Muscle Shoals: The Greatest Recording Studio in the World
Documentary about Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the unlikely breeding ground for some of America's most creative and defiant music, with Bono, Clarence Carter, Mick Jagger and many more.
Located alongside the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals in Alabama is the unlikely breeding ground for some of America's most creative and defiant music. Under the spiritual influence of the 'Singing River', as Native Americans called it, the music of Muscle Shoals has helped create some of the most important and resonant songs of all time.
At its heart is Rick Hall, who founded FAME Studios. Overcoming poverty and tragedy, Hall brought black and white together in Alabama's cauldron of racial hostility to create music for the generations. Greg Allman, Bono, Clarence Carter, Mick Jagger, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Keith Richards, Percy Sledge and others bear witness to Muscle Shoals's magnetism, mystery and why it remains influential today.
Last on
More episodes
Clips
-
![]()
What makes the Muscle Shoals sound?
Duration: 00:56
-
![]()
Wilson Pickett arrives in Alabama
Duration: 00:57
-
![]()
An amazing discography
Duration: 01:54
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Singing River
-
![]()
Wilson Pickett
Land of a Thousand Dances
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Leslie Guitar String Blowing
-
![]()
Rick Hall
Rick Hall's Mandolin
-
![]()
Clarence Carter
Slip Away
-
![]()
Jimmy Hughes
Steal Away
-
![]()
Herbert Boland
30167 Tribal Drums
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Organ No Lap 3
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Rick Raised By Father
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Never Loved A Man 3 Mix 1
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Rick Accident
-
![]()
Boz Scaggs
Somebody Loan Me a Dime
-
![]()
Ray Smith
End of Loan
-
![]()
Arthur Alexander
You Better Move On
-
![]()
The Rolling Stones
You Better Move On
-
![]()
Spooner's Crowd
Two In The Morning
-
![]()
The Staple Singers
I'll Take You There
-
![]()
Spooner Oldham
Spooner's Melancholy
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Percy Intro
-
![]()
Percy Sledge
When A Man Loves A Woman
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Race 1B
-
![]()
Clarence George Carter and George Henry Jackson
Snatching It Back
-
![]()
Wilson Pickett
Funky Broadway
-
![]()
Wilson Pickett
Land of a Thousand Dances
-
![]()
Wilson Pickett
Mustang Sally
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Front Porch Dobro
-
![]()
Aretha Franklin
One Step Ahead
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Never Loved A Man T Mix
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Trem GT
-
![]()
Aretha Franklin
I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Organ and Lap 3
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Chain Gang Slide
-
![]()
Aretha Franklin
Respect
-
![]()
Etta James
Tell Mama
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Patches 2
-
![]()
Dr. Eric Kirkman
St Louis Blues
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Front Porch Dobro
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Helen Keller
-
![]()
Etta James
I'd Rather Go Blind
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Organ and Lap
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Rick Mirror Shot 1
-
![]()
Candi Staton
I Ain't Easy To Love
-
![]()
King Curtis
The Weight
-
![]()
Taj Mahal
Statesboro Blues
-
![]()
Wilson Pickett
Hey Jude
-
![]()
The Allman Brothers Band
Statesboro Blues
-
![]()
Spooner Oldham
Spooner Time
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Swampers Up The Stairs
-
![]()
Otis Rush
You Reap What you Sow
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Swampers Waiting
-
![]()
The Rolling Stones
You Gotta Move
-
![]()
The Rolling Stones
Wild Horses
-
![]()
The Rolling Stones
Brown Sugar
-
![]()
The Fame Gang
Grits and Gravy
-
![]()
Candi Staton
I'd Rather Be An Old Man's Sweetheart (Than A Yong Man's Fool.)
-
![]()
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Free Bird
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Patches 3rd Pass
-
![]()
Clarence Carter
Patches
-
![]()
Spooner Oldham
Spooner Muscle Shoals
-
![]()
Jimmy Cliff
Sitting in Limbo
-
![]()
Traffic
(Sometimes I Feel So) Uninspired
-
![]()
Bob Seger
Mainstreet
-
![]()
Paul Simon
Kodachrome
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Organ No Lap 3
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Organ and Lap 2
-
![]()
Ray Smith
Organ and Lap 4
-
![]()
Alicia Keys
Pressing On
-
![]()
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sweet Home Alabama
Muscle Shoals director Greg 'Freddy' Camalier answers the Storyville Q&A
What is more important, story or character?
Character
听
What made you first want to explore the subject?
Serendipitously arriving in the town of Muscle Shoals, AL late one night.
听
How long did it take to get the film off the ground?
14 months
听
What were you most surprised to learn in the course of production?
The magnitude and variety of music that came from Muscle Shoals.
听
What have been the differences in reception to the film in countries it has now
travelled to?
How different countries expressed enthusiasm.
听
Which documentary has most inspired you?
听
Favourite Website/blog?
Wikipedia
听
Person you鈥檇 most like to interview (living or dead?)
Jerry Garcia
听
Best piece of filmmaking advice you鈥檝e ever been given?
Trust your instincts.
听
Best piece of filmmaking equipment you can鈥檛 live without?
Small HD monitors
听
If money was no object, what is your dream documentary subject?
The lack of oversight from the U.S. FDA and the unregulated toxins being
pumped into our society.
听
Favourite film of all time?
Impossible to answer, but if I had to choose it would be
听
Most difficult access?
Stars
听
Best recent read?
Nick Dutton鈥檚 Elliot Cooper's Work Here is Done
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Director | Greg 'Freddy' Camalier |
| Series Editor | Nick Fraser |
