An Introduction To Motown: The Sound of Young America - The Funk Brothers
Caffe` Latte` presents a new countdown…
THE 200
MOST ESSENTIAL
MOTOWN
SONGS
The Sound of Young America
THE MOTOWN SOUND:
THE FUNK BROTHERS
Motown
Records was originally based in Detroit. Berry Gordy's company put the Motor City on the musical map. An unbelievably strong talent pool gravitated to the studios at 2648 West Grand Boulevard. Just as fundamental as the A grade musical acts and creative writer/ producers that made their way to this pop hit factory, were the musicians that played on the recordings.
Leading this pack was the studio band known as the Funk Brothers. As much as anyone, these musicians helped create the golden Motown Sound.
In 1959, Gordy gathered some of the city's finest musicians. By the early 1960s, these skilled performers gave Motown releases a distinctive sound. The label was regularly represented on the pop and soul charts and, unlike many other American acts, was able to compete with the British Invasion and Beatlemania.
Further into the 1960s, The Funk Brothers were enlisted to put their stamp on the grittier and psychedelic R&B releases on the label. Line-up changes took place but that unique Motown beat was unmistakable.
The Funk Brothers played on countless hits on the label, including: "Ain't Too Proud To Beg", "My Guy", "For Once In My Life", "Heat Wave", "Stop! In The Name Of Love", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "I Can't Help Myself", "Dancing in the Street", "The Way You Do The Things You Do", "My Cherie Amour", "My Girl", "You Keep Me Hanging On", "Shop Around", "War", "Mercy Mercy Me", "Where Did Our Love Go", "What's Going On", "Get Ready", "Baby Love" and "Cloud Nine".
When the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972, The Funk Brothers started being phased out. Motown was to continue for decades, but that special sound would never be recaptured. Marvin Gaye re-assembled the band for his watershed 'What's Going On' album.
The Funk Brothers were not usually credited, but in subsequent years have been recognized as key architects of the Motown Sound. The band was immortalized in the documentary film 'Standing in the Shadows of Motown'.
THE FUNK BROTHERS: (key members)
pianists JOE HUNTER; EARL VAN DYKE
bassists JAMES JAMERSON; BOB BABBITT
drummers WILLIAM "BENNY" BENJAMIN; RICHARD "PISTOL" ALLEN; URIEL JONES
percussionists JACK ASHFORD; EDDIE "BONGO" BROWN
keyboardist JOHNNY GRIFFITH
guitarist WAH WAH WATSON
Have
a
listen to the Introduction To Motown playlist on spotify. It includes
many of
the greats from the legendary record label, including: Diana Ross, The
Jackson 5, The Marvelettes, The Four Tops, Lionel Richie, Martha &
The Vandellas,
Mary Wells and The Miracles.
spotify:user:alanrosscaffelatte
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