We watched the 2013 documentary Muscle Shoals last night on DVD. The film features FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Muscle Shoals Alabama and has appearances from (among others) Gregg Allman, Bono, Clarence Carter, Jimmy Cliff, Aretha Franklin, Rick Hall, Mick Jagger,  Alicia Keys, Spooner Oldham, Keith Richards, Percy Sledge, and Steve Winwood, with lots of commentary by the members of The Swampers, the back-up band on so many hits, who started with FAME Studios and later left to form Muscle Shoals Sound Studio.

There is some great historical footage, as well recent commentary by many of the performers who recorded there. An amazing amount of excellent music was recorded in this town over the years and it was fascinating to learn about how FAME was started, the affiliation with Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records and all the performers who traveled to this community in Alabama to get a taste of the funky and soulful Muscle Shoals sound.

If you’re a music lover, I think you’ll like this documentary a lot.