This documentary celebrates the work of Rick Hall, who grew up in poverty but who eventually became the force behind the Muscle Shoals operation, that continues to this day in Alabama. From a personal point of view, Hall's life has been touched by tragedy; his mother left him, his father died in a tractor accident and a brother was scalded to death. But this has been offset by his energy and sheer entrepreneurial skill in creating Fame Studios. Greg 'Freddy' Camalier's film is full of insights - the fact that most of the backing tracks on some of the classic soul works recorded at Fame (by Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge and Aretha Franklin were provided by a Caucasian group, who later left Hall to found their own recording studio close by to Hall's. We also learn how Muscle Shoals became a magnet for groups worldwide including the Rolling Stones and Traffic. The ambiance might appear unprepossessing, the facilities somewhat rudimentary; but the sound quality and technical support available there was second to none. This is chiefly down to Hall's influence; he comes across as someone driven by the need for success, much of which he has achieved over five decades. The only criticism of MUSCLE SHOALS is structural: director Camalier interweaves past and present narratives in such a way as to make it difficult to distinguish between them, especially if viewers are unfamiliar with the music being discussed. Perhaps there might have been a case for cutting down on the number of celebrity reminiscences (which tend to be superficial at best) and introducing a narrator to offer some sort of guidance to the uninitiated.

Early in Muscle Shoals the point is made by all concerned that Rick Hall's studio was color blind, just top quality musicians producing top quality music. A true haven in the 1960s South. But then the Swampers go off to form their own studio in town and along the way pick up and then lose Lynyrd Skynyrd (until after the plane crash). Yet, nothing is even mentioned in passing about the racist substance of the band's music or their presentation as defenders of segregation and, in effect, the Slave South. Director Greg "Freddy" Camalier might have gotten away with that as a simple presentation of musical history were it not for his choice to end the movie, to celebrate Muscle Shoals and all it had accomplished, by using Lynryd Skynyrd's openly racist "Sweet Home Alabama," along with another showing of the Confederate flag behind them, which was their standard practice. Talk about taking a dump on your own movie.

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.

Anyone who is interested in rock music should rush to see this fantastic, well made and impeccably researched documentary about the famous recording studios. Muscle Shoals is a nondescript little town with a population of about 8000 along the Tennessee River in Alabama, but it is also home to the the highly influential Fame Studios that has hosted a veritable who's who of the music world and produced lots of memorable number one hits and some of the greatest songs of the past fifty years. The studio was built by Rick Hall, who was basically following his dream. Hall assembled some of the best session musicians who had an instant chemistry and as the in-house backing band provided the rich rhythm and blues sound on many hits. Surprisingly though the musicians were all white, and they worked with artists no matter their colour, creed and ethnicity. The studio broke down some of the racial barriers that existed in America at that time, and the film depicts the divisive racial politics that were raging in Alabama at the time. Artists of the calibre of Wilson Pickett, Percy Sledge, Aretha Franklin, Paul Simon, Bob Seger, and even The Rolling Stones all recorded here during their careers, and the songs that emerged from this humble little studio often changed their musical direction and gave them some of their biggest hits. And while the townsfolk barely tolerated the black singers they were openly disdainful of the long haired hippy types, like the members of Lynard Skynard who also briefly recorded there and developed their distinctive swamp rock sound. Muscle Shoals has been directed by Greg Camalier, making his feature film directorial debut here, who incorporates plenty of rich archival footage with some revealing interviews with the likes of Bono, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Aretha Franklin and Clarence Carter. And Hall himself talks at length about his own life and personal tragedies, as well as giving some candid revelations about the humble recording studio that he founded. We also learn about his bitter falling out with legendary record producer Jerry Wexler. Muscle Shoals is jammed full of great music, colourful characters and wonderful anecdotes. A must for music fans!