The Greatest Band In Music History? The Unsung Heroes Of Motown - The Funk Brothers

They collectively had more #1 Singles than The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis, and The Beach Boys collectively combined.

They were The Funk Brothers.

Few have ever heard of them, let alone any of the members of the group.

Yet, they had one of the largest musical contributions in history.

The Funk Brothers was the name of the Detroit, MI session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until 1972, when the company moved to Los Angeles. They were essentially the house band for Motown Records.

The Funk Brothers played on Motown hits such as "My Girl", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "Baby Love", "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", "The Tears of a Clown", and "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave".

These are a mere few of the vast list of endless chart topping singles they laid down the tracks for. The most impressive part about it all is that they actually wrote it all. The musicians in the Funk Brothers wrote & created the genius behind every Motown track, and the artists like Smokey & Stevie would write songs with lyrics & the idea of a melody for the vocals. It was almost smooth sailing for all of the faces in front to sing the songs because the backing band was creating some of the freshest, most exciting sounds possible.

Early members included bandleader Joe Hunter and Earl Van Dyke (piano); James Jamerson (bass guitar) - who has been considered to be one of the greatest bassists to ever play the instrument; Benny "Papa Zita" Benjamin and Richard "Pistol" Allen (drums); Robert White, Eddie Willis, and Joe Messina (guitar); Jack Ashford (tambourine, percussion, vibraphone, marimba); Jack Brokensha (vibraphone, marimba); and Eddie "Bongo" Brown (percussion). Hunter left in 1964, replaced on keyboards by Johnny Griffith and as bandleader by Van Dyke. Uriel Jones joined the band as a third drummer.

In 1967, guitarists Dennis Coffey and Melvin "Wah-Wah Watson" Ragin, who introduced the wah-wah pedal that defined Motown's psychedelic soul records, joined the band. Benny Benjamin died the next year, and Bob Babbitt began to replace James Jamerson on many recordings.

The main reason that the world has not heard of this brilliant group is that Studio musicians were not credited by Motown until Marvin Gaye's What's Going On in 1971. Therefore, every single song they created & played on, they were never credited for.

I could write forever about my opinion regarding the monumental influence The Funk Brothers had on musical existence, but everything really speaks for itself.

In order to hear & see their full story, I highly recommend acquiring the documentary entitled "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown". It is a vibrant work, which eloquently portrays the escapades of these gifted men of gigantic influence.

Below are 144 Original Instrumental Backing Tracks of mostly all of the greatest Motown songs ever written. All of the music you will hear are the brilliance of the Funk Brothers.

Enjoy these gems to the fullest, and hopefully take gigantic appreciation in all of these legendary tracks which have led to endless samples & breaks in so many musical genres that it would be impossible to account for.

It goes by volume, with the dowload link & tracks listed below

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=PCK49NOI

Volume 1: Dancing In The Streets

1 -Dancing In The Streets (Martha & The Vandellas)
2 -I'll Be There (The Jackson 5)
3 -Bernadette (The Four Tops) 4 -Baby, I'm For Real (The Originals)
5 -Baby Love (The Supremes)
6 -Please Mr.Postman (The Marvelettes)
7 -How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You 8 -The Tracks Of My Tears (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles)

VOL 2 - ABC

1 -ABC (The Jackson 5)
2 -My Guy (Mary Wells)
3 -What Does It Take (To Win Your Love_) (Jr. Walker & The All Stars
4 -Don't Mess With Bill (The Marvelettes)
5 -Papa Was A Rollin' Stone (The Temptations
6 -Ooo Baby Baby (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles)
7 -Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye) - (Gladys Knight)

8 -Ain't No Mountain High Enough - (Marvin Gaye & Tammy Terrell)

VOL 3 - My Girl

1 -My Girl (The Temptations)
2 -Never Can Say Goodbye (The Jackson 5)
3 -Quicksand (Martha & The Vandellas)
4 -You've Really Got A Hold On Me (Smokey Robinson)
5 - Can I Get A Witness (Marvin Gaye)
6 -Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over) (The Four Tops)
7 -Back In My Arms Again (The Supremes)
8 -What Becomes of the Brokenhearted (Jimmy Ruffin)

VOL 4 - Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing Baby

1 -Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing (Marvin Gaye)
2 -Someday We'll Be Together (Diana Ross & The Surpemes)
3 -Ain't Too Proud To Beg (The Temptations)
4 -I'll Be Doggonne (Marvin Gaye)
5 -Mama's Pearl (The Jackson 5)
6 -Heaven Must Have Sent You (The Elgins)
7 -He Was Really Sayin' Something (The Velvettes)
8 -The Tears Of A Clown (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles)

VOL 5 - Let's Get It On

1- Let's Get It On (Marvin Gaye)
2 -It's The Same Old Song (The Four Tops)
3 -The Love You Save (The Jackson 5)
4 -Mickey's Monkey (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles)
5- I Hear A Symphony (The Supremes)
6 -This Old Heart Of Mine (Isley Brothers)
7 -The Way You Do The Things You Do (The Temptations)
8- Twenty Five Miles (Edwin Starr)

VOL 6 - Stop! In The Name Of Love

1 -Stop! In The Name Of Love (The Supremes)
2 -Ben (Michael Jackson)
3 -Your Precious Love (Marvel Gaye & Tammy Terrell)
4 -Baby, Baby Don't Cry (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles)
5- Jimmy Mack (Martha & The Vandellas)
6 -Keep On Truckin' (Eddie Kendricks)
7 -Ask The Lonely (The Four Tops)
8 -Just My Imagination (The Temptations)

Vol 7 - I Heard It Through the Grapevine

1 -I Heard It Through The Grapevine - (Marvin Gaye) =
2 -You Keep Me Hangin' On - (The Supremes)
3 -I Want You Back - (Jackson 5)
4 -Uptight (Everything's Alright) - (Stevie Wonder)
5 -Shop Around - (The Miracles)
6 -Function At The Junction - (Shorty Long)
7 -I Can't Get Next To You - (The Temptations) ....
8 -I Heard It Through The Grapevine - (Gladys Knight)

Vol 8 - Heat Wave

1 -(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave - (Martha & the Vandellas)
2 -Got to Be There - (Michael Jackson)
3 -Reach Out, I'll Be There - (The Four Tops)
4 -Reflections - (Diana Ross & the Supremes)
5 -Two Lovers - (Mary Wells)
6 -Too Many Fish in the Sea - (The Marvelettes)
7 -(I Know) I'm Losing You - (The Temptations)
8 -Ain't That Peculiar - (Marvin Gaye)

Vol 9 - Get Ready

1 - Get Ready - The Temptations
2 - Pride and Joy - (Marvin Gaye)
3 - Needle in a Haystack - (The Velvelettes)
4 - Going to a Go-Go - (Smokey Robinson & the Miracles)
5 - Love Child - (Diana Ross)
6 - Standing in the Shadows of Love - (The Four Tops)
7 - My World Is Empty Without You - (The Supremes)
8 - War - (Edwin Starr)

Vol 10 - I Cant Help Myself

1 -Nowhere to Run - (Martha & the Vandellas)
2 -I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) - (The Four Tops)
3 -Smiling Faces Somtimes - (Undisputed Truth)

4 -Dancing Machine - (Jackson 5)

5 -Cloud Nine - (Temptations)

6 -Ain't No Mountain High Enough - (Diana Ross)

7 -I Second That Emotion - (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles)
8 -Stoned Love - (The Supremes)

Vol 11 - Baby I Need Your Lovin

1 -Baby I Need Your Lovin' - (The Four Tops)
2 -Stubborn Kind of Fellow - (Marvin Gaye)
3 -Where Did Our Love Go - (The Supremes)
4 -Shotgun - (JR. Walker and the All Stars)
5 -Rockin' Robin - (Michael Jackson)

6 -Take Me in Your Arm (Rock Me a Little While) - (The Isley Brothers)
7 -Ball of Confusiion (That's What the World Is Today) - (The Temptations)
8 -Come See About Me - (The Supremes)

Vol 12 - The Duets

1 -It Takes Two - (Marvin Gaye + Kim Weston)

2 -If I Could Build My Whole World Around You - (Marvin Gaye)

3 -If This World Were Mine - (Marvin Gaye)
4 -I'm Gonna Make You Love Me - (Diana Ross & The Supremes)
5 -I'll Try Something New - (Diana Ross & the Supremes)
6 -Don't Look Any Further - (Dennis Edwards + Seidah Garrett)
7 -What's the Matter With You Baby - (Marvin Gaye + Ms. Wells)

8 -With You I'm Born Again - (Billy Preston + Streeta)

Vol 13 - Easy

1 -Come and Get These Memories - (Martha and the Vandellas)

2 -You Can't Hurry Love - (Supremes)
3 -I Wish It Would Rain - (Tempations)

4 -My Cherie Amour - (Stevie Wonder)

5 -It's My Turn - (Diana Ross)

6 -If I Were Your Woman - (Gladys Knight and The Pips)
7 -Easy - (Commodores)
8 -Too Busy Thinking About My Baby - (Marvin Gaye)

Vol 14 - I Just Want To Celebrate

1 -I Just Want To Celebrate (Rare Earth)

2 -Love Hangover (Diana Ross)
3 -Hitch Hike (Marvin Gaye)

4 -For Once In My Life (Stevie Wonder)

5 -The Happening (The Supremes)
6 -Still Water (The Four Tops)

7 -It's A Shame (The Spinners)
8 -Three Times A Lady (The Commodores)

Vol 15 - Brick House

1 -Love Machine - (The Miracles)
2 -Let It Whip - (Dazz Band) '

3 -Give It to Me Baby - (Rick James)
4 -Don't Leave Me This Way - (Thelma Houston)
5 -Being with You - (Smokey Robinson)
6 -You're a Wonderful One - (Marvin Gaye)
7 -In My House - (Rick James)
8 -Brick House - (The Commodores)

Vol 16 - Super Freak

1 -I'm Coming Out - (Diana Ross)

2 -More Love - (Smokey Robinson)

3 -What's Going On - (Marvin Gaye)

4 -Do You Love Me - (The Contours)

5 -You've Made Me So Very Happy - (Brenda Holloway)

6 -Reach out & Touch (Somebody's Hand) - (Diana Ross)
7 -Cruisin' - (Smokey Robinson)
8 -Super Freak - (Rick James)

Vol 17 - Endless Love

1 -Upside Down (Diana Ross)
2 -Girl, Why You Wanna Make Me Blue (The Temptations)

3 -Walk Away Renee (The Four Tops)

4 -Got To Give It Up (Marvin Gaye)
5 -I've Never Been To Me (Charlene)
6 -Sail On (Commodores)
7 -Just To See Her (Smokey Robinson)
8 -Endless Love (Diana Ross & Lionel Richie)

Vol 18 - Christmas Classics

1 -Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - (Temptations)
2 -Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - (Jackson 5)
3 -My Favorite Things - (Supremes)
4 -Jingle Bells - (Smokey Robinson & the Miracles )
5 -Someday at Christmas - (Stevie Wonder)
6 -Silent Night - (Tempations)
7 -I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - (Jackson 5)
8 -White Christmas - (Supremes)