Muscle Shoals

My only regret upon watching "Muscle Shoals" is that I somehow missed it when it was first released, some seven and a half years ago.

I grew up in the 70s, and occasionally heard about Muscle Shoals and the Swampers (they even got a mention in Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama"). But even after turning to music as an avocation, I never learned the story of what made Muscle Shoals special. This documentary lays out the human side of the Muscle Shoals story in beautiful, often emotional detail.

At the heart of the story is Rick Hall, who grew up a dirt poor hillbilly in northern Alabama and had more than his share of tragedy and betrayal. Through sheer determination and a perfectionist's sensibility in the studio, he clawed his way to becoming one of the most consequential producers and studio owners of the 20th century.

Hall's original studio band, the Swampers, features as another "character" in the film. The Swampers became one of the most sought after back up bands in the 60s and 70s, and played on some of the most memorable hits of the era. What the viewer will find surprising is that these white country boys from northern Alabama backed some of the most soulful black music hits of the era.

The film also touches on the many musicians who recorded in Muscle Shoals, and features interviews with a number of them, including the Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin. The film gives a little too much time to the Stones, and the film never really explains why Bono keeps popping up, but overall, considering who was still alive at the time, it strikes a good balance.

Then, of course, there is the music, itself. All I can say here is that you should watch this with a good sound system.

My only disappointment, and the reason I don't give it ten stars, is that we learn nothing about Rick Hall's engineering secrets. What did he do technically to bring about that special, warm, Muscle Shoals sound? I would have enjoyed learning more about that.

But that omission didn't detract from the film's emotional punch. Ultimately, this is a story about tragedy and triumph, friendship and betrayal, and the combination of music and emotion occasionally brought a tear to my eye. Highly recommended.

P.S. I saw one reviewer comment disparagingly about a clip of Lynyrd Skynyrd concert footage that showed a Confederate battle flag in the background. I don't know what the reviewer expected the filmmakers to do about that. The Confederate flag was used by more than one Southern rock band in the 70s and 80s, and it wouldn't have made sense to just erase that from the historical record, nor would it have been practical, from a filmmaking standpoint. One can debate over what it meant to people at the time, but it was what it was.

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.

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!

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 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.