Standing in the Shadows of Motown (film)

Standing in the Shawdows of Motown
Theatrical release poster for Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Directed by	Paul Justman
Produced by	Paul Justman Sandford Passman Alan Slutsky
Written by	Walter Dallas, Ntozake Shange, Alan Slutsky
Narrated by	Andre Braugher
Distributed by	Artisan Entertainment (USA)
Release date(s)	November 15, 2002
Running time	116 mins
Language	English
IMDb profile

Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a 2002 documentary film directed by Paul Justman. It recounts the story of The Funk Brothers, the uncredited and largely unheralded studio musicians who performed on Motown Records' recordings from 1959 to 1972. The film was inspired by a 1989 bass guitar instruction book of the same name, by Allan Slutsky, which features the bass lines of James Jamerson.

The film covers the Funk Brothers' career via interviews with surviving band members, archival footage and still photos, dramatized re-enactments, and narration by actor Andre Braugher. The film also features new live performances of several Motown hit songs, with the Funk Brothers backing up Gerald Levert, Me'shell Ndegeocello, Joan Osborne, Ben Harper, Bootsy Collins, Chaka Khan, and Montell Jordan.

[edit] Soundtrack Album

"(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave" - Joan Osborne
"You've Really Got A Hold On Me" - Me'Shell Ndegeocello
"Do You Love Me" - Bootsy Collins
"Bernadette" - The Funk Brothers
"Reach Out I'll Be There" - Gerald Levert
"Ain't Too Proud To Beg" - Ben Harper
"Shotgun" - Gerald Levert feat. Tom Scott
"What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted" - Joan Osborne
"I Heard It Through The Grapevine" - Ben Harper
"You Keep Me Hanging On" - The Funk Brothers
"Cool Jerk" - Bootsy Collins
"Cloud Nine" - Me'Shell Ndegeocello
"What's Going On" - Chaka Khan
Band Introduction/"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" - Chaka Khan & Montell Jordan
"The Flick" - Earl Van Dyke
"Boom Boom" - John Lee Hooker [Deluxe Edition bonus track]
"(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher" - Jackie Wilson [Deluxe Edition bonus track]
"Scorpio" - Dennis Coffey & The Detroit Guitar Band [Deluxe Edition bonus track]

In The Snakepit: Naked Instrumental Remixes Of The Original Hits
Deluxe Edition bonus CD, 2004

"Funk Brothers In The House!" - The Funk Brothers
"Standing In The Shadows Of Love" - The Funk Brothers
Dialogue: Joe Hunter
"The One Who Really Loves You" - The Funk Brothers
"Pride And Joy" - The Funk Brothers
Dialogue: Robert White
"My Girl" - The Funk Brothers
"Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart" - The Funk Brothers
"Don't Mess With Bill" [live] - The Funk Brothers
"The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game" - The Funk Brothers
Dialogue: Eddie Willis, Uriel Jones & Jack Ashford
"I Second That Emotion" - The Funk Brothers
"I Was Made To Love Her" - The Funk Brothers
Dialogue: Richard 'Pistol' Allen
"I Heard It Through The Grapevine" [Gladys Knight & The Pips version] - The Funk Brothers
"Home Cookin" - The Funk Brothers
"For Once In My Life" - The Funk Brothers
Dialogue: Jack Ashford
"I Can't Get Next To You" - The Funk Brothers
"It's A Shame" - The Funk Brothers
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" [Diana Ross version] - The Funk Brothers
Dialogue: Eddie Willis
"Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" - The Funk Brothers
Dialogue: Lamont Dozier
"You're My Everything" - James Jamerson & The Temptations [BONUS TRACK]

2002 National Society of Film Critics: Best Non-Fiction Film
2002 New York Film Critics Circle: Best Non-Fiction Film
2002 Austin Film Festival: Audience Award, Best Documentary Showcase Film
2003 Grammy Award: Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
2003 Grammy Award: Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance, "What's Going On", Chaka Khan & The Funk Brothers