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