![]() More recently FAME has recorded projects for The Gregg Allman Band, Third Day, Michael McDonald, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Aloe Blacc, Chord Overstreet, Keb Mo, John Paul White, St. Artists such as Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Otis Redding, the Osmonds, Jerry Reed, Alabama, Mac Davis, the Gatlin Brothers, Bobbie Gentry and many others. FAME has worked in the studio with some of the Greatest artists in Rock music history. FAME Music was established in 1959 in Florence, Alabama and has gone on to be the heartbeat of the Muscle Shoals Sound with entities including FAME Publishing, FAME Recording Studios, FAME Records and Muscle Shoals Records. The famous sign above the entryway into FAME’s studios reads: “Through these doors walk the finest Musicians, Songwriters, Artists, and Producers in the World”. Beginning with the legendary session that produced Jimmy Hughes’ “Steal Away”, FAME has been producing chart-topping hits ever since. Hall took that money, along with a borrowed $10,000, built and moved the studio to its current location at 603 East Avalon Avenue, Muscle Shoals. With Arthur Alexander’s “You Better Move On”. This is where Muscle Shoals would have its first international success. In 1960, Hall took over sole ownership and shortened the name to the acronym FAME and temporarily moved to Wilson Dam Highway in Muscle Shoals. Originally housed above City drugstore in Florence, Alabama, Florence Alabama Music Enterprises was founded in 1959 by Rick Hall, Billy Sherrill and Tom Stafford. “But they liked to music so they could get away with it.Muscle Shoals Sound A Tale of Two Studios ![]() “There were definitely people who did not like that these white guys were recording with these black people,” said Whitley. This was the era of civil rights and racial turmoil but that didn’t spill over to the recording studio. “Rod Stewart was one of those who took his producer out and said seriously?” “There were many producers accused of lying,” said writer Carla Jean Whitley. More than a few people were surprised to learn that the musicians backing many notable black artists were white guys. The familiar “da-da-da” intro is the result of an engineering error. So he bought the demo from the Swampers and laid his vocals over it. He recorded it with his own band but didn’t feel it had the same sound. Bob Seger recorded a demo of “Old Time Rock and Roll” with the Swampers. ![]() But the Swampers picked up on the music so quickly they ended up recording five songs including the well-known “Kodachrome.” Paul Simon came to Alabama expecting to record one song for his album There Goes Rhymin’ Simon. The band even mentioned the Swampers in the lyrics of “Sweet Home Alabama.” Lynyrd Skynyrd recorded the first of two versions of their hit “Free Bird” in the Shoals. It didn’t sell well, but became a critical darling. ![]() The Swamper’s first album in their new studio was Cher’s 3614 Jackson Highway, which happened to be the address of the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. Once the buzz did start, artists kept coming and the string of hits continued. “Jimmy Johnson said to me we were always busy but it didn’t quite occur to us that it would take a little bit of time to generate that buzz,” said Whitley. While the Swampers were already associated with some top acts, from Wilson Pickett to Etta James, it took time for their own business to pick up. The Swampers originally formed to play for FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals before leaving in 1969 to start their own studio, the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, which was actually in nearby Sheffield. While there’s debate over who coined the name, it refers to the “swampy,” soulful sound they produced - a combination of Memphis’ rhythm and blues and Nashville’s country. “But these are really just four guys who were and still are talented musicians who were able to stay at home and make a living recording rather than touring.” “David Hood refers to the Swampers as looking like a bunch of guys who would work at the grocery store,” said Whitley. They’re the subject of the new book Muscle Shoals Sound Studio: How the Swampers Changed American Music by Birmingham music writer Carla Jean Whitley. Keyboardist Barry Beckett, drummer Roger Hawkins, guitarist Jimmy Johnson and bassist David Hood were session musicians who backed many of those top names. Artists including Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan cut tracks in this otherwise sleepy corner of the state.īut a part of the region’s musical success is thanks to four men nicknamed the Swampers. The Shoals area of Alabama is known for a long list of popular musicians who recorded there in the 1960s and 1970s. ![]() Muscle Shoals Sound Studio: How the Swampers Changed American MusicĪndrew Yeager | Aug= Old Image Removed =Array ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |