Muscle Shoals is a small town with a big history. Gregg “Freddy” Camalier’s documentary features a brief slideshow of some of the many albums produced there. They include many of the great recordings from the 1960’s forward including the music of Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Perry Sledge, Tom Jones, Lynrd Skynrd and many others. The documentary tells the story of how this small ‘backwater’ town in Alabama became the epicentre for the birth of musical genius and superstars. The documentary attempts to explain why through interviews with Bono, Keith Richards and many other musicians who were there, crossing multiple genres from rock to reggae to soul. The international reach of this place is impressive; attracting musicians from all over the globe like Jagger, Jimmy Cliff and Bono. The message of the music is global as well, touching on universal social and racial issues such as the trail of tears, segregation and the 60’s anti-hippy sentiment.

Muscle Shoals is a very personal film. Rick Hall, producer and the founder of FAME (Florence Alabama Musical Enterprises) Recording Studio and the focus of much of the documentary, relates his own life story, including his descent into alcoholism and vagrancy and his ultimate salvation through music. Everything comes back to the music, and how it has connected and continues to connect people.

As to why the town became an epicentre for the creation such amazing music, we are offered two possibilities: one, hard work, good musicians and luck; the other, a more mystical explanation. We are told of alchemy, a Native legend of a singing river spirit and of rebirth in the river. Some believe that it’s just a unique combination of southern music, skilled musicians and Rick Hall, a man with a near superhuman drive to be the best. Others, such as Jimmy Cliff, believe there may be something a bit more mystical, some alchemy, turning something base into gold, in harmony with the Native legend of a musical river spirit. Rebirth is a constantly recurring idea throughout. The film does not, nor can it, give any concrete answers, and we are left to draw our own conclusion. Possibly the answer lies somewhere in-between.

This documentary inspired us to look into what is happening at FAME and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio today. Is Muscle Shoals still a mecca for musicians who discover something special while recording and helping them become superstars? Muscle Shoals would become the centre for not one but two famous recording studios. The second, MSS Muscle Shoals Studio would be opened in late 1969 by the four guys who had been Hall’s own house rhythm section (David Hood, Jimmy Johnson, Roger Hawkins and Barry Beckett) in direct competition to FAME. FAME and MSS Studios have what is refered to as a “fingerprint sound”. MSS Studio would eventually outgrow its original space and in 1979 be moved to a larger building. FAME continues to produce an incredible roster of recordings over the years including those of Terri Gibbs, Ronnie Milsap, Larry Gatlin and the Gaitlin Bros., Jerry Reed, Walt Aldridge, the Osmonds, The Beatles, Paul Anka and Band of Horses. Most recently the Dixie Chicks recorded “Once You’ve Loved Somebody” (sold over 11 million+ records) at FAME. In 2001 FAME Publishing established a subsidiary label Muscle Shoals Records.

Rick Hall has been given numerous awards including a 1970 “producer of the year” Grammy nomination and 1971 World’s Producer of the Year. In 1989 he sold the FAME publishing catalogue to EMI.

In 1969 RB Greaves recorded the hit “Take A Letter Maria”, in the then newly opened Muscle Shoals Sound studio that was a re-purposed a casket warehouse. A few months later The Rolling Stones recorded “Brown Sugar” and “Wild Horses” forever establishing its magical reputation. The studio had what is known as its unique ‘fingerprint sound’. MSS Studio eventually outgrew its original space and moved in 1979 to a larger building. The original space would cease to be a sound studio for the next 30 years. In 2010, Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach of the ‘The Black Keys’, once again sought that ‘fingerprint sound’ and among other reasons travelled to Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, although now the building was empty. Undeterred, they brought their own vintage gear typical of the past era to try and recreate the MSS sound. It worked! “Too Afraid To Love You” along with all the songs for “Brothers” were recorded at MSS by Carney and Auerbach, who had just reconnected for the making of “Brothers”, their 6th album. “Brothers” would turn out to be their most successful and mark their huge musical breakthrough. “Brothers” went on to win multiple awards including 3 Grammy’s. The magic of Muscle Shoals lives on.

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug11/articles/black-keys.htm

See full interview with Mark Neil Recording Engineer for Black Keys and ‘The Muscle Shoals Story’ by SOS August 2011

http://www.fame2.com/our-history/

Donal O’Connor/Moira Romano