Muscle Shoals - Dove nascono le leggende

Easily one of, if not THE best music documentary I have ever seen. So often these docs go flat after the first 20 minutes, none of that here! The visuals are fantastic and carry the show (as well as establish the sense of place) when the incredible music is throttled back. Underlying all of this is an incredible story of an incredible man, Jerry Hall, a man born in numbing poverty who somehow managed to rise above poverty and numerous personal tragedies to produce some of the most incredible blues and rock and roll recordings of all time. If you have access to this show and love music all I can say is WATCH THIS TODAY and prepared to be blown away!

I have a fairly broad taste in music, so enjoy watching music documentaries and went into this knowing little-to-nothing about Muscle Shoals or the two recording studios this film focuses on. With that in mind, I can't say how accurate the film was, or how much of the story was covered or omitted, but I can say that I was thoroughly engrossed by what was presented here and in awe of all of the amazing classic songs that were recorded in Muscle Shoals. Just hearing the fantastic soundtrack is enough to make this an enjoyable watch for any music lover and the photography and editing is excellent.

There was some tragedy in the story, and some element of conflict (such as when the studio players split from FAME studios and formed their own Muscle Shoals Sound Studio) but wisely the film concentrates on the music and the inspiring story of Rick Hall's rags-to-riches success and his work ethic, attitudes and musical philosophy.

If there's any weakness, it's some of the interviewees who trot out some fairly predictable platitudes: among them the tired/borderline racist "how could all that music be played by white guys!?" 'Cos, you know, white people have no soul or rhythm.

Ultimately, I was left wanting to know more, which is a good sign, although I think the film could have tried to get a bit more under the skin of what were the specific elements that resulted in this music coming out of this city, instead of pursuing a vague spiritual narrative of there just being "something in the water". Yes, there had to be some magic, and as romantic/poetic as that is, more robust information about the business side of just how Rick set up the studio, sold his first recordings etc. would have been great.

All in all a great documentary. Any music fan should enjoy this, but of course you don't need to be a music fan because at it's heart it's a fairy tale of achieving one's dreams through hard work, determination and a little bit of sacrifice.

Yes, I grew up in itty bitty Muscle Shoals, Alabama. I was born there in 1965 and spent the first 23 years of my life there. I lived three blocks from FAME studios, went to school with Rick Hall's sons and the son and daughter of Jimmy Johnson, one of the Swampers and founders of Muscle Shoals Sound. I did all of that and I still had NO idea of the monumental and historic events that were happening in my little town. When I watched this film for the first time, sitting in the sold out auditorium of our local university, I was blown away. I saw a special side of my hometown I never knew existed and gained a new respect and pride in my association with it. For years the welcome sign at our city limits proclaimed "Welcome to Muscle Shoals - The Hit Recording Capital of the World". Forty-eight years later, thanks to Mr. Camalier and his wonderful documentary, I finally have a full and complete understanding of what that sign meant. If you are a music lover, this film is a must-see, if only for the interviews with mega-artists such as Bono, Greg Allman, Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards, as they reminisce about their time spent in Muscle Shoals. But it is also a must-see for anyone who wants an honest-to-God, rags to riches story filled with love, loss, shame, anger, redemption, and lifelong friendships. This film isn't just about my hometown and the amazing music made there. It's also about one man's vision and how the bringing to life of that vision has profoundly influenced, and is still influencing, the world in a very special way.

This is an important documentary if you have any interest in American Music. Well done and more information than you can believe. Musicians, songwriters and singers along with engineers and producers, tell how some of the greatest records of the past 60 years came to be.

I liked "Muscle Shoals" for many reasons but the biggest one is that it taught me a lot about something I knew absolutely nothing about, as I'd never heard of the famed 'Muscle Shoals'. However, there's more to the film than that--it is quite interesting, has some surprisingly big name musicians who gave interviews (such as members of the Rolling Stones, Bono and some great R&B legends) and terrific music! So, unless you absolutely hate R&B, the blues and rock (and I know that there at least three of you out there), there is plenty that you'll enjoy about this one and it's worth seeing--as well as well made.

By the way, I have no idea why but this film, the Oscar-winning "20 Feet From Stardom" and "Sound City" all came out at about the same time---and ALL are very similar. So, if you like one, you probably would like to see the rest!