Muscle Shoals (2013)

A documentary that celebrates Rick Hall, the founder of FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and the signature sound he developed in songs such as "I'll Take You There", "Brown Sugar", and "When a Man Loves a Woman".

Director:

Greg 'Freddy' Camalier

Stars:

Rick Hall, Aretha Franklin, Keith Richards

3 wins & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stephen Badger	...	Himself / Interviewer
Rick Hall	...	Himself, founder, Fame Studios
Aretha Franklin	...	Herself
Jerry Carrigan	...	Himself
Alicia Keys	...	Herself
Jerry Phillips	...	Himself
Barry Beckett	...	Himself
Jerry Wexler	...	Himself
Bono	...	Himself
Jesse Boyce	...	Himself
Bryan Owings	...	Himself
Jimmy Cliff	...	Himself
Candi Staton	...	Herself
John Gifford III	...	Himself
Clarence Carter	...	Himself

Storyline

Located alongside the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals, Alabama is the unlikely breeding ground for some of America's most creative and defiant music. Under the spiritual influence of the 'Singing River' as Native Americans called it, the music of Muscle Shoals changed the world and sold millions upon millions of copies. At its heart is Rick Hall who founded FAME Studios. Overcoming crushing poverty and staggering tragedies, he brought black and white together in Alabama's cauldron of racial hostility to create music for the generations while giving birth to the 'Muscle Shoals Sound' and 'The Swampers'. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Percy Sledge, Gregg Allman, Clarence Carter, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Bono, and others bear witness to Muscle Shoals' magnetism, mystery, and why it remains influential today.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to stax records | electronic keyboard | keyboardist | new york city | drug abuse | 

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Taglines:

The incredible true story of a small town with a big sound.

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography | History | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements, language, smoking and brief partial nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 October 2013 (UK)

Also Known As:

Muscle Shoals

Filming Locations:

Florence, Alabama, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,901, 29 September 2013

Gross USA:

$696,241

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$709,415

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ear Goggles

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Winner of the Grand Prize, Boulder International Film Festival, 2013.

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Quotes

Jimmy Johnson: I'm gonna tell you, working with Bob Seger was just magnificent, it really was. He was the kind of guy that he had no... ego. And "Mainstreet" is one of my really favorite cuts. Seger really put his heart in that one.

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Crazy Credits

Although Steve Winwood is feature prominently, including with on-screen name identification, hie name is NOT listed in the end credits.

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Connections

Version of Muscle Shoals

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Soundtracks

Steal Away
Written and Performed by Jimmy Hughes
Courtesy of FAME Records

User Reviews

A fascinating subject

The subject of this documentary is the musical recording history in Muscle Shoals, Alabama - a very small town near the scenic Tennessee River. This very unlikely location for recording some of the biggest stars of the 1960s and 1970s was believed to have a special musical energy where the recording sound was believed to be better than those in major centres like New York, London, and Los Angeles.

Some of the great artist interviewees include Aretha Franklin, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards. There is also superb film footage of artists recording during the beginnings and heights of their careers.

Some of the best interviews are those with Rick Hall, a producer who was responsible for many of the recordings. His most moving recollections include his tragic childhood, the conflicts and successes of his career, and the absence of racism within the recording studios despite its strong presence outside of it.

In addition to being a fine documentary, the audioplay of the recordings of the time, especially the soul music, are worth the admission price.