Here’s a cool story, about 20years ago, PaulMcCartney was in Detroit for a gig, and during some down time, went tothe Motown Hitsville,USA studio/museum to see where those hits were created. When he tried to play the housegrand piano that was used on those hits, he discovered that the piano was in sorry un-playable condition so he made arrangements for the piano to be shipped back to the factory where it was built to be completely restored, on his dime, because the museum couldn’t afford to doit. That’s respect!
Credit to Marvin Gaye for making sure he put The Funk Brothers' name on the What's Going On album and he had Jamerson sitting right next to him in concert. Also, a big thank you to music fans in the UK who always seemed to have treated the great Black musicians with respect and love. Berry Gordy cared about one thing - enriching himself at the expense of everyone else. The only artists he focused on in the later years were Smokey, Diana, and Stevie. Even Marvin had to fight him all the time.
Excellent review! Please consider reviewing "THE WRECKING CREW" next for an introduction the West Coast /LA sound contemporary with Motown, Stax, Chess and Muscle Shoals.
Don't matter what value you add, the man who owns the outfit is only loyal to one thing - that's the money. Berry, like so many dirt bags before him (white or black) did the dirty. But the reality is the Motown groove died with the move.
I agree with you. It makes you mad that Motown never gave the musicians and producers their props and just left them behind. Even the Muscle Shoals musicians and the LA studio musicians never received the credit they should have. I mean, the artists knew who they were, but the public was kept in the dark about the amazing musicians who played on their songs. It’s a real shame.
Thanks to Ronnie Van Zant, lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, for calling out The Swampers of Muscle Shoals in the song, Sweet Home Alabama. That helped those guys to get some attention.
Living in Detroit at the time, I remember that Detroiters were very upset when Motown moved out. When that happened we didn’t know for some time that the Funk Brothers were left behind. When I first saw this documentary a few years ago, it was heartbreaking to find out how badly the musicians had been treated. This part of the history of Motown is a terrible blot on Berry Gordy’s legacy. Thank you for all 4 parts of your reaction. Although some parts were sad, it was great to see the history behind the musicians who truly created the Motown sound. 👏👏🥰
One of the all-time great music documentaries. Among all the developments in popular music through the decades, their story is unique. Other recommendations have been made recently, and they’re all worth getting around to. Another you might consider, as time passes and you listen to more Dylan…is the great Martin Scorsese documentary on Dylan, called ‘No Direction Home’. It was the first time Dylan consented to such personal access, and the result is very much worth while.
That bass player who replaced Jamerson, Bob Babbitt, sure was a sweet man. Looks like he died of cancer in 2012 at 74 years old. What I really like about this documentary is hearing everything from the mouths of the guys who experienced the events. I could listen to their stories all day. I am so moved by their love for each other.
" contract was Null and Void". lol I love that expression. (Was it Pryor) used to say "hey foo dat hair-on done made you null and void"! For years I didn't know of the Funk Brothers, I thought each artist had their own incredible band behind them.
The more recent "Hitsville: The making of Motown" (2019) doc hosted by Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson gives the management's side of the story in a sense. Lots of insight into the creations of the recordings and the decision-making as to which artist would be chosen to sing which song.
It is true, even with the Internet, the supposed encyclopedia of all information, you can't find WHO played what on millions of tracks. The owners decide who gets credit and who gets paid.
GOT TO SEE THE FUNK BROS. ON NEW YEARS EVE EARLY 2000'S WHEN THE DEAD HAD THEM OPEN FOR THEM. THE DEAD GAVE THEM 2 HOURS . GREAT SHOW..THAT WAS AT THE OAKLAND ARENA.
Here’s a cool story, about 20years ago, PaulMcCartney was in Detroit for a gig, and during some down time, went tothe Motown Hitsville,USA studio/museum to see where those hits were created. When he tried to play the housegrand piano that was used on those hits, he discovered that the piano was in sorry un-playable condition so he made arrangements for the piano to be shipped back to the factory where it was built to be completely restored, on his dime, because the museum couldn’t afford to doit. That’s respect!
Great film. Great reaction! You guys managed it with sensitivity, compassion, appreciation and humor. Well done!
Great job guys next up. L.A and The wrecking crew..
Credit to Marvin Gaye for making sure he put The Funk Brothers' name on the What's Going On album and he had Jamerson sitting right next to him in concert. Also, a big thank you to music fans in the UK who always seemed to have treated the great Black musicians with respect and love.
Berry Gordy cared about one thing - enriching himself at the expense of everyone else. The only artists he focused on in the later years were Smokey, Diana, and Stevie. Even Marvin had to fight him all the time.
Thank you for this!! I've enjoyed this documentary so much.
like i said in my previous comment berry gordy didn't care about anybody but himself he ain't hurting is he !
Excellent review! Please consider reviewing "THE WRECKING CREW" next for an introduction the West Coast /LA sound contemporary with Motown, Stax, Chess and Muscle Shoals.
Thanks for showing this fellas, great music and great people.
Don't matter what value you add, the man who owns the outfit is only loyal to one thing - that's the money. Berry, like so many dirt bags before him (white or black) did the dirty. But the reality is the Motown groove died with the move.
I agree with you. It makes you mad that Motown never gave the musicians and producers their props and just left them behind. Even the Muscle Shoals musicians and the LA studio musicians never received the credit they should have. I mean, the artists knew who they were, but the public was kept in the dark about the amazing musicians who played on their songs. It’s a real shame.
Thanks to Ronnie Van Zant, lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, for calling out The Swampers of Muscle Shoals in the song, Sweet Home Alabama. That helped those guys to get some attention.
Living in Detroit at the time, I remember that Detroiters were very upset when Motown moved out. When that happened we didn’t know for some time that the Funk Brothers were left behind. When I first saw this documentary a few years ago, it was heartbreaking to find out how badly the musicians had been treated. This part of the history of Motown is a terrible blot on Berry Gordy’s legacy. Thank you for all 4 parts of your reaction. Although some parts were sad, it was great to see the history behind the musicians who truly created the Motown sound. 👏👏🥰
Berry Gordy was always a jerk.
I LOVE the Wah Wah sound!!! Always and forever ❤
Me too
The song they were talking about and laughing about was Scorpio by Dennis Coffey. (Coffey was playing the guitar earlier)
It’s incredible how many artists have been influenced by these musicians
You guys did a great review. Thanks.
Another interesting Motown review. Thanks guys for bringing all of this history to us. Your comments are spot on!
Now you know why they were "Standing in the Shadows of Motown." Berry screwed them!
One of the all-time great music documentaries. Among all the developments in popular music through the decades, their story is unique.
Other recommendations have been made recently, and they’re all worth getting around to. Another you might consider, as time passes and you listen to more Dylan…is the great Martin Scorsese documentary on Dylan, called ‘No Direction Home’. It was the first time Dylan consented to such personal access, and the result is very much worth while.
What Berry Gordy did to the Funk Brothers will make me never ever respect him and hate him.
Oh and those bass players were saying that they couldn't get a gig unless they could play the bass part for a song called Scorpio that Babbitt played.
That bass player who replaced Jamerson, Bob Babbitt, sure was a sweet man. Looks like he died of cancer in 2012 at 74 years old.
What I really like about this documentary is hearing everything from the mouths of the guys who experienced the events. I could listen to their stories all day. I am so moved by their love for each other.
" contract was Null and Void". lol
I love that expression. (Was it Pryor) used to say "hey foo dat hair-on done made you null and void"!
For years I didn't know of the Funk Brothers, I thought each artist had their own incredible band behind them.
Berry Gordy did that…..
This entire story of Motown and the Funk Brothers are just so sad! True musicians to their core !
👍👍👍👍
The more recent "Hitsville: The making of Motown" (2019) doc hosted by Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson gives the management's side of the story in a sense. Lots of insight into the creations of the recordings and the decision-making as to which artist would be chosen to sing which song.
It is true, even with the Internet, the supposed encyclopedia of all information, you can't find WHO played what on millions of tracks. The owners decide who gets credit and who gets paid.
I love these movies. Two more you should cue up are: It Might Get Loud and Beware of Mr. Baker. Both are great.
Jamerson didn't just play What's Going On lying on his back. He played it lying on his back, drunk.
GOT TO SEE THE FUNK BROS. ON NEW YEARS EVE EARLY 2000'S WHEN THE DEAD HAD THEM OPEN FOR THEM. THE DEAD GAVE THEM 2 HOURS . GREAT SHOW..THAT WAS AT THE OAKLAND ARENA.
If you know the city, you could see the flames from. Berry’s riverfront mansion. It had to play a role in the demise.
You really do need to do the documentary on Producer Tom Dowd. He did it all
Berry went to LA to do movies.
The existing Funk Brothers played a lot of the Motown hits in this documentary, but I guess they had to be cut for copyright issues.
You’re right. The videos were blocked when I had the performances in there
Martha Reeves.