(Ben Harper, Joan Osborne, Bootsy Collins) are fun, but sometimes overshadow the original players. A critique is that we get more of a modern tribute concert than a rigorous investigation into why these men were “in the shadows” for decades.

For decades, the musicians responsible for that sound were anonymous. They were the unsung architects of the "Sound of Young America." They were the Funk Brothers. And in 2002, the documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown finally pulled them out of the wings and into the spotlight they so richly deserved.

A moving section pays tribute to members who passed away before the film’s 14-year production was complete, including legendary bassist James Jamerson and genius drummer Benny Benjamin . Critical Reception and Performances