Standing in the Shadows of Motown
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Free Music Notes for Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Free Music Review: What a great show!
Hit: 5 Stars
I wish I could've been there that day in Detroit when the Funk Brothers took the stage as a headlining act for the first time ever. Since I wasn't there, this CD will have to suffice. At least until the movie and DVD come out.In addition to 12 live performances of classic Motown songs, there are 3 original Motown songs. "The Flick" was the song the Funk Brothers used to introduce themselves on stage. This tune swings like nobody's business, and really highlights how great the Funk Brothers were.
The "You Keep Me Hanging On (instrumental)" is pretty much just the song without vocals. I had no idea how much stuff was going on in that song. This is a fascinating insight into how the Funk Brothers themselves heard the songs. They would play on songs and not know the names, or lyrics or melodies which were always added later.
"Bernadette (Instrumental)" is presented in a format closer to the Standing in the Shadows of Motown book. For most of the song, the bass is solo'd left with the rhythm tracks in the right channel allowing you to hear Jamerson's playing in it's full glory. The other instruements fade in and out allowing you to hear all of the contributions by the various Funk Brothers. Again, there's a lot more going on in this song than I ever suspected.
It's interesting how 'low fi' the bass sound was on those songs. Any producer today would've thrown those sounds out. When put in the mix, however, they work.
Highlights from the live performance include "Do You Love Me" by Bootsy Collins. If you don't know, Bootsy was the bass player from Parliament. I can't help but laugh when I think of Patrick Swayze dancing to Bootsy's rendition of this song. I can't wait to see this live.
If you've seen or heard any of the trailers, you've surely heard Joam Osborne's version of "What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted" which really is all that and more.
"What's Going On" as performed by Chaka Khan restores it to it's original glory. Thank God they did this song and that P-Diddy version can be erased from our memory!
The whole soundtrack is very strong. The musicianship is second to none, I mean these ARE the Funk Brothers after all. The playing is spot on, just like you would expect it to be. More human than anything you can find in top 40 radio nowadays, this music lives and breathes and hasn't been digitally processed and re-created on a computer.
The vocal performances, while not by the original artists, are all excellent. The choice was appropriate for each song, and each performer delivers a performance worthy of the originals.
What sounds like artificial, or at least out of place audience cheering dots the CD and distracts somewhat from the performances. It neither adds to the music nor recreates the feeling of being there. The fact that the performances fade out also is disconcerting. Wasn't this a live recording? The cheering itself fades in and out, which is also somewhat disconcerting.
The production otherwise is well done and basically sounds like a studio recording. The occasional audience cheer leaks through during quiet moments and and reminds you that it is a live performance. The instruments have a more hi-fi sound than the originals, especially contrasted by the inclusion of the instrumental takes.
This CD is a must for Motown freaks like me, but then you probably pre-ordered yours. Definately look for the theatrical release in November.
Free Music Review: An absolute revelation!
Hit: 5 Stars
I learned of this soundtrack after viewing the film's trailer online. First off, I cannot believe that I missed an opportunity to experience the film in a theater. The trailer moved me to tears and the soundtrack is every bit as incredible. Who knew that the core of the Motown sound was the music so masterfully supplied by The Funk Brothers. Not to take anything away from any of the legendary singers of the original songs, but the truth is in the music. This soundtrack is a celebration of that. Meshell Ndegeocello's blues inspired re-interpretations of "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" and "Cloud Nine" capture the cautionary elements of those songs. Joan Osborne's rendition of "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted" takes us to church. She reaches deep inside herself towards the end and comes up with a emotionally charged performance that simply moves. Just when I didn't think it possible to do so, Chaka Khan and the Funk Brothers breathe new life into the once again relevant "What's Going On." Congratulations on the Grammy award for this song! Chaka and Montell Jordan's duet on "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is a near carbon copy of Marvin Gaye and Tami Terrell's classic version. My jaw just dropped from the opening cords of "Reach Out I'll Be There." The Funk Brothers and Gerald Levert are absolutely on point. On "Shotgun" Gerald Levert again reminds us what a real gut bucket soul singer sounds like. Tom Scott tries his best but comes up just a little bit short, but who can really compete with the memory of Jr. Walker's sax? After several listenings, I learn to love it though. You can hear in Gerald's voice the joy he must have felt in performing with such an unheralded, but truly treasured group of musicians that are now deservedly receiving their due.Free Music Review: Out of "The Shadows" and into the spotlight
Hit: 5 Stars
Probably one of the last great untold stories in the history popular music, is of the group of musicians that played on nearly every hit record that Motown Records released from 1959 to 1971. The Funk Brothers were the engine that helped made this little Detroit record label into a cultural icon. Recorded and filmed in December of 2000, this soundtrack features the surviving members playing several Motown classics backing such guest vocalists as Gerald Levert, Joan Osborne, and Chaka Khan. Gerald Levert delivers gritty performances on "Reach Out I'll Be There" and "Shotgun", while Joan Osborne delivers one of the shows emotional high points with her interpretation of "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted". The only artist who seems a bit out of place is Ben Harper with his performance of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine", sounding tentative and lacking the urgency and fire of Marvin Gaye's version. The band themselves are excellent. These guys are all in their 60's and 70's, and still play with the same energy they did all those years ago. One of the other highlights of the album are the instrumental mixes of the Four Tops "Bernadette" and the Supremes "You Keep Me Hangin' On". Hearing these tracks without the vocals gives you an entirely different picture and appreciation for the Funk Brothers musicianship. This project was obviously done with a great deal of love and respect for the creators of this amazing music, so Dr. Licks and the other people involved with making this happen should be applauded for their efforts. This album and the film come highly recommended.Free Music Review: Who are these guys?
Hit: 5 Stars
Some of the best music ever created in the studio has been recreated live? I had my doubts. So I actually got out 22 different live records by other artist and this is without a doubt the best live music ever recorded. Bar none. I am one picky SOB and can find fault with everything...but this is the one time I have to put my clipping comments aside and tell it like it is.
First it was a good move to add younger singers. It opens the power of the music. If you are not moved by Joan Osborne grab a cab to the closest funeral home because you are dead.
Second this is the most faithful live production of music created and recorded ever. The faithfulness gives you a hint at how really tight these men were as a musical unit. There isn't a note out of place. In fact that said should make it static..But again, it is not. It has all of the viberance per note that you would expect from a band that is in it's 20's not 60 and 70 year old men.
You don't like it? You are a punk kid that hasn't learned to play in tune and think that music started with Pearl Jam. Take note new players the bar has not been raised. You have just avoided walking up to it. You made your excuses about solo's being dead and clean sound being boreing. It's time to go take a few lessons and come back with some skill.
The Funk Brothers smoked you. Clean up you dirty ash and show us what your made of. Toss that bass system out of your trunk, because one note is not a bass line. And your turntable is just a percussion tool and not a full blown jam.
Call yourself a musician? Buy this and listen to what it takes to be called a musician.
Free Music Review: esential soul album
Hit: 5 Stars
This cd is essential for any fan of soul music and for any bass player. James Jamerson is called "the greatest bass player of all time" in an introduction on the cd and that is not far from the truth. His bass lines were pure genius, the essence of many Motown hits and his influence remains many years after his death. This album presents great live versions of the some of the best of Motown plus a couple instrumental remixes from the Motown vault featuring The Funk Brothers rhythm section along with The Funk Brothers theme song. Every track is outstanding and the vocals by various artists are surprisingly good. Joan Osborne would not have been my choice but she does a super job as does Chaka Khan, Ben Harper, Gerald Levert, and Montell Jordan. Two of the best living bassists, Bootsy Collins and Meshell Ndegeocello, sing instead of playing bass, and pull it off quite well. The arrangements stay faithful to the style of the original songs and the live performance actually sounds better that the original version in many instances even though Marvin Gaye and the great Motown singers are missing. The song selection is the best of Motown soul--no Jackson Five lightweight pop. Many of the Funk Brothers, including Jameson, are no longer with us but their sound survives on this album. Bob Babbit, almost without exception, faithfully reproduces Jamerson's great bass lines and the band revives the Funk Brothers sound on this classic cd.