Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
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Muscle Shoals Sound Studio
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Original studios at 3614 Jackson Highway, Sheffield
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| Location: | 3614 Jackson Hwy., Sheffield, Alabama |
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| Coordinates: | 34°46′4″N 87°40′26″W / 34.76778°N 87.67389°WCoordinates: 34°46′4″N 87°40′26″W / 34.76778°N 87.67389°W |
| Architectural style: | Early Commercial |
| Governing body: | Private |
| NRHP Reference#: |
06000437 [1] |
| Added to NRHP: | June 02, 2006 |
The Muscle Shoals Sound Studio was formed in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in 1969 when musicians Barry Beckett (keyboards), Roger Hawkins (drums), Jimmy Johnson (guitar) and David Hood (bass) (called The Swampers) left FAME Studios to create their own studio. The Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section, as they became known, was the first rhythm section to own its own studio and, eventually, its own publishing and production companies. The distinctive accompaniment and arrangements have been heard on a tremendous number of legendary recordings, including those from Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, and the Staple Singers amongst others. Many artists have recorded hit songs and complete albums at the studio.
Shortly after making their move, Jimmy, Roger, David and Barry hired Fame's self-taught engineer Jerry Masters, who was in turn responsible for the sounds the musicians were creating in the studio. Engineers rarely get the credit they deserve for the successes of various artists and studios themselves, unless you read the small print in the credits. (if at all) Jerry came to Muscle Shoals from Memphis, TN to play bass on the recording "Patches" by Clarence Carter which was eventually #1 in Billboard and Cash Box for several weeks. Jerry then took on the responsibility of mentoring now legendary engineers Steve Melton and Gregg Hamm. The sounds he achieved were as much responsible for the successes of MSS as the musicians performances on the recordings. Jan Stevenson Masters, Jerry's wife, came up with this most profound quote. WITHOUT A RECORDING ENGINEER, MUSIC IS JUST MUSIC. BUT WITH A RECORDING ENGINEER, MUSIC CAN BE GOLD OR PLATINUM.
The original rhythm section that broke away to create these studios first formed in 1967 and initially played sessions in New York and Nashville as well as on the famous FAME recordings. The initial successes led to the arrival of more mainstream rock and pop performers among them The Rolling Stones, Traffic, Elton John, Boz Scaggs, Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Dr. Hook, Elkie Brooks, Millie Jackson and Julian Lennon.
Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, along with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, moved to new facilities off Alabama Avenue in Sheffield in the late 1970s.
The Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section, who owned the original Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, are referred to as "the Swampers" in the lyrics of Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
The original Muscle Shoals Sound Studios building is located at 3614 Jackson Highway and is listed on The National Register of Historic Places.[1]
Although the original Muscle Shoals Sound Studios relocated from 3614 Jackson Highway to an updated and larger facility on Alabama Avenue in Sheffield, the building (now owned by Noel Webster) still sees occasional use as a recording studio. The Black Keys album Brothers, recorded there in 2009 achieved Grammy Award success in 2011 in the building formerly occupied by Muscle Shoals Sound Studios.
[edit] Selected recordings
[edit] References
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel, Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, Billboard Publications, Inc. NY 1992
[edit] External links
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