HD

MotownMagic1959
I know this unreleased at the time great track has been added to You Tube before, but I thought I'd add this myself as it's so good. This is the instrumental version by Earl Van Dyke and The Funk Brothers of The Supremes well known track from May 1966. Written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, & Eddie Holland. You'll know it well! Many thanks, JOHN

[@tomlehr861]

So much excitement in the music back then

[@idaslpdhr]

When I was in the music biz I always said if the backing track stands on it's own you have a hit, learnt from listening to Motown, this is THE best example

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 You are SO right, just what I've always thought indeed!! Makes me very nostalgic for those times. Wasn't it musical in those days compared to today? Many thanks for that comment. JOHN

[@donnasharpe3451]

@@JohnGByrneWhy did you include a picture of the Wrecking Crew? Carol Kaye never played with the Funk Brothers.

[@MrNathan791]

All of that great music coming out of one small building. Music was never the same after Motown came on and took over the scene. We kids had sooooo much fun listening and dancing to their music growing up in the late 60’s and 70’s.

[@rodcoulter997]

In one word: Incredible

[@davidgriffiths8496]

elsewhere I've stated that this is my favourite Motown song of all time, but this version without the vocals I could play all day long, non stop!

[@JohnGByrne]

david griffiths MotownMagic1959 Yes, me too! Wouldn't it have been good if an album had been put out with about 24 tracks of the Funk Brothers playing some great Motown songs with no vocals etc great times with Earl Van Dyke, and unsung trio The Andantes, along with The San Remo Strings (partly The Funk Brothers!) who were all the main ones on all those singles in those days. Memories! Thank you David. JOHN

[@davidgriffiths8496]

@@JohnGByrne If only! But id it ever a possibility? Perhaps one day

[@davidgriffiths8496]

For added effect I sometimes go to settings & slow it down.........

[@rodcoulter997]

Mine too since 1966….Vividly remember hearing it the first time in my Dad’s Austin-Henley 3000 coming back from Florida. Music like this truly touches your soul……

[@MrNathan791]

Same for me. This instrumental piece rock the house. My first time hearing this classic instrumental. The Motown sound just keep giving and giving. I would have loved to had been in those legendary studio sessions.

[@thekeysman1]

what a tune, fun, frisky, cool, Motown is the best era of music. Love the bass in this and the piano, love the Funk Brothers.

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 To think they played on every single record that Motown released for years and years too! I used to love the xylophone that played on the earlier songs too! Earl Van Dyke was a good composer also. Many thanks for that John. JOHN

[@malcolmmarshall5946]

You can really hear Flo jamming those background vocals, I love it.

[@davidwalbank3317]

these guys were brilliant, thank you for the Motown Sound guys, still as fresh after all these years.....

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 I'm so glad you liked this track David, to think they played on so many of Motown's songs eh? little noticed by the public in those days too! I'd have liked to shake hands with them all! :-) there was Earl Van Dyke that I used to like so much, with those albums they used to release too. Such pleasure they used to give for fans too eh? JOHN

[@davidwalbank3317]

@@JohnGByrne Always loved the Baritone Sax Breaks, Loved Jnr Walker too Cleo's Mood always rates top with me thanks for sharing John

[@peterpaul2125]

THE FUNK BROTHERS WERE SO GOOD, SO MUCH HISTORY AND MEMORIES FOR ME

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Ah! nostalgia eh? I'm just the same Peter, what quality they were back in those times, I've followed Motown since it started in 1959 by Berry Gordy Jr of course, as you'll know!! Never found sounds quite like Motown since!! 😃 Cheers for that one. JOHN

[@ladyinabag1]

I always liked this cut!!

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 They certainly were the band on Motown weren't they? There were lots of versions of the songs recorded by each artist as you'll most likely know, and everybody wanted to do the best of course! :-) Thanks Kris. JOHN

[@cindyrobinson812]

Real talent, the good ole days of music when music was music to the heart and ears !

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 That's very true, to think The Funk Brothers played on EVERY Motown single imaginable in those days!! Thanks Cindy. JOHN

[@MrNathan791]

4-sure. The real deal.

[@robertstretton4334]

CLASS WHAT A SONG

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Hi again Robert, yes those Funk Brothers may have been just a bunch of Motown's musicians, but what a talented group they were eh? They created a winning sound for Motown that's never been equalled really. Cheers for listening, JOHN

[@RonaldCharlesEpstein]

The geniuses behind the artists.

[@madzilla14]

The quintessential instrumental ! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Just think, where would we have been without The Funk Brothers in the background on all those single in the 60's and 70's etc ah! good times. JOHN

[@martinstevens2925]

Had this cd for a few years now some very good tracks brill

[@archdukeofsynth]

I'm making this my alarm clock ringtone.

[@innocenteventiorbetello]

it drives me nuts, even without Miss Divinity's voice.. Heard it over and over for centuries but that sax solo still kills me, Legendary Brothers.. thank you thank you for posting this!!

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 grazie molto innocenteventi, it's nice to hear you liked my addition from my collection!! they often used to add those sax solos in the record didn't they? after I return from a short holiday at the end of this month, I'll add another of the Funk Brothers tracks too. Cheers, JOHN

[@innocenteventiorbetello]

John G Byrne that's good news..

[@martinjameslewis5702]

Just makes you want to dance awesome track !!!

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Yes, along with The Supremes, it was so popular then, Martin, wasn't it? I just loved The Funk Brothers, Motown's band playing away in that tiny "Snake Pit" eh? at Hitsville U.S.A. Good times indeed, and MAGIC!! :-) Keep dancing. Cheers, JOHN

[@davidmarsh1921]

Amazing song! So good it stands on its own without vocals. But The Supremes take it over the top.

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 to David Marsh I totally agree David, I used to be such a big fan of Earl Van Dyke and the Funk Brothers, Motown's band, and apart from Holland, Dozier, & Holland, I liked Frank Wilson who wrote so many songs afterwards too! Stoned Love being one of them! A combination of lots of talented people in those days don't you think? I've added a few more of the Funk Brothers tracks on here too! If you like the Funk Brothers sounds friends, I've added a handful of numbers from my lists you may like to type in the search bar above? HD#096 MM105 HD#234 HD#264 HD#516 HD#555 they should come up in the lists if not, try using my earlier MM prefix OK? Thanks, David. JOHN

[@garymorris9571]

So wonderful to hear the track alone (though I love the release version too - Ross nails it). The Funk Brothers could do no wrong!

[@TheRmjr]

Gary Morris ALL three singers nailed it! They were a group!

[@davidgriffiths8496]

They were THE group!!!

[@juniebe4]

And So Did The Funk Brothers.. Florence and Mary Also Nailed It

[@tonyseta2788]

The best bottom line bass by jamerson

[@peteb8556]

Never released on single by Tamla Motown IIRC. What a bloody shame. From a UK Northern Soul fan from the very early 1970's.

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Yes, pete b they used to decide whether to release a single through Quality Control Department for decades and quite a few were stored in the vaults eh? Still Earl Van Dyke plus all the Funk Brothers were the tops weren't they? on all those records!! Cheers, for that. JOHN

[@LoveTheKay]

Mary and flo vocals appeared out of nowhere lmfaoooo. Sounds good as always

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Yes, it's the backing track by them which is really quite rare today isn't it? I loved the instrumentals they used to do on singles a lot! :-) Cheers, JOHN

[@maitemarciana1769]

Bella adaptación.

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 It is indeed Maite Marciana, Earl and The Funk Brothers used to play on so many track in the background of course, and those wonderful ladies The Andantes sang on just as many singles in the background too!! Muchas gracias! JOHN

[@michaelmaiullari3782]

Such a nice Cut to hear the Funk Brothers fraternizing in the snake pit how cool

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Yes to think they played on every record in the background eh? Michael, and those two great ladies in The Andantes with all those oooohs!! and aaaghs!! etc great times. 🙂 JOHN

[@michaelmaiullari3782]

I can't believe you said the addante's nobody ever speaks about them mainly working with the Four Tops but they were on many other cuts the history of Motown is so unbelievably awesome

[@michaelmaiullari3782]

I happen to be friends with the Jamerson family some of the nicest people you'll ever know

[@soulman1949ful]

hi john,have to agree the funk brothers in my opinion made the magic sound of motown what it is,without them who knows ? wish i had the chance to see them live ,however there brilliant music will forever be played by old and new soulies.thanks dave

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Indeed, they were the greatest of all time, in my opinion, I doubt we will ever hear such talent again like those times eh? JOHN

[@jennifursun3303]

me too or had the talent to sit in once

[@TR-vr5pz]

Doesnt get any better than Mr Terry on sax

[@MegaSwimbikerun]

1.41 minutes into the recording & Mike Terry rolls in with his super sax...

[@johnadcock7062]

Remember stomping to this bad boy at stupid o,clock after a couple of liveners!!!

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Yes, everybody would remember the Supremes single with The Funk Brothers playing in the background, all those records they played on eh? John. I liked Earl Van Dyke too! he was always there with them. The only others in the background on the records were The San Remo Strings eh? Many thanks for that. JOHN

[@liamwhitcombe1237]

I wonder if Mr. Goody realised what a monster of a living 100% LEGEND he was about 2 release on the world when he began?!!!

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Berry Gordy Jr was a musical genius and from a very large family, it was that check he got from his family co-op that started it all back in 1959 of course, I don't pretend he was perfect (nobody is 100% perfect!!) but he did make some mistakes, but that idea he had to produce the world's first music factory really worked due to the family of talent they had. I could go on forever about it, but as they used to say "it's in the groove that counts" Thanks for that comment Liam. JOHN

[@Mr.Bassman]

The real geniuses are the funk brothers, they could turn any half baked lyric into a global hit. The greatest band ever.

[@hebneh]

"Keeps me sighin'; keeps me cryin' / Keeps me yearnin'; keeps me burnin' / Keeps me tossin'; keeps me turnin'..."

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 That's it! ha !ha! I always did think it was a good idea for Earl and The Funk Brothers (or Motown's band!) to get more recognised, they did their own records like Ivy Jo Hunter, and of course Earl playing the piano's, and Johnny Bristol, Frank Wilson amongst the writers, working with them all. Even from around 1967 the San Remo Strings got recognition thanks to the UK eh? Great, and thanks to everyone listening too! JOHN

[@derrickw3021]

John G Byrne And Johnny Bristol struck gold with " Hang On In There Baby " .

[@slottaway]

Superb !!! Many thanks for posting, luv it !!!

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 That's very pleasing that you like it slottaway, thanks to all who've listened too! JOHN

[@tonysabell7737]

You can't not dance to this.

[@RonaldCharlesEpstein]

Backup that stands alone!

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 They are everlasting aren't they Ronald? the only other back up I loved as well were The Andantes, those ladies who were also on SO many records eh? JOHN

[@cristinacavicchioli419]

Well, this is simply the track without vocals...and I like more than that with Diana singin! Anyway I think the Funks were the true backbones and heartbeat of all the Motown sound...but maybe I'm partial, being a bass player! :D

[@JohnGByrne]

Cristina Cavicchioli MotownMagic1959 I'm like that, I used to love the bass years ago when you heard them playing on the old disco's huge speakers so you got an awful lot of bass, these sound great on my ear phones and ear plugs too! Thanks Cristina. JOHN

[@edgarsoberontorchia3697]

@@monicabella7894 With Diana, Flo and Mary

[@bazwilliams2976]

awesome

[@rodcoulter997]

Anybody know who’s playing the Sax?……..been in my head since 1966….just amazing. Man…I totally love this track…..the beat and blend are just incredible. Where are musicians like this today?…….man o man. Absolutely the most memorable Supremes song….without a doubt.

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Rod I'm pretty sure the Sax player is Melvin Wranglin as he was not only brilliant on the sax, but could play two instruments, they were all like that on Motown's brilliant band as I well know! superb musicians certainly stand out don't they? in that little Snake Pit in Detroit. Good times. JOHN

[@rodcoulter997]

@@JohnGByrne After research….thought it may be Andrew “Mike” Terry….. FunkBrothers never got recognition like Booker T. and the MGs, from Memphis. Lived there. What a great era for music….and the incredible musicians who laid down those tracks. Oh yea……thanks for your info.

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 I thank you too Rod, yes it could have well been Mike Terry, I did really like Booker T & The MGs also I've got the records that organ etc :-) Cheers, m8! JOHN

[@alain59200]

love this thank for the sharing John enjoy day

[@estebancarracas]

That sax!

[@lifeskater9899]

..and oh, that zylophone(sp)!

[@charlesalzamora3818]

Not only is this my favorite Supremes song but one of my favorites of all time and the instrumental version confirms it. It was also used in a movie from the 90's or early 2000's performed by an old white guy band that's not half bad but I wonder if anyone has ever seen it and can give me the movie's name. Shot in the dark.

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Yes indeed Charles this soundtrack to them of course by The Funk Brothers shows how much they thought of it :-) I wish I could have seen the movie you mention and the mystery band. Cheers anyway, JOHN

[@ianmclean5812]

I totally agree John. Absolute Motown Gold. What's more, what an Instrumental group!! Don't think they will ever be equaled!!

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 to @@ianmclean5812 PS As you love this instrumental Ian, you and other fans may like to type in another of my favs on MM140. in the search box above, This orchestra was Motown's little known and neglected great, some of the Funk Brothers would often play in the orchestra, it's the San Remo Strings (or San Remo Golden Strings as they used to be known too) absolutely brilliant in my opinion back in the 60's. Feel free to listen if you haven't heard this fans? Cheers, JOHN

[@ianmclean5812]

@@JohnGByrne Are yes John. What good taste you have!!.. I adore the San Remo Strings. I used to play "Festival Time" In the car, when I got stuck In traffic on the M25. A totally de-stress took Immediately effect. An all time classic I never get tired of!!

[@kmttaseti]

A++ Funk Brothers, skip the final and teach the course!

[@rodcoulter997]

Plz tell me where I buy this on CD……thanks

[@Jaynesoul]

Sax in this is fab

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 That's right Dinky Doo, those Funk Brothers were so brilliant weren't they? It was some time before they got their recognition and honoured too. JOHN

[@FriendofDorothy]

There is so much spice and joy in so many wondrous Motown tracks. Current pop (which is not all bad, but sounds like cheap production to my spoiled ears) sounds depressive in contrast. I guess you can't coax joy and exuberance out of a computer very easily.

[@wandakonrath8596]

James j was the man on bass ..............................1#

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Yes, indeed Wanda, they were really the backbone of Motown weren't they? I thought, the most brilliant band in history!! along with those superb The Andantes in the background. Boy, that was a time eh? The music speaks for itself. Cheers, JOHN

[@wandakonrath8596]

@@JohnGByrne right on brother music is the window to your soul

[@hamilton01132]

OMG...

[@mlovings4793]

Git it yall

[@derrickw3021]

It's sad that too many egos are preventing a Diana Ross and The Supremes reunion .

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Diana has more or less retired, but she does speak with Mary Wilson still, sadly Florence Ballard died, but the other members of The Supremes are still about, it would have been very nice though, the thought of The Supremes as in the old times wouldn't it? much nostalgia!! JOHN

[@TheRmjr]

iluvmusic62 That’s part of it right there, it should be a Supremes reunion. Leave the names out of it. That way it would be more inclusive of all of the ladies that sang with this great group over the years.

[@robertjromero9488]

RAD.

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Cheers for that Robert!! JOHN

[@oasiscrushinglife6878]

Barry Gordy at 1:38 is a dead ringer for the poker player Phil Ivey, even the same expression

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 You mean Berry Gordy Jr, Oasis! ha! ha! many Motown fans will be pleased to know that Motown features on BBC 4 tonight here in the UK on "Soul America" at 9.30 pm there's an interview with Eddie and Brian Holland too! great!! Many thanks Oasis friend. JOHN

[@jennifursun3303]

that one picture is not the Funk Brothers but another really great group of musicians The Wrecking Crew of LA some of them played together after the move to LA

[@JohnGByrne]

jennifur sun MotownMagic1959 Ah! Apologies Jennifur, I had that picture for a long time and did have doubts about it, but it had been marked as The Funk Brothers by somebody, oops! Thanks for that info, I am of course interested if anybody has some pics of The Funk Brothers though, they are certainly very rare nowadays eh? I've collected Motown pictures going back to the 1960's so have tried to keep them authentic! Cheers for that :-). JOHN

[@jennifursun3303]

go to a video called Funk Brothers unrehearsed. a bunch of them on that one. also a cool video called James Jamerson and the Funk Brothers with the Temptations, they are rehersing My Girl in studeo. you will see Smokey in the background leading the band, and memebers of the Funks who played the brass, plus some of the Orchastra they used. the song does not go all the way through but it is a cool one. it starts with just seeing James playing that opening bass part, then switches to Robert Whites hands playing his part of the opening to My Girl

[@jennifursun3303]

ps reason why i knew it was the Crew was because of the picture of Carol one of the guitarists. although i think there were some sessions where the Funks and the Crew played together, maybe that is one of them

[@JohnGByrne]

jennifur sun MotownMagic1959 Thanks again Jennifur, that's very fascinating, I did really appreciate those Funk Brothers playing on so many records over the years, they had members of the San Remo Strings playing and some of them were in the San Remo Strings of course, all really good sounds, I try to add many from my old DJ days! It's very nice of you to add the info :-). JOHN

[@jennifursun3303]

welcome. i knew they used the Detroit Symphony in their recordings, never heard of the ones you mentioned. if you really want to find info on them go to the Funk Brothers Fan Page on Facebook

[@georggswan8133]

They 2day can't do it like the originals of Motown original ? See original voice no over dubling Prue sound

[@shagar5448]

That isn't The Funk Brothers in the fourth frame.

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Apologies Sha Gar, you are right indeed, I do try to get the pictures correct, but those pictures of The Funk Brothers are SO RARE!! as you'll know they were Motown's unsung musicians, like Earl Van Dyke, and I could go on and on, and it's so great that they finally got a mention, and even a star on Hollywood Boulevard eh? after all those records over the years that they played on in the background. I'll always be in amazement of those people (and thank them too!) Cheers, JOHN

[@jennifursun3303]

who is that talking in the opening

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 That's a bit of a mystery Jennifur, even I don't know who that is!! I have other singles of Motown's artists where there's some little bit's of voices like Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell etc, good though eh? :-) JOHN

[@jennifursun3303]

the last voice I think is Diana, but not sure who the guy is, maybe one of the musicians

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 Nobody knows the answer to that, (or do they??) Sorry, JOHN

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 These are SO rare Jennifur, that it's surprising to come across anything by The Funk Brothers on their own, Earl Van Dyke used to release records with The Funk Brothers, and there are some rare ones by them that are still in those vaults!! I still remember how some of the Funk Brothers used to moonlight and play on Ric Tic recordings for Ed Wingate, ha! ha! JOHN

[@ag052976]

I believe it’s the late Benny Benjamin..

[@chriscurtis8344]

The Wrecking Crew were NOT the Funk Brothers. So stop the Bullcrap Mister! Nice try!

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 I'm a bit puzzled Chris, is this addressed to me? I haven't commented on this at all? but I do know there was only one Funk Brothers eh? I've followed Motown since they started in 1959 with Berry Gordy Jr and Smokey Robinson etc :-) Cheers, JOHN

[@monicabella7894]

Many thanks for this great upload in HQ 🌻

[@JohnGByrne]

MotownMagic1959 I try to give credit to the Funk Brothers if I can too Monica and I'm glad you like this, I give credit to all those people who've been great enough to add Motown's classics also, I'm always trying to add ones that are less well known of course, so long as you all like them it keeps me happy :-) Many thanks again, JOHN