The 20 documentary film muscle shoals cast a bright light on the north alabama areas rich. Muscle shoals is the largest city in colbert county, alabama, united states. Muscle shoals is an excellent documentary on the iconic fame recording studio located in muscle shoals, al. Meet rick hall, the swampers, and many musicians who bear witness to muscle shoals magnetism, mystery, and undeniable influence.
The end credits acknowledge how many musicians who contributed to the famous muscle shoals sound couldnt fit into a twohour film the scenes. Muscle shoals sound studio is a recording studio in sheffield, alabama formed in 1969 by four session musicians called the muscle shoals rhythm section and affectionately called the swampers who had left rick halls nearby fame studios in muscle shoals to create their own recording facility. A documentary that celebrates rick hall, the founder of fame studios in muscle shoals, alabama, and the signature sound he developed in songs such as ill take you there, brown sugar, and when a man loves a woman. Both the city and the florencemuscle shoals metropolitan area including four cities in colbert and lauderdale. Those studio musicians spun off and started their own studio called muscle shoals in competition with fame. This set, the soundtrack to greg camaliers 20 documentary film muscle shoals, plays like a dream with classic sides like percy sledges when a man loves a woman, aretha franklins i never loved a man the way i love you, etta james tell mama, lynyrd. The film is a mustsee and this music, which i have always loved, seems now to have even more resonance. His studio musicians were local fellows who played funk because they didnt know how to play smooth. Located on the banks of the tennessee river, muscle shoals, al is the unlikely breeding ground for some of the most creative music in american history. The 20 awardwinning documentary muscle shoals features rick hall, the muscle shoals rhythm section, and the muscle shoals sound originally popularized by fame. In 20, the documentary muscle shoals film raised public interest in a major restoration of the original studio. Pop musics most revered names, from aretha franklin to mick jagger, recall the magic energy behind the muscle shoals recording studio in alabama. Muscle shoals feels a tad overlong and redundant after a whileyes, its a mythical and historic place, we get itand it might have functioned even better as an hourlong tv documentary.
It is located along the tennessee river in the northern part of the state and, as of the 2010 census, the population of muscle shoals was,146. Muscle shoals soundtrack list 20 tracklist, film score list, all songs played in the movie playlist and who sings them have a look below to see the official soundtrack list for the 20 documentary movie, muscle shoals. Muscle shoals, alabama wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. In muscle shoals, alabama, music runs through the hills, the river, and the spirit of the people. Wlay was a radio station serving the florencemuscle shoals, alabama, market and was heard at 1450 am and on a translator at 92. Directed by greg freddy camalier, the film was released by magnolia pictures on september 27, 20. I went to see the film, muscle shoals the documentary, of which this is the official soundtrack. Muscle shoals was released in 20 on friday, september 27, 20 in limited movie theaters. Thanks to the sterling 20 documentary film muscle shoals many more music fans know these men, bassist david hood and guitarist jimmy johnson, are two of the most prolific and tasteful session musicians ever. Songs youve heard a million times before and think you know by heartlynyrd skynyrds freebird, aretha franklins i. If you want to bob your head along to a jukebox sampler of glorious american songs, then muscle shoals is the documentary for. Overcoming crushing poverty and staggering tragedies, rick hall brought black and white together to create music for the generations. Muscle shoals is a documentary about a place filled with magic and music, legend and folklore, where the river is inhabited by a native american spirit who has lured some of the greatest rock and.
The reason to watch the film, though, is the music. The group closed the jackson highway studio in 1979, moving the. The group closed the jackson highway studio in 1979, moving the operation. Under the spiritual influence of the singing river as native americans called it, the music of muscle shoals changed the world and sold. In the same year, the muscle shoals music foundation was formed to raise funds to purchase the building and to complete major renovations. Muscle shoals premieres on pbs independent lens on april 21, 2014.
The film simply uses musicians great ones to explain why the backwater hamlet of muscle shoals. Located alongside the tennessee river, muscle shoals, alabama has helped. To compensate visually, camalier plays up the idea that muscle shoals is a magical land, and as such, were treated to some breathtaking outdoor photography. Located on the banks of the tennessee river, muscle shoals, alabama is the unlikely breeding ground for some of the most creative. The hits just keep on coming in muscle shoals, a hugely entertaining, perhaps overlong, documentary about the renowned recording studios in the small alabama town of the films title. Muscle shoals 20 is an american documentary film about fame studios and muscle shoals sound studio in muscle shoals, alabama. Located alongside the tennessee river, muscle shoals, alabama has helped create some of the most important and resonant songs of all time. Muscle shoals sound studio at 3614 jackson highway in sheffield, alabama was formed in 1969 by four session musicians called the muscle shoals rhythm section and affectionately called the swampers who had left rick halls nearby fame studios in muscle shoals to create their own recording facility. Wilson pickett, aretha franklin, paul simon, and the rolling stones all recorded major hit records in muscle shoals, backed by the house band the swampers. Under the spiritual influence of the singing river as native americans called it, the music of muscle shoals is some of the most important and resonant of all time. Winner of the grand prize, boulder international film festival, 20.
He is responsible for creating the muscle shoals sound and the swampers, the house band at fame that. He is responsible for creating the muscle shoals sound and the swampers, the house band at. The film also highlights the many tragedies and disappointments in rick halls life as well as his triumphs. It features numerous recording artists as well as the staff and musicians associated with the studios. Located on the banks of the tennessee river, muscle shoals, alabama is the unlikely breeding ground for some of the most creative and defiant music in american history. Muscle shoals, a 20 documentary directed by greg freddy camalier, stands out for what it doesnt have no academics pontificating, no shortcuts or pisspoor music substitutions, no great need to tie in its subject with the circle of life. Its mandatory viewing for fans of the classic rock, soul and rhythm and blues of the 1960s and 70s. Muscle shoals made it to the sundance film festival this year and continues making rounds on the. In 1924, wilson dam was completed, destroying the hazardous shoals that gave the new town and its neighbourhood its name. Muscle shoals 20 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
Filmmaker greg camalier pays tribute to an alabama city that holds a prominent place in music history. Rent muscle shoals 20 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. Located on the banks of the tennessee river, muscle shoals, alabama is the unlikely breeding ground for some of the most creative and defiant music in americ. Muscle shoals is a documentary about a place filled with magic and. With rick hall, aretha franklin, keith richards, candi staton. The film centres on rick hall who started and built fame studio in muscle shoals alabama back in the 60s. Founded and operated by rick hall, this recording studio turned out hit, after hit, after hit. Everything you need to know about muscle shoals movie 20. Muscle shoals movie clip aretha franklin 20 documentary hd located alongside the tennessee river, muscle shoals, alabama is the unlikely breeding ground for some of americas most creative.
From the early 2000s to 20, it had been partly restored and open for tours. September 27, 20 located alongside the tennessee river, muscle shoals, alabama is the unlikely breeding ground for some of americas most creative and defiant music. Muscle shoals, directed by greg camalier the new york. Muscle shoals, alabama helped create some of the most important, resonant songs of all time. Both the city and the florence muscle shoals metropolitan area including four cities in colbert and lauderdale counties are. There were 14 other movies released on the same date, including cloudy with a chance of meatballs 2, don jon and rush. Muscle shoals is the story of rich hall, who brought black and white together in a cauldron of racial hostility. But with such great music coming, one hit after after another, its always a joy to watch. Roger hawkins, a member of the muscle shoals rhythm section also. Artists who recorded at fame studios in muscle shoals, ala. This set, the soundtrack to greg camaliers 20 documentary film muscle shoals, plays like a dream with classic sides like percy sledges when a man loves a woman, aretha franklins i never loved a man the way i love you, etta james tell mama, lynyrd skynyrds free bird, jimmy cliffs sitting in limbo, and paul simons kodachrome. Muscle shoals is the story of fame, a studio founded by rick hall and a place where musical giants would descend hoping to capture the magic of those muddy waters.
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