Corbis Images Written by Guillermo Bright-Plummer and Jimmy Cliff Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp./Rhino Entertainment Company Written and performed by Paul Simon He is a film nerd, cartoonist, classic film poster collector, wannabe screenwriter, and owner of/owned by cats. Over the years from 1962 to 1969, there have been two successive groups under the name "Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section" and the common factor in the two was an association with Rick Hall at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals.[1]. Raji Mandelkorn [6] The success stunned the big-city studios; the music industry quickly took notice of this unknown little studio called FAME (Florence Alabama Music Enterprises). Armand Holmes 4/23 Community of Unity Event, Behind CB&S Bank, 5:00 pm 8:30 pm. Throughout the '60s, Aretha Franklin, Clarence Carter, Wilson Pickett, [28] In 2019, the original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, including Norbert Putnam, David Briggs, Jerry Carrigan, Terry Thompson, Earl "Peanut" Montgomery, Joe South and Reggie Young, was inducted, as well as the Muscle Shoals Horn Section:[29] Aaron Brown, Harrison Calloway, Ronny Eades, Charles Rose, and Harvey Thompson. "[21] On the documentary film, Muscle Shoals, Keith Richards said of the sessions,"I don't think we'd been quite so prolific ever". Roger Hawkins, Muscle Shoals Drummer on Aretha Franklin Classics, Dead at 75 Remy, Charlie and Jake [6] Stafford and Sherrill later terminated Hall from the partnership, and Hall's humiliation fueled him to attempt to outdo them as their competitor.[7]. [7] In Muscle Shoals and other Southern studios, the process was quite different. By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing, Sitting in Limbo They couldn't stand that, right? Now a new documentarysheds light on the people and environment behind that distinct sound, a combination of rock, pop, R&B and funk, with a Southern flavor. Written by Billy Foster and Ellington Jordan Ill Take You There, Brown Sugar, When a Man Loves a Woman, I Never Loved a Man the Way That I Loved You, Mustang Sally, Tell Mama, Kodachrome, and Freebird are just a few of the tens of thousands of tracks created there. Rick Hall sardonically said, "The Rolling Stones thought they were cutting at FAME". [12], Guitarist Jimmy Johnson was the first FAME employee and did many jobs there, including playing rhythm guitar, engineering, and sweeping the floors.

Courtesy of Atlantic Records Corp. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. [20] In 1971, Atlantic Records moved their Muscle Shoals business to Criteria Studios in Miami and asked the Swampers to move there. [21] Some other songs they did were Do Right Woman, Do Right Man, Think, Share Your Love With Me, and Call Me. [7] The producers then fired the sax player. Matt Hamilton Written by Bonny Rice Atlanta producer Bill Lowery brought The Tams, who recorded "What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am)", and Nashville's Felton Jarvis brought Tommy Roe to record "Everybody". Brian Kip McDonald Both the original FAME group and the second group (Swampers) have been inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2008. The other studio where many classic sides and albums were recorded was Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Leslie Alsheimer Photography They sold it to their longtime friend Tommy Couch, owner of Malaco Records, based in Jackson, Mississippi. Written by Willie McTell Performed by Aretha Franklin [26] The new studio marked a new beginning for Beckett, Hawkins, Hood and Johnson, allowing them to move toward production and publishing rather than performing. 'Sing the counts, Wilson', I suggested. Written by Mike Bloomfield and Nicholas George Gravenites Muscle Shoals Director: Greg "Freddy" Camalier Genre: Documentary Running Time: 111 minutes Rated PG for thematic elements, language, smoking and

Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp. The movie also documents the story of Hall, who experienced personal tragedy and career obstacles, including the deaths of his brother and first wife and the disintegration of his business relationship with FAMEs original founders. [21] They had been assured that the planned recording session could be kept secret. The idea of the film, according to Camalier, came when he was helping a friend move from the East Coast to New Mexico by car. Courtesy of Promotone B.V. Wild Horses He convinced everybody around me that he knew what he was doing. Performed by Percy Sledge Making his directorial debut with Muscle Shoals, filmmaking is a deep-seated passion Greg Freddy Camalier is hoping and planning to pursue for the remainder of his life. [14] The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section created more than 50 hits at this studio. Thomas Morrison In fact, they appeared on over 500 recordings, including 75 gold and platinum hits, and developed what people began calling, The Muscle Shoals Sound.. [14] They were aided in the process by Wexler, who arranged a loan from Atlantic Records to make much-needed equipment upgrades to 8-track recording machines that were compatible with Atlantic's equipment. Nick Dutton Roger Hawkins, a member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (also known as the Swampers), is just one among the many musicians captured in this documentary about the famous town. [24], As an example, in the Muscle Shoals recording of Wilson Pickett's classic hit "Land of 1000 Dances", Jerry Wexler chose the songit was to be a cover version of a song by Chris Kenner.

The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Barry Beckett hide caption. Performed by Traffic

[14] That year, the new studio recorded the Bob Dylan album Slow Train Coming, co-produced by Barry Beckett, who also performed on it. Courtesy of Legacy Records Donna Jean Godchaux This program was produced by Ear Goggles Productions, LLC which is solely responsible for its content. His rhythm section (piano, bass and drums) was Briggs, Putnam, and Carrigan. [19], The Stones were there three days, spending most of their time in the studio engineered by Swamper Jimmy Johnson. Felicity Huthinson One of the most prominent American studio house bands from the 1960s to the 1980s, these musicians, individually or as a group, have been associated with more than 500 recordings, including 75 gold and platinum hits. Picking the 20 best songs ever recorded in the Muscle Shoals area, at now-iconic studios such as Fame and Muscle Shoals Sound, is a daunting task. Throughout the '60s, Aretha Franklin, Clarence Carter, Wilson Pickett, Candi Staton, Etta James, The Staple Singers and others recorded there. Under license from EMI Film & Television Music, Free Bird Ray Smith, Additional Camera "Trail of Tears" Kelly Murphy 2011, Original Music Recorded and Mixed by Sean Odea, Additional Photography Written by Roger Hawkins, Albert S. Lowe, Jr., and Spooner Oldham Raji Mandelkorn, Re-Recording Mixer and Sound Supervisor

Dylan Clark Performed by Alicia Keys Under license from Universal Music Enterprises, "Mainstreet So we took her down South and started approaching it like we would a job. The title track was co-written by Clarence Carter. Cher's 3614 Jackson Highway album cover, featuring the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, a.k.a. Written by Ronald Dunbar and General N. Johnson Tod Maitland This clip comes from an interview we did with The Swampers in Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in 2008. By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing, Funky Broadway He died in 2009 at age 66. Under license from Universal Music Enterprises, I Aint Easy to Love

[16], During the 1990s and later, the group continued working as a studio band, often with Clayton Ivey on keyboards, for artists including Gregg Allman (All Night All Stars), T. Graham Brown, Jimmy Buffett, Melissa Etheridge, John Hiatt, the Oak Ridge Boys, Johnny Paycheck, Etta James, and Joe Louis Walker.[11]. [7][19] White then demanded that Ken Laxton, the trumpet player who was white, be fired for making passes at Aretha. A musician himself, who overcame crushing poverty and staggering tragedies, Hall brought black and white musicians together including during times when the states governor wanted segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever to create music that would last for generations while also giving birth to the unique Muscle Shoals sound, and the unheralded but crucial rhythm section, The Swampers. While he was declaring "segregation forever," Muscle Shoals musicians were crafting an integrated sound that would prove far more enduring than the guvnah's defiance. While fending off a budding rivalry in the Muscle Shoals heyday with Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, which was formed by The Swampers and would find huge success of its own, Hall maintained confidence in his brand and in himself. Located alongside the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals, Alabama has helped create some of the most important and resonant songs of all time. WebMuscle Shoals. Hall said, "When you hear that record today, you can tell that everybody was feeding off the enthusiasm of everybody else in that room".[7]. Stephen Badger Most fans of '60s soul know of Muscle Shoals, the tiny Alabama town that produced huge hits. Emily Neumann "[15] In the early 1960s, it was not a routine practice to have the same musicians as a "house band" for recording different artists, the exceptions being Motown and Stax Records[citation needed]. Steve Lamar, Additional Cameras Keith Richards Matt Satterfield Muscle Shoals, Alabama is the unlikely breeding ground for some of America's most creative and defiant music, rock and soul. FAME Studios The town leaders sold Sheffield's abandoned 31,000 square feet (2,900m2) Armory to the Swampers at an unbeatable price, to counter a nearby city's offer to lure them away. I couldnt believe this That is really great. And I found myself shedding a tear once in a while.. 1970 Swedish TV documentary on the FAME Studios.

Stina and Liam Chris Tyson, MrBeast Sidekick, Reveals Gender Journey on Social Media By this time everyone was exhausted and the rapidly-deteriorating session was terminated. Performed by Wilson Pickett Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp./Rhino Entertainment Company Having left Columbia Records without much commercial success, Franklin recorded music at FAME that would later end up on the hit Atlantic album I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, in 1967. Less than a month later, The Swampers were in New York recording "Respect", Aretha's first hit that held the number one R&B spot for eight weeks and was number one on the pop charts for two weeks. Muscle Shoals: Directed by Greg 'Freddy' Camalier. We were recently reminded of the enduring and powerful musical legacy of the Muscle Shoals sound by a new collection, Muscle Shoals: Small Town, Big Sound. My only regret upon watching "Muscle Shoals" is that I somehow missed it when it was first released, some seven and a half years ago. At the time, there was already a studio in Muscle Shoals called FAME, co-founded by Rick Hall, that was already recording R&B and soul artists. The way I found musicians . We accept PayPal, Venmo (@openculture), Patreon and Crypto! Hall wanted to obtain a consistent sound rather than have unfamiliar musicians on each session. He started producing records with local musicians, including singers Percy Sledge and Arthur Alexander. When it came time to find a place to sleep, they had a choice of Tupelo, Mississippi (the birthplace of Elvis Presley) or Muscle Shoals. Cowan Debaets Abrahams & Sheppard, Archival Footage and Stills Provided by and Courtesy of: To support Open Cultures educational mission, please consider, 100+ Online Degree & Mini-Degree Programs. Courtesy of FAME Enterprises, Inc. Please find all options here. Rated PG for thematic elements, language, smoking and brief partial nudity. Hall and his fellow Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section musicians had left FAME to start their own studio. If you would like to sign up for Open Cultures free email newsletter,please find it here. Courtesy of House of Fame, LLC & Rick Hall Music Inc Its as good a word as any to capture the ineffable quality of the Muscle Shoals sound, which is a blend of hillbilly music, blues and spirituals, among other diverse influences. Michael OSullivan, Washington Post. [14], The Rolling Stones, newly signed to Atlantic Records, arrived in Sheffield, Alabama, in December, 1969, two nights after a performance in West Palm Beach, Florida. [18] During this first session with the Swampers, "I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You", Franklin's husband at the time, Ted White, who had been cordial at first, became belligerent. [24] Hall said that was crazywho ever heard of singing a count off? WebMuscle Shoals. ", The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, individually or as a group, have been associated with more than 500 recordings, including 75 gold and platinum hits. Magnolia Pictures Nicole Alarid, Still Photographers Jaimoe Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp./Rhino Entertainment Company The Swampers were mentioned in the lyrics of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama," and are featured on the cover of Cher's 1969 album, 3614 Jackson Highway. Nicholas Deacetis All rights reserved. The Beckett Family Soon enough, though, Hall and Wexler were feuding, and the Swampers were summoned to New York to record such sides as "R-E-S-P-E-C-T." (Wexler appears in the movie, but he doesn't talk about the quarrel. Released on Monday, the project was years in the making. Jordan Chasen, Art Director Los Angeles Unit Besides access to ace session players like Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, aka The Swampers, and sharp producers like Rick Hall, the area was virtually distraction free, particularly compared to New York or Los Angeles. Free shipping for many products!

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Performed by Etta James Courtesy of Geffen Records

Adam Lukens Written by Edward C. King, Gary Robert Rossington and Ronnie Van Zant [21] Wexler was horrified. Making Love (At the Dark End of the Street), Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra, "The Swampers:: Main Street Lawrenceburg Tennessee", "The day Aretha Franklin found her sound and a bunch of men nearly killed it", "Swampers guitarist talks classic Aretha Franklin sessions", "Fame Records to reissue Jimmy Hughes collection", "National Register of Historic Places: Florence, Alabama Music Enterprises (FAME) Recording Studios", "The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section: Artist Biography", "Alabama Music Hall of Fame/1995 Inductees/Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section/Bio", "Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section: Jimmy Johnson", "Muscle Shoals Sound Studio: How the Swampers Changed American Music (book review)", "Barry Beckett, 66, Muscle Shoals Musician", "Inside Muscle Shoals, the legendary studio that gave Aretha Franklin her breakthrough hit", "Aretha to The Black Keys: The Muscle Shoals Story", "Naa Na Na Na Naa: How the West Coast Eastside sound changed rock & roll", "Kid Rock, Keith Richards Help Induct Crickets, Muscle Shoals into Musicians Hall of Fame", "Legendary Muscle Shoals Horns reunite for CD release", "History Lesson: Boulder International Film Festival", The Alabama Music Hall of Fame Entry for the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Muscle_Shoals_Rhythm_Section&oldid=1140090442, Musical groups disestablished in the 1980s, CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes), Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 18 February 2023, at 10:44. [25] It was not part of Chris Kenner's own original 1962 recording. Unsubscribe at any time. Julia Mintz Paul Simon recorded some of the tracks from his hit record There Goes Rhymin Simon at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, including the gospel-inflected She Loves Me Like a Rock. First, check out a wonderful recent live version with Simon joined by none other than Stevie Wonder and the Dixie Hummingbirds. [11] Four members were inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in 1995 and also received a "Lifework Award for Non-Performing Achievement". Craig is the digital content producer for Independent Lens, based in San Francisco. From this point, the studio began turning out hits such as Leon Russell's "Tight Rope", the Staple Singers' "I'll Take You There" and Paul Simon's "Kodachrome". Send us a tip using our anonymous form. A driven man, Hall over the years broke with many of his business and musical partners, yet never seems to have doubted he was right about everything. Overcoming crushing poverty and staggering tragedies, Rick Hall brought black and white together to create music for the generations. Finally they had a hit single with "Take a Letter Maria" by R.B. They decided to break it up by putting a solo drum interlude. By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing, Mustang Sally Tom Byfield