Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002)
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User Reviews: Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002)
For your Old School collection
If youre Old School and have Cooley High, Wattstax and the Big Chill in your movie collection, add this one.
Was this review helpful? Yes - NoWhat you didnt know
This movie gives the little known history of the Funk Brothers, the musicians behind many of the Motown greats. If you like Motown, you will enjoy this movie.
Was this review helpful? Yes - NoBravo for the Unsung Heroes
I grew up with the Motown sound. I, like the musical snooks in the record store in the beginning of the documentary, had no clue who the Funk bothers were and I bought many of the #1 hits of soul.
Not only does this well-produced movie enlightens me, their sound brought back many memories.
The best of the film highlights were the oneness of the black and white performers; their greatness of their music and friendships are the most color-blind brotherhoods I ever particpated as a viewer. I truly enjoyed every minute of it. I wanted more.
Roc DeWildeWas this review helpful? Yes - NoIn the beginning...Smokey wrote of heave
...but the Funk Brothers interpreted those writings.
From 1959s Bad Girl by the Miracles, released on Chess, cuz there wasnt a Motown label just yet, through the early 70s Supremes & Stevie Wonder tracks, I constantly marveled at how tight the instrumental backing of the great groups and artists of Motown was. The opening strains of the Temps My Girl, the sad, bluesy feel of the Tops Left With a Broken Heart, the explosive beginnings of Heatwave and the myriad backbeats which permeated all Motown product as well as, if not better than Phil Spectors Wall of Sound. The keyboards were insanely perfect...from the opening shout of Aint Too Proud to Beg to the gritty organ breaks backing Jr. Walker in Shotgun. Yeah...Smokey, the Holland Brothers, Lamont Dozier, Stevie & Marvin wrote the tunes which were incredible lyrically, but man -- could they have been as good without a drum triumvirate or so perfect a bass line that it was nearly inaudible, but still rumbled in your gut?
Production geniuses and gorgeous orchestrations aside, these guys were the nucleus of the atom that exploded into The Motown Sound. This incredible 2 DVD set tells the story documentary style, interspersed with a concert of the remaining members -- of which two would pass away prior to the release of the DVD. While the film, in and of itself is great, the 2nd DVD is the treasure, showing extended interviews, letting us be a guest at a dinner of the surviving brothers and allowing us to see extended bios which include a selected discography for each member.
My main complaint is that aside from Mary Wilson (in my humble opinion, the most beautiful original Supreme) and the incomparable Martha Reeves, the absence of any dialogue by either Stevie Wonder or Smokey Robinson literally shocks me. The Holland brothers apparently cared enough, so they add a few words about these magnificent musicians. Its not clear whether this was an oversight by Al Slutsky, or if these two major Motown writers just didnt offer anything of value. Im not surprised that Diana Ross isnt even mentioned by name, but theres lots of chatter about the Temps, Tops, Supremes (as a group), Martha & the Vandellas, Marvellettes, Contours -- and that all-important vocal backing group, The Adantes.
All in all a great experience -- and the concert performances are pretty damned solid, too...although I wish Joan Osborne had done a few more songs -- man, what a great voice!! So, even if youre only a casual Motown fan, this DVD set is a nice addition to your collection.Was this review helpful? Yes - Nooutstanding
So much to love about this movie!! If you like anything about Motown -- this is the movies to see!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes - NoHave The Tape, Saw The Live Show--Whoa!!
As incredible as the film is (and it IS because it tells such an incredible story), I caught the live show on April 23, 2003. It was phenomenal, to say the least. The rhythm was STILL dead on it. With five of the actual FBs still cookin' on all eight burners. I got to meet the originals after the show. I was especially endeared to the legendary Jack Ashford, who was looking so forward to getting back home to Detroit at the tour end. He lent a lot of smoothness and finesse (and great road stories) of the show, and vocalists Darlene Love, Maxi-Priest, Jimmy Ingram, Carla Benson (of the Sweethearts Of Sigma) and the impressive Joan Osborne augmented the incredible 16 piece band at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles, one of the last performances in the series. Alan Slutsky put a lot of real and sincere love into this effort, and the audience warmly responded to this group of survivors and top caliber players. I even got to sit with sound engineers Russ and Ralph Terrana, who mixed many of the late '60s-early '70s tracks for Motown. My buddy took a nice photo of me and Darlene Love, who still looks astonishingly radiant. It was all in all, a night I will never forget. And a story that so badly needed to be heard.
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