Standing in the Shadow of MoTown

[Bill Hart]

A friend had urged us to see this documentary, after I told her about the Wrecking Crew (and the film that never seemed to get completed). Standing in the Shadow... is about the session guys that made the MoTown sound. You can stream it for 3 bucks in HD on Amazon. Watch it. You'll love it. James Jamerson was an amazing bassist, and some of the stories about the band, in its different iterations, are quite funny.
Some current artists appear as vocalists. The studio itself is tiny, much like Sun in Memphis. When you realize the hits these guys were cranking out, for the likes of Jackie Wilson, back before the Beatles were even on the scene, you know they had it in their bones. There's a pretty funny anecdote that all of us should relate to, about how everybody tried to explain why the records these guys did worked: the studio, the producer, the engineer, the room, etc. One of 'em: " They even said it was the food. I'd like to see 'em throw some ribs in that studio and crank out a hit."
A must watch. As usual I was late to this party.....

 

[mep]

Is this the same documentary that shows the session guys hiding out inside of a funeral parlor?

 

[Bill Hart]

That must have happened when i went to the bathroom Not that I saw.
This film was really touching. Reminds you who counts in what we listen to and it's often the unsung heros behind the scenes. I'm going to read the book it was based on because i got the impression it was really a bio of Jamerson, who had a legendary style as a bass player. They showed a scene where Marvin Gaye wanted him for 'What's Goin' On,' but Jamerson was so drunk (he died of cirrhosis at age 47) that he couldn't sit on the stool in the studio. He played the track lying on his back.
These guys were musician's musicians. Hitmen.
One of the guitarists had been a studio musician for the Soupy Sales TV show in the 50's and they showed an excerpt of him playing horn bop parts on the guitar. In their spare time, they played jazz with some serious, well known players but created the sound we think of as 60' R&B, which crossed-over to white audiences in a big way at the same time the British Invasion was taking rock and roll and turning it into something new. You can hear the clear overlap between the songs- some of the material is the same.
This was a wonderful tribute to them without being hokey, lot's of good performances, Joan Osborne, Ben Harper, Chaka Khan, among others, filled in for Smokey Robinson, the Supremes, and the other top line talent that was given the juice by these behind the scenes artists.Highly recommended.

 

[GolfnAudio]

Great film!
Did you like The Wrecking crew one too? I had a chance to see it, and enjoyed it thoroughly!

 

[Bill Hart]

Golf, i only saw authorized excerpts when they were looking for funding. I didn't know the film was completed. Was it screened recently? I knew that Tommy Tedesco's son was putting it together....

 

[NorthStar]

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* A Must Own 2-disc DVD set!

 

[GolfnAudio]

whart, I saw a pretty lengthy screener in LA last year- I would say it was at least an hour and a half long. It sure felt like a full movie. I think they're still looking for sponsors to add more material.

Golf, i only saw authorized excerpts when they were looking for funding. I didn't know the film was completed. Was it screened recently? I knew that Tommy Tedesco's son was putting it together....

 

[sleepysurf]

I just saw that the "Wrecking Crew" filmmaker is running a Kickstarter campaign to fund the music licensing fees so the documentary can finally be released. Definitely a worthy cause! Details here... http://www.kickstarter.com/projects...w-doc-untold-story-of-rock-and-rol?ref=search

Help spread the word!