Various Artists, Standing In The Shadows Of Motown: Deluxe Edition

Various Artists, Standing In The Shadows Of Motown: Deluxe Edition

Back in the 60s the session musician was king. Think of the Wrecking Crew (who played on everything from Pet Sounds to Frank Sinatra) or the Stax house band, or the likes of Jummiy Page who acted as guitar-slinger for just about every mid-60s Brit Hit from "You Really Got Me" to "Sunshine Superman".

Until the release of Allan Slutskys film, Standing In The Shadows Of Motown, most of the session musicians from Berry Gordys  Motown Snakepit were relegated to dusty sleevenotes; and tragically, in the case of bass guitar lynchpin James Jamerson, a decline into alcoholism and homelessness. Jamerson, the Funk Brothers driving melodic heartbeat, died a broken man in 1983.

The real treasures here lie on CD Two, which is essentially an hours worth of instrumentals direct from the Snakepit. To hear prototypes of "My Girl" or "I Was Made To Love Her" is to hear history in the making - segments of genius rivalling any other achievement from the era. From  the funktastic wah-wah of "I Cant Get Next To You" to the jazz-based elegance of "Mercy Mercy Me", the sheer depth of what these unsung musicians achieved gradually becomes clear. In the pantheon of pop music they are benchmarks that will stand forever.

Best of all is a closing version of The Temptations "Youre My Everything" consisting solely of Jamersons godlike bass harmonising with Eddie Kendricks and Dave Ruffin. That human beings could create such sounds seems almost miraculous. It remains the ultimate transcendental moment on a CD chock full of them.

(Ref: BBC website)