I don't know how many of you guys like or appreciate old school R&B, but there is a documentary coming out this October on The Funk Brothers. These guys were the back up musicians for all the Motown artists in the 60's and 70's - Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, The Supremes, etc. They are legendary musicians but no one outside of musicians really knows who they are. The documentary includes a historical retrospective mixed with live performances of the band filmed recently with guests like Bootsy Collins, Ben Harper, Joan Osborne, Michelle N'degeochello and Shaka Khan. For me, it will almost be like going to church. Here's the website... <a href="http://www.standingintheshadowsofmotown.com/">Standing in the Shadows of Motown</a>
Ooh, that looks exciting. I love documentaries, especially music ones. And perhaps someone in the film will explain that omnipresent Motown tambourine... However, I think Stax is a greater - if less appreciated - label than Motown. Soulsville, USA! I'm the proud co-owner of a brick from the original Stax building in Memphis. (I paid ten bucks for it, too!) Jeff, have you been to the Smithsonian's Rock'n'Soul Museum in Memphis? They have the bass, drums and piano played on every Stax recording sitting there on display. Hard to explain how that made me feel... dorkishly moved, anyway.
Nope, never been to Memphis. I'm not as big a Stax fan as I am just straight Atlantic R&B fan. Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Sam & Dave, etc. That band with Steve Cropper, Al Jackson Jr., Donald "Duck" Dunn...man, that was a band and a half.
I'm as Old School as they come and I had no idea who the Funk Brothers are. I loved all those old tunes. In fact, I just downloaded "Cloud Nine" by the Temptations. os
I love the Funk Brothers. One of the greatest rhythm sections in the history of music. I have to side with dimsie, though...I always dug Stax music more because the grooves were always dirtier than Motown music. But that's just me. Nevertheless, I will definitely go see this movie. It looks like it will be fantastic.
