional plot.

This movie was made in 2002 and is watched in one breath.

Jody Blose, Paul Justman`s ability to set the accents in all the right places made the movie a real piece of work.

In addition to the camera work, it is worth noting the magnificent game of Ben Harper, Benny 'Papa Zita' Benjamin, Bob Babbitt, Bootsy Collins, Chaka Khan, Eddie 'Bongo' Brown, Gerald Levert, Jack Ashford, James Jamerson, Joan Osborne, Joe Hunter, Joe Messina, Johnny Griffith, Meshell Ndegeocello, Montell Jordan, Richard 'Pistol' Allen, Rudy Robinson, Uriel Jones.