This tribute album is dedicated to the memory of Rick Hall (1932-2018) the father of the Muscle Shoals Sound, and all of the great Singers, Songwriters, Musicians Engineers, Producers and Administrators who have helped continue the Muscle Shoals Sound over the years.
Various singers perform some of the iconic songs recorded at Muscle Shoals in 1960s and 1970s. There’s country (a lovely version of Gregg Allman’s “Come and Go Blues,” by Alison Krauss), blues (Grace Potter giving it her best shot on Etta James’s “I’d Rather Go Blind”), gospel (“Respect Yourself”–a natural for Mike Farris and The Blind Boys of Alabama), and soul (Eli “Paperboy” Reed’s very slow rendition of the great “Steal Away”).
And, of course, there are some misses like Kid Rock’s “Snatching It Back”–a far cry from Clarence Carter’s classic. And Aloe Blacc doesn’t come close to The Staple Singers version of “I’ll Take You There.”
I highly recommend the documentary about Muscle Shoals (you can read my review here).
All in all, Muscle Shoals: Small Town Big Sound is a mixed bag celebrating one of the great recording studios in America. Do you remember these songs? Do you have a favorite song that was recorded at Muscle Shoals? GRADE: B
TRACK LIST:
| 1 | Keb’ Mo’*– | The Road Of Love | 4:22 |
| 2 | Grace Potter– | I’d Rather Go Blind | 5:04 |
| 3 | Steven Tyler & Nuno Bettencourt– | Brown Sugar | 3:30 |
| 4 | Jamey Johnson, Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton & Lee Ann Womack– | Gotta Serve Somebody | 8:08 |
| 5 | Eli “Paperboy” Reed– | Steal Away | 3:42 |
| 6 | Kid Rock– | Snatching It Back | 3:27 |
| 7 | Aloe Blacc– | I’ll Take You There | 4:07 |
| 8 | Michael McDonald– | Cry Like A Rainy Day | 5:15 |
| 9 | Vince Gill & Wendy Moten– | True Love | 4:40 |
| 10 | Alison Krauss– | Come And Go Blues | 5:22 |
| 11 | Mike Farris With The Blind Boys Of Alabama– | Respect Yourself | 5:15 |
| 12 | Alan Jackson (2)– | Wild Horses | 6:20 |
| 13 | Brently Stephen Smith Of Shinedown*– | Mustang Sally | 5:08 |
| 14 | Chord Overstreet– | We’ve Got Tonight | 4:42 |
| 15 | Tom Johnston & Delbert McClinton– | Giving It Up For Your Love | 3:37 |
I’m a big fan of what came out of Muscle Shoals in the 60’s and early 70’s. I think I would rather listen to the originals. And what is Kid Rock doing here?
Steve, I suspect Kid Rock was recruited to this project to draw a certain buying demographic.
And because of his ego.
For favorites I’d go with the two Stones classics, “Wild Horses” and “Brown Sugar”, and throw in “We’ve Got Tonight”. And, like Steve, I’d go with the originals. I must confess that there are 4-5 of these I’m unfamiliar with, but might recognize if I herd them.
Michael, The Rolling Stones went to Alabama and recorded three songs that evoked the country, blues, and R&B sound of the region. Over three days – from Dec. 2-4, 1969 – they put down the basic tracks and live vocals on “Brown Sugar,” “Wild Horses,” and “You Gotta Move” at the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio that later showed up on Sticky Fingers.
“I woke last night to the sound of thunder,
How far off I sat and wondered.
Started humming a song from 1962
Ain’t it funny how the night moves,
When you just don’t seem to have as much to lose
Strange how the night moves
With autumn closing in.”
A classic. It was Bob Seger’s breakout hit.
Of course, anything with Mavis Staples and you can’t go wrong.
I agree with George about the Muscle Shoals movie.
Jeff, that Muscle Shoals documentary is one of the best I’ve ever seen!
George, I had very little idea of the role of Muscle Shoals in this type of music. That will show you how little I keep up with music, since I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. I will have to see if I can get access to that documentary.
Tracy, the Muscle Shoals documentary is great! Most libraries have it or can get it for you through Interlibrary loan.
And one of my favorite easily overlooked MS albums:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9LA1kSN6s0
SEDUCTIVE REASONING by Maggie and Terre Roche.
Anyone who tries to follow the Staples without a Lot of help is a fool.