The most successful group of studio musicians!
Motown’s house band didn’t have an official name. Most of the time, they weren’t even credited to the albums.
When they performed with their bandleader, they went under the name Earl Van Dyke & the Soul Brothers. Apparently, Berry Gordy didn’t like the name Funk.
Made up of a core of fifteen studio musicians, they did, however, play on more #1 hits than The Beatles, Elvis, The Rolling Stones, and The Beach Boys, put together!
The Funk Brothers were active between 1959 and 1972 when Motown moved from Detroit to Los Angeles.
Perhaps the greatest musician in the Funk Brothers was their bass player James Jamerson. His intricate bass lines are incredible melodies, often more elaborate than the vocal melody.
A great example of Jamerson’s genius can be found in his Ain’t No Mountain High Enough bass line.
I’ve recorded six of their songs, making them the most covered band on Spytunes!
The 2002 documentary Standing In The Shadows Of Motown was the first time they got any real recognition. It’s a great insight into the brutal life of being a musician in the 60s.
For example, their farewell gift in 1972 came in the form of a note on the door simply stating “No work today”.
The Funk Brothers tunes | Related pages
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher
| D | G/D | Em/D | D |
Your love, lifting me higher, than I’ve ever been lifted before.
| D | G/D | Em/D | D |
So keep it up, quench my desire and I’ll be at your side, forevermore.
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher chords.
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
| Bm7/A | G#m7b5 | Gmaj7 | Em9 |
Ain’t no mountain high, ain’t no valley low, ain’t no river wide enough, baby.
| Bm7/A | G#m7b5 | Gmaj7 | Em9 |
If you need me, call me, no matter where you are, no matter how far, don’t worry, baby.
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough chords.
Baby Love
| C | C7/Bb | A7 | Dm |
Baby love, my baby love, I need you, oh how I need you.
| Dm | C | F | C |
But all you do is treat me bad, break my heart and leave me sad.
Band Of Gold
| G | G | D/F# |
Now that you’re gone, all that’s left is a band of gold.
| D | C | C |
All that’s left of the dreams I hold, is a band of gold.
Can I Get A Witness
| Eb Ab | Db Ab | Eb Ab | Db Ab |
Ah listen, everybody, especially you girls,
| Eb Ab | Db Ab | Eb Ab | Db Ab |
is it right to be left alone by the one you love is never home?
Dancing In The Street
| E7 | E7 (D/E) | E7 | E7 (D/E) |
Callin’ out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat?
| E7 | E7 (D/E) | E7 | E7 (D/E) |
Summer’s here and the time is right, for dancing in the street.
Get Ready
| F5 | Bb | G5 | C |
And I’m bringing you a love that’s true so get ready, so get ready.
| F | Bb7omit3 | Gm | C |
I’m gonna try to make you love me too so get ready, so get ready, here I come.
Heat Wave
| Eb N.C (Bb C Bb G) | Fm (Gbm) | Gm (Bm) | Cm (Bm) | Cm |
Whenever I’m with him, (oh, oh, oh, oh) something inside (inside),
| Fm (Gbm) | Gm (Bm) | Cm (Bm) | Cm |
starts to burning (oh, oh, oh, oh), and I’m filled with desire.
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
| F | Dm7 G7 | C C6 | C (C7) |
How sweet it is to be loved by you, yes baby, oh, oh, oh, oh.
| F | Dm7 G7 | C C6 | C Dm7 |
How sweet it is to be loved by you. Oh, baby.
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) chords.
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
| C | C | G | G |
Oh, sugar pie, honey bunch, you know that I love you.
| Dm | Dm | F | G A5 |
I can’t help myself, I love you and nobody else.
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) chords.
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
| Ebm | Ebm | Bb Ab | Ab6 Ab |
I bet you’re wonderin’ how I knew, ’bout your plans to make me blue.
| Ebm | Ebm | Bb Ab | Ab7 |
With some other guy, you knew before, between the two of us guys you know I loved you more.
I Heard It Through The Grapevine chords.
Jimmy Mack
| Ebm | Gbmaj7 | Dbmaj7 | Gb |
Jimmy Mack, Jimmy. Oh, Jimmy Mack, when are you comin’ back.
| Ebm7 | Gbmaj7 | Dbmaj7 | Gb Ab |
Jimmy Mack, Jimmy. Oh, Jimmy Mack, when are you comin’ back.
My Girl
| C | F | C | F |
I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day.
| C | F | C | F |
When it’s cold outside, I’ve got the month of May.
My Guy
| Bb Bb6 | Bb Bb6 | Bb Bb6 | Bb Bb6 |
Nothing you could say could tear me away from my guy.
| Bb Bb6 | Bb Bb6 | Bb Bb6 | Bb Bb6 | D7 D D7 | D7 |
Nothing you could do ’cause I’m stuck like glue to my guy.
Reach Out I’ll Be There
| Abm7 Gb/Bb | Db | Abm7 Gb/Bb | Db |
Now if you feel that you can’t go on, because all of your hope is gone.
| Abm7 Gb/Bb | Db Db6 | Abm7 Gb/Bb | Db |
And your life is filled with much confusion, until happiness is just an illusion.
Reach Out I’ll Be There chords.
You Can’t Hurry Love
| Bb | Bb | Eb Bb | Bb |
I need love, love, to ease my mind.
| Dm Gm7 | Gm7 | Eb F | F |
I need to find, find, someone to call mine, but mama said.
You’re All I Need To Get By
| A | B/A |
(You’re all I need to get by) Like sweet morning dew, I took one look at you,
| Dm6/A | A |
and it was plain to see, you were my destiny.
The Funk Brothers on the web
