MUSCLE SHOALS – The Review

Review by Dane ‘Rockabilly’ Marti

I thought it was pretty cool and rocking: My friend, the legendary Film Maven of St. Louis—Tom Stockman—suggested that i review this film documentary. Besides Art and Cinema, music (in particular Blues, Jazz and Rock and Roll) has always opened my ears to sonic landscapes which have thrilled me with their infectious power to amaze. Music has blazed through my often-dark soul with Technicolor rays of sublime, orgasmic pleasure. And as I type this, I am not on any mind-bending, illegal –or legal–intoxicants. The film just really did a number on me, okay? So…I guess it would be fair to admit that much of my young, twisted adult life was dedicated and devoted to rock and roll; I experienced both wonderful and desolate moments, but I don’t believe I would change the overall drift in which the music pushed me forward.

There have been some superb Rock and Music documentaries through the years. Hell, it’s basically its own bleedin’ genre, man. Music and film go hand in hand. ‘Music’s your only friend—Until the end.’ Ha.

I’d heard of the legendary FAME recording studio for many years. As I recall, it’s been featured in music mags such as Spin and Rolling Stone. The list of sonic luminaries that had used its veritable equipment attests to its importance! With a group of local session musicians with their own spectral ‘sound,’ Fame studios, along with Chess in Chicago, was of paramount importance in Blues music.

Rick Hall was the genius producer who seemed to instinctively realize what could become a seminal, hit record. Without a doubt, he is a larger-than-life person: A character that fiction could not create. Before becoming successful with the studio, he’d lived through some hard, painful times and I imagine that they infused much of the ‘sound’, which the studio is famous for. Rick brought black and white musicians together; while working on revolutionary tunes in the studio, the artists forgot silliness about such topics as different skin tones. However, these were still dangerous years (he early and mid-1960’s) and, even if the musicians were breaking down ethnic and cultural barriers, the south was still sadly segregated.

For anyone that loves classic R and B and Soul, in particular, some of the greatest classic songs, easily some of the most talented recording artists have worked for Fame Studios.

Something in the environment of this Deep South, Alabama environment seems to permeate the music, which is recorded there. The film makes a strong case for believing that certain places have an almost otherworldly and magical ambiance that affected everyone in its Zone. The film’s cinematography is lovely and precise, adding a layer of serene beauty to the amazing, legendary music.

One of the subjects the film addressed was that illusive, magical element that hit records contain: ‘The Sound.” I’ve always believed the aural texture produced in the studio is one of the essential aspects to a record that is a masterpiece.

Many famous musical Artists are interviewed in this thought-provoking river of moving images and sound: Mick Jagger, Keith Richards (God, I love that guy!), Bono, Etta James and Wilson Pickett and a number of other outstanding Gods and Goddesses of Music in all of its manifestations. I would probably be typing for the rest of my sordid existence if I mentioned all the superb songs recorded at Fame studious…BUT here are a few sonic nuggets of unbridled, hip cool which started within the walls of FAME Studio: ‘Brown Sugar’, ‘I’ll Take You There’, ‘Mustang Sally’, Freebird (Okay…maybe we could forget that one!) And a plethora of other songs that have transcended the ages this is a wonderful movie and I’m extremely happy that I was allowed to review it—what a pleasure to once again listen to these songs. You might have heard them thousands of times before, but each time you do, the recognition of their power still zaps you in the brain, crotch and soul.

3 1/2 of 5 Stars

MUSCLE SHOALS opens in St. Louis October 25th at Landmark’s Tivoli Theater