| ||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|
Buy This DVD and Watch it Instantly
Watch the Amazon Instant Video rental on your PC, Mac, compatible TV or compatible device at no charge when you buy this DVD from Amazon.com. Your rental will expire 24 hours after you begin watching or 30 days after your disc purchase, whichever occurs first. The Amazon Instant Video version will be available in Your Video Library and is provided as a gift with disc purchase. Available to US customers only. See Terms and Conditions.
|
||
 |
 |
Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Special Features
- Director/producer audio commentary: Paul Justman/Allan Slutsky trivia track
- Multi-angle jam session
- Music video montage
- Dinner with the Funk Brothers
- Hit song sing-along lyrics
- Featurette: "At Long Last Glory"
- Featurette: "The Ones That Didn't Make It"
- Interactive: virtual recording studio
- Full movie playable in Hi-Resolution Windows Media 9 Series from your PC's DVD-ROM
- Funk video biographies
- Three full-length BMW films: Beat the Devil, Hostage, Ticker
Editorial Reviews
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
Product 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
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
147 of 149 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I read a few reviewers questioning why the production didn't involve the original singers to sing the songs. Please note that this documentary is about Funk Brothers. By using contemporary singers to accompany the original rhythm section, the film proves to the viewers how Motown music is in it's musicians, especially the rhythm section. Also if Diana, Stevie, or Smokey would get on stage to sing a song or two, they'd definitely demand star treatment. This will DEFEAT THE PURPOSE.
For those who demand to know more about The Temps, Tops, Supremes, and Miracles etc., please either read their autobiographies, watch made-for-TV movies, or listen to their box sets. This movie is about the Funk Brothers, not Motown singers. This film is to celebrate the brothers' contribution to American pop music and to finally validate their hard work, creativity, and how they influenced generations of future musicians.
If you watched a documentary, at least be aware of the subject matter before you criticize the production.
63 of 64 people found the following review helpful
"Standing in the Shadows of Motown," is an absolute delight. It's the story of the "Funk Brothers," an integrated group of musicians who were the soul behind the soul. As the house band for Motown they were the sound that propelled more number one hits than the Beach Boys, the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and the great Elvis combined. These guys invented the groove. The movie is a straightforward collection of conversations, documentary concert footage, and reunion concert footage, with a few dramatized bits thrown in for texture and comic relief. At the beginning of the movie, someone said that "Deputy Dawg" would have sounded good backed up by the "Funk Brothers." The point is proven by the reunion footage that has good singers giving outstanding performances with the most laid back band in the world. By the end of the movie you not only like and admire these guys, you get to see how much they liked each other. They had to. Not only were a few of the personalities troubled, but it seems they never stopped working, and had to supplement their Motown payroll with gigs around town. See this movie, see who was standing behind the top soul singers of the 60's and 70's, and enjoy the groove.
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Finally, the story of the fabulous musicians of Motown is starting to be told. The movie spends a little too much time lamenting the fact that the Funk Brothers are unknown, but then spends the rest of the move celebrating the triumphs and challenges of the greatest hit machine the world has ever seen. Great stuff!
As a musician, I had two reactions to this movie:
1) Make it longer! I want to know and hear everything!
2) Wow, Motown music was MUCH more complex than I ever imagined when I was listening on cheap radios in my youth. These guys were basically jazz musicians, and the productions were very complex. If I had realized the level of musicianship that went in to these songs, I wouldn't have been so eager to do simple rock n' roll cover versions in my high-school and college bands. Doesn't mean the music isn't great, however.
Here's hoping that the Funk Brothers realize the fruits of the success that they obviously deserve. Enjoy the music!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
I have seen it a dozen times - so far
Honestly, there is not much to add to the wonderful reviews already written. I thought the stories, like the pig feet and cigars, got a bit tedious, but wow! I loved the music. Read more
Published 1 month ago by John Dennis
ITS ABOUT TIME
ITS ABOUT TIME THAT THE (FUNK BROS.)GOT THIER CUDDOS.A LITTLE LATE BUT NEVERLESS HERE ARE THE MUSICIAN AND ARRANGERS THAT MADE MOTOWN, MOTOWN. Read more
Published 2 months ago by joseph helganz
Not a Motown Person, But A music person --Effing Love this
I am not really much of a motown guru, although don't get me wrong I absolutely appreciate it. Well, this movie blew my mind. I absolutely loved it! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Annemarie S. Happee
Awsome!!!!
I bought the soundtrack and the DVD Movie. Both are GREAT! It's so Great that these artists, THe Funk Brothers are finally getting recognition. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ejohnson
The Real Motown Sound
This documentary describes the story of the real Motown sound by using artists other than the original song stylists on the recordings to sing the lyrics. Read more
Published 3 months ago by SharronHR
standing in the shadows of motown
Standing in the Shadows of Motown introduces viewers to the house musicians on all the classic Motown records. Read more
Published 4 months ago by skeeziks
The Best Musicians
It was great to put faces to the great sounds! I have always liked their music, now I know who they are.
Published 4 months ago by Daver
This is a MUST have for any bass player!
Hey guys... are you playing Bass Players? No you are not! James Jamerson was! This film is a journey through the lives of the most amazing band on the music industry. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Fernando Herrera Ospino
Motown & the Funk Brothers
Brilliant, so entertaining, I'll watch it again!!! I have always been a huge fan of Motown and did'nt realise that these guys played on almost every hit they had!
Published 5 months ago by PEAHAVEN
terrible vendor
I wrote to to the vendor because my Sony would not download the DVD. What a disappointment. Vendor said it was my fault for purchasing this type of DVD. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Patricia Bloom
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
