100 ESSENTIAL MUSCLE SHOALS SONGS #100> 61    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:

 

 

100 GONE TOO FAR Eddie Rabbitt

99 BLOODY MARY MORNING Willie Nelson

98 FANCY Bobbie Gentry

97 MUSCLE SHOALS NITTY GRITTY Herbie Mann

96 I WALK ON GUILDED SPLINTERS Cher

95 YOU LEFT THE WATER RUNNING James & Bobby Purify

94 BABY, LAY YOUR HEAD DOWN (GENTLY ON MY BED)

          Eddie Floyd

93 PATCHES Clarence Carter

92 WHO DO YOU LOVE Ronnie Hawkins

91 THAT’S THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT ‘CHA Bobby Womack

 

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.

 

90 AIN’T NO WAY TO FORGET YOU Levon Helm

89 SEARCHING FOR MY LOVE Bobby Moore The Rhythm Aces

88 LOOKIN’ FOR A LOVE Bobby Womack

87 CRYING IN MY SLEEP Art Garfunkel

86 GIVING IT UP FOR YOUR LOVE Delbert McClinton

85 MAKE ME FEEL LIKE A WOMAN Jackie Moore

84 OPEN UP YOUR HEART Muscle Shoals Horns

83 ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST Dire Straits

82 YOU BETTER MOVE ON Arthur Alexander

81 BETTER LOVE NEXT TIME Dr. Hook

 

80 I CAN’T STOP (NO NO NO) Solomon Burke

79 LIES J.J. Cale

78 AIMES-TU LA VIE COMME MOI Boule Noire

77 ELEANOR RIGBY Aretha Franklin

76 THE HARDER THEY COME Jimmy Cliff

75 UNLOCK YOUR MIND The Staples {The Staple Singers}

74 WHEN YOU’RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN Dr. Hook

73 SECURITY Etta James

72 TOO WEAK TO FIGHT Clarence Carter

71 SOMETHING YOU GOT Wilson Pickett

Listen to the 100 songs on the Spotify Playlist:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3ViuwDPv5gpj4HvBkdAShC?si=c062b2791ab049ed&pt=76663dc18ea2b3a9edaf5a035dabc09c

 

70 SITTING IN LIMBO Jimmy Cliff

69 ONE BAD APPLE The Osmonds

68 BRING IT ON HOME Lou Rawls

67 I’M GONNA TAKE WHAT HE’S GOT Etta James

66 TAKE ME TO THE MARDI GRAS Paul Simon

65 HEY JUDE Wilson Pickett

64 AS LONG AS HE TAKES CARE OF HOME Candi Staton

63 ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME R.B. Greaves

62 STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN Mel & Tim

61 MERCY, MERCY Wilson Pickett