Various Artists - Muscle Shoals: Small Town, Big Sound

FAME Studios releases tribute album to Muscle Shoals, Alabama legacy

Rodney Hall's father was Rick Hall, celebrated founder of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, who passed away in January 2017 after a half-century of making hit records — groundbreaking hit records. Rodney Hall has two brothers, and all three boys grew up in and around their father's studio. They played and watched while locals like Arthur Alexander and Percy Sledge became greats, and while greats like Aretha Franklin and Tom Jones would come into town.

The significance of Rick Hall and FAME Studios is clear. And to honor some of the quality historical productions of the studio, FAME Studios is going to release an album that pays tribute to the legacy Rick Hall anchored there in the unlikely small town of Muscle Shoals, with great contemporary musicians carrying it forward. The album, according to Rodney, is something that has been in the works and has been being discussed for a couple of decades, and has been being conceptualized in earnest for at least five years. It's titled Muscle Shoals, Small Town Big Sound.

The compilation features many people who have recorded hits at FAME studios over the years, covering hit songs from generations earlier. You'll find artists such as Chris Stapleton, Alan Black, Alicia Keyes, Lee Ann Womack, Willie Nelson, Steven Tyler, Demi Lovato, Vince Gill, Kep Mo, Kid Rock, and even Candi Staton (now 78), who first met Rick Hall in 1968. Rodney Hall remarked: "So this is about more than 50 years. We've got 25 artists in all, we've recorded 18 songs. It's really exciting." The effort was primarily co-produced by Rodney Hall and Keith Stegall (George Jones, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis) but is a truly collaborative effort by the community and features more than 100 local people from the music business lending a hand.

 

 

 

Side 1

1. Road of Love - By Keb' Mo'

2. I'd Rather Go Blind - By Grace Potter

3. Brown Sugar - By Steven Tyler & Nuno Bettencourt

4. Gotta Serve Somebody - By Jamey Johnson, Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton & Lee Ann Womack

Side 2

1. I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) - By Demi Lovato

2. Snatching It Back - By Kid Rock

3. I'll Take You There - By Aloe Blacc

4. Cry Like A Rainy Day - By Michael McDonald

Side 3

1. True Love - By Vince Gill & Wendy Moten

2. Come And Go Blues - By Alison Krauss

3. Respect Yourself - By Mike Farris & The Blind Boys Of Alabama

4. Steal Away - By Eli "Paperboy" Reed

Side 4

1. Wild Horses - By Alan Jackson

2. Mustang Sally - By Brently Stephen Smith

3. We've Got Tonight - By Chord Overstreet

4. Givin' It Up For Your Love - By Tom Johnston & Delbert McClinton

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