100 ESSENTIAL MUSCLE SHOALS SONGS #60> 31 More: tomorrow.
A Caffè ☕️Lattè Spotlight on:
THE 100 ESSENTIAL
MUSCLE
SHOALS
SONGS
In the 1960s, a new approach to rhythm and blues and
popular music was created by the fusion of the surrounds and the chemistry of
talented session men. This deeper, grittier attitude to Southern Soul emerged
from Alabama- to be precise- Muscle Shoals; a place renowned for its undeniable
impact on some of music’s most legendary performers. Despite the civil rights
struggles elsewhere in the U.S.A., colour was not an issue at Muscle Shoals. This
freedom helped spawn some of the best moments in soul and pop music.
For the purposes of this list, the tracks had to have
been recorded down in Alabama. In other words, here are 100 of the best tracks
cut at Muscle Shoals:
60 TIGHT
ROPE Leon Russell
59 DINAH
FLO Boz Scaggs
58 HEY
JOE Wilson Pickett
57 THIS
GIRL’S IN LOVE WITH YOU Aretha Franklin
56 I
BELIEVE IN YOU (YOU BELIEVE IN ME) Johnnie Taylor
55 I’M
JUST A PRISONER (OF YOUR GOOD LOVIN’)
Candi Staton
54 SHARING
THE NIGHT TOGETHER Dr. Hook
53 FEELIN’
ALRIGHT Lulu
52 FIRELAKE
Bob Seger
51 CALL
ME Aretha Franklin
The FAME Recording
Studio became the epicentre of the Muscle Shoals sound. Rick Hall moved
operations to 603 Avalon Avenue in that town of Alabama. Beginning in 1961, within
its walls, he and the exceptional session musicians that gravitated there,
changed music forever. Over subsequent decades, many recording acts from a
myriad of genres and origins came to Muscle Shoals, hoping to soak up some of
its unique sound.
first, it was the talent that was the
in-house band at Fame Studios. They shaped the Muscle Shoals sound. Among them
were: keyboard player Spooner Oldham, guitarist Jimmy Johnson, drummer Roger
Hawkins, bassist David Hood and keyboardist Barry Beckett.
aretha franklin put Muscle Shoals on the
map. She was crowned the Queen of Soul after cutting the classic “Respect”. Columbia
had never put her vocals to effective use. She switched to Atlantic Records and
magic was the result of her meeting with Alabama’s proficient session
musicians.
50 TAKE A
LETTER, MARIA R.B. Greaves
49 HEAVY
MAKES YOU HAPPY (SHA-NA-BOOM-BOOM)
The Staple Singers
48 FUNKY
BROADWAY Wilson Pickett
47 TORN
BETWEEN TWO LOVERS Mary MacGregor
46 THE
HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT Aretha Franklin
45 MAINSTREET
Bob Seger
44 I’D
RATHER BE AN OLD MAN’D SWEETHEART
(THAN A YOUNG MAN’S FOOL) Candi
Staton
43 BABY,
I LOVE YOU Aretha Franklin
42 VALOTTE
Julian Lennon
41 IT
HURTS SO GOOD Millie Jackson
40 BAREFOOTIN’
Wilson Pickett
39 HIGH
TIME WE WENT Joe Cocker
38 WATCH
DOG Etta James
37 WE’VE
GOT TONIGHT Bob Seger
36 YOU’RE
SO FINE Wilson Pickett
35 A
LITTLE BIT OF SOAP Paul Davis
34 STILL
CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS Paul Simon
33 DOWN
SOUTH JUKIN’ Lynyrd Skynyrd
32 OH ME
OH MY (I’M A FOOL FOR YOU BABY) Lulu
31 DON’T
KNOCK MY LOVE Wilson Pickett
Listen to the 100 songs
on the Spotify Playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3ViuwDPv5gpj4HvBkdAShC?si=c062b2791ab049ed&pt=76663dc18ea2b3a9edaf5a035dabc09c