Meeting Topic: Muscle Shoals
Moderator Name: Joey Meyers
Other business or activities at the meeting: Vinyl Listening Party
Meeting Location: Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences 1205 N. Fiesta Blvd Gilbert Az 85233
Todays meeting we viewed the Muscle Shoals documentary based on the Rick Hall and
Fame studios.
Many amazing and well known artists recorded in Muscle Shoals. A lot of the artists in
the movie talked about how the environment was a huge impact on their inspiration and Muscle
Shoals was a magical atmosphere they needed. The sound spread everywhere and Bono said,
"the sound was from the blood and everybody wanted it." So many wonderful artist were put
together and brought out the heart and soul of Muscle Shoals. The rhythm section at Muscle
Shoals surprised many people, "everyone went in expecting a group of soulful black men and
see a bunch of white dudes that looked like they would work at the local super market," Bono
'When a Man Loves a Woman' was just one of many successes brought out of Muscle
Shoals, it was also the first step to the connection between Atlantic Records and Rick Hall.
Aretha Franklin was another big success. During their session they were all at a stop and then
finally the keyboard player took a step and you didn't have to ask they knew it was a hit. She
said "Coming to Fame records was no doubt the turning point in my career." Next came Etta
James, she said "Rick was the first white man that she saw that had that much soul." This was a
time era of change between races and in the studio everything was different, everyone was
"color blind" and race was brought together by music. Music went a long ways in helping people
adjust to the reality that we are all the same in a time era of change and equal rights and Muscle
Shoals was a big part in that acceptance. Fame eventually came to be the world famous.
After we viewed the documentary we had discussion on the studios and facts presented,
the history and how it affects us, and things we learned we can apply in our future careers.
What is Muscle Shoals sound? It is a sound of coming together and taking in everything around
you and that is a huge concept that I personally took from the documentary, and I think thats
something we should all aim for in our future endeavors because it brought more then fame and
success to Muscle Shoals. Some believe that each time someone went to Muscle Shoals they
came out with a hit and life changing record and that says something about it. The magic that
Muscle Shoals has is something that sticks and connects all of us. Hellen Keller was also from
Muscle Shoals and there is a huge power that you can feel whether you can hear it and see it not and she was living proof of this theory.
Written By: Jim Naron
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