Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002)
(On Cable TV, September 2021) The influence of The Funk Brothers as the uncredited house band heard on many of Motown’s iconic hits has long been appreciated by music buffs, but documentaries such as Standing in the Shadows of Motown did much to capture their contribution, interview them before they passed away, and offer a glimpse behind the Detroit-based hits-making machine. By the time later documentaries such as 2019’s Hitsville rolled around, they could mention The Funk Brothers knowing that viewers knew what they were talking about. But going back to 2002 ends up being an invaluable time capsule, as the documentary is able to interview many elderly Funk Brothers about their experiences working with Motown to create that signature sound. Some of the film’s most emotional moments involve members of the group going back to Motown’s “Studio A” and reflecting on what happened in that room during their many years backing up the studio stars. (The film ends as they walk out of the studio for a final time and shut off the light.) In parallel, Standing in the Shadows of Motown follows the days leading to a reunion concert in which surviving members of the band were highlighted for their contributions. This leads to a rather good moment with Joan Osborne spontaneously going acapella on a Motown song and doing a very good job at it. As one would expect from the subject matter, the soundtrack of the film is nothing short of terrific, with a mixture of classic recordings and newer covers with more contemporary artists. With Standing in the Shadows of Motown, director Paul Justman gave himself the explicit mission to shine a light on a little-known facet of music history and apparently succeeded — the film is a reference in most discussions of The Funk Brothers I’ve consulted, and it’s clearly still educating viewers to this day. Pair it with Hitsville for a near-perfect Motown double-feature with an embarrassment of great music.