Session musicians rarely get the proper recognition they deserve. Oh yeah, there’s
a few who stick out — guys like Robben Ford, Jim Keltner and Nicky Hopkins
come to mind. Then there are the session groups — Booker T. Jones &
the MGs, The Wrecking Crew, The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, Toto and the Funk
Brothers. Out of all these, the Funk Brothers have played on more hits than
any of them. We’re talking about legendary Motown staples like The Tempatations’
“My Girl,” Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”
and Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours.”
Now, after years of standing in the shadows, the Funk Brothers have
thrown a live revue together and released a CD and DVD combo plate under their
own name called Live In Orlando.
Paul Justman’s 2002 documentary film Standing In The Shadows Of
Motown (based on Allan Slutsky’s book) unveiled the Funk Brothers
as the magic behind Motown from 1959 until 1972, In fact, during the opening
credits, viewers are made aware that the Funk Brothers “played on more
Number One records than the Beatles, Elvis, The Rolling Stones, and The Beach
Boys — combined.” The group has been a revolving door for a number
of top-notch players, including bandleader Joe Hunter, pianist Earl Van Dyke,
bassist James Jamerson, guitarist Eddie Willis, drummer Uriel Jones, bassist
Bob Babbitt and Melvin “Wah-Wah Watson” Ragin, who introduced the
wah-wah pedal sound that defined Motown’s soul records of the late 60s
and early 70s.
Uncredited for most of their time behind the great Motown hits, Willis, Babbitt
and Jones are joined by eight other musicians and singers for an hour-long history
lesson of Hitsville U.S.A.Recorded live at the Universal Theme Park at a 2005/06
New Year’s Eve party, Live In Orlando features 13 hits
like the Supremes’ “Can’t Hurry Love,” Martha and the
Vandellas’ ‘”Dancing In The Streets,” Jr. Walker &
The All Stars’ “Shotgun” and Jackie Wilson’s “higher
and Higher.” So crank it up and get ready to funk with the original funk
soul brothers.
~ Shawn Perry
