Courtesy Everett Collection
The 20 best songs ever recorded in Muscle Shoals
It happened more than once: A rock-star comes to Muscle Shoals looking to tap into the chicken-fried sounds of records made there, expecting to work with black session musicians, only to find out the dudes who played on their favorite Staple Singers and Wilson Pickett hits were unglamorous Caucasians. Such is the Shoals' country-funk mystique. And deceptively simple sonic sorcery. The 2013 documentary film "Muscle Shoals" cast a bright light on the North Alabama area's rich recording legacy, particularly from the mid-60s to late-70s. Why were so many people able to make great records there? 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. Fewer hangers-on, groupies, nightclubs and dealers equaled a greater focus on making music. 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. There's been so much amazing music made there. But here goes. By Matt Wake
20. "Loves Me Like a Rock" Paul Simon
Recorded at: Muscle Shoals Sound Studios
Released: 1973
Songwriter: Paul Simon
Producer: Paul Simon, Phil Ramone, Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
19. "Sweet Soul Music" Arthur Conley
Recorded at: Fame Studios
Released: 1967
Songwriter: Arthur Conley, Otis Redding (based on Sam Cooke's "Yeah Man")
Producer: Otis Redding
18. "You Better Move On" Arthur Alexander
Recorded at: Fame Studios
Released: 1961
Songwriter: Arthur Alexander
Producer: Rick Hall
17. "Land of 1000 Dances" Wilson Pickett
Recorded at: Fame Studios
Released: 1966
Songwriter: Chris Kenner
Producer: Jerry Wexler, Rick Hall
16. "Old Time Rock and Roll" Bob Seger
Recorded at: Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
Released: 1978
Songwriter: George Jackson, Thomas Jones
Producer: Bob Seger, Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
15. "I'd Rather Go Blind" Etta James
Recorded at: Fames Studios
Released: 1968
Songwriter: Etta James, Ellington Jordan, Billy Foster
Producer: Rick Hall
14. "I'm Your Puppet" James and Bobby Purify
Recorded at: Fame Studios
Released: 1966
Songwriter: Spooner Oldham. Dan Penn
Producer: Dan Penn
13. "Snatching It Back" Clarence Carter
Recorded at: Fame Studios
Released: 1969
Songwriter: Clarence Carter, George Jackson
Producer: Rick Hall
12. "Sitting in Limbo" Jimmy Cliff
Recorded at: Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
Released: 1971
Songwriter: Jimmy Cliff, Guilly Bright
Producer: Guilly Bright
11. "Hey Jude" Wilson Pickett
Recorded at: Fame Studios
Released: 1968
Songwriter: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Producer: Rick Hall, Tom Dowd
10. "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" Aretha Franklin
Recorded at: Fame Studios
Released: 1967
Songwriter: Chips Moman, Dan Penn
Producer: Jerry Wexler
9. "Respect Yourself" The Staple Singers
Recorded at: Muscle Shoals Sound Studios
Released: 1971
Songwriter: Luther Ingram, Mack Rice
Producer: Al Bell
8. "Wild Horses" The Rolling Stones
"Wild Horses" The Rolling Stones
Recorded at: Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
Released: 1971
Songwriter: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
Producer: Jimmy Miller
7. "Slip Away" Clarence Carter
Recorded at: Fame Studios
Released: 1968
Songwriter: Marcus Daniel. Wilbur Terrell, William Armstrong
Producer: Rick Hall
6. "Tell Mama" Etta James
Recorded at: Fame Studios
Released: 1967
Songwriter: Clarence Carter, Marcus Daniel and Wilbur Terrell
Producer: Rick Hall
5. "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)" Aretha Franklin
Recorded at: Fame Studios
Released: 1967
Songwriter: Ronnie Shannon
Producer: Jerry Wexler
4. "I'll Take You There" Staple Singers
Recorded at: Muscle Shoals Sound Studios
Released: 1972
Songwriter: Al Bell
Producer: Al Bell
3. "Mustang Sally" Wilson Pickett
Recorded at: Fame Studios
Released: 1966
Songwriter: Mack Rice
Producer: Jerry Wexler
2. "When a Man Loves a Woman" Percy Sledge
Recorded at: Norala Studios
Released: 1966
Songwriter: Calvin Lewis, Andrew Wright
Producer: Marlin Greene, Quin Ivy
1. "Brown Sugar" The Rolling Stones
Recorded at: Muscle Shoals Sound Studios
Released: 1971
Songwriter: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
Producer: Jimmy Miller
Here are 20 more Muscle Shoals essentials
"How Can I Put Out The Flame (When You Keep the Fire Burning)"
Candi Staton
"Patches"
Clarence Carter
"Funky Broadway"
Wilson Pickett
"Tighten Up"
Black Keys
"Loan Me a Dime"
Boz Scaggs
"The First Cut Is the Deepest"
Rod Stewart
"You Left the Water Running"
Otis Redding
"Gotta Serve Somebody"
Bob Dylan
"Mainstreet"
Bob Seger
"It Hurts So Good"
Millie Jackson
"Hold On To What You've Got"
Joe Tex
"Somebody Have Mercy"
Lou Rawls
"Kodachrome"
Paul Simon
"As Long As I Got You"
Laura Lee
"I Can't Let You Break My Heart"
Bettye Swann
"One Bad Apple"
The Osmonds
"Just a Little Bit"
Etta James
"Everybody"
Tommy Roe
"Steal Away"
Jimmy Hughes
"You Gotta Move"
Rolling Stones
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