Muscle Shoals
Located alongside the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals, Alabama is the unlikely breeding ground for some of America's most creative and defiant music. Under the spiritual influence of the “Singing River,” as Native Americans called it, the music of Muscle Shoals has helped create some of the most important and resonant songs of all time. At its heart is Rick Hall who founded FAME Studios. Overcoming crushing poverty and staggering tragedies, Hall brought black and white together in Alabama's cauldron of racial hostility to create music for the generations. He is responsible for creating the "Muscle Shoals sound" and The Swampers, the house band at FAME that eventually left to start their own successful studio, known as Muscle Shoals Sound. Gregg Allman, Bono, Clarence Carter, Mick Jagger, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Keith Richards, Percy Sledge and others bear witness to Muscle Shoals' magnetism, mystery and why it remains influential today.
Official Selection Sundance 2013
“EVOCATIVE, SOULFUL, ENORMOUSLY ENTERTAINING. A terrific documentary.” – Gary Goldstein, LA Times
“HUGELY ENTERTAINING - A SOULFUL MUSICAL FEAST. It’s mandatory viewing for fans of the classic rock, soul and R&B of the 60s and 70s.” – Walter Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle
“**** Hands down one of the best music documentaries ever made.” – Seattle Times
“MAGNIFICENT - Muscle Shoals is more magical than any two Harry Potter movies put together.” – Mark Feeney, Boston Globe
“3½ out of 4 stars – A standout music doc.” – Dan DeLuca Philadelphia Inquirer
“3½ out of 4 stars – MESMERIZING” – Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post
“Muscle Shoals will delight and inform music fans.” – Howard Cohen, Miami Herald
“The filmmakers struck gold. Even fans who don’t know Muscle Shoals by name know its music by heart.” – Chris Riemenschneider, Minneapolis Star Tribune
“ONE OF THE YEAR’S MOST ENTERTAINING AND ENRICHING NONFICTION FILMS. Moving and joyful, “Muscle Shoals” is must-see stuff for anyone who loves the music.” – Marshall Fine, Huffington Post
“A MUST-SEE DOCUMENTARY FOR ANY ROCK N' ROLL HISTORY CONNOISSEUR.” – Rodrigo Perez, Indiewire
“THE NEXT MUST SEE DOC. A staple for Soul fans alongside Standing in the Shadows of Motown.” – John DeFore, The Hollywood Reporter
“MUSIC LOVERS WILL GET PLENTY OF THRILLS hearing first-hand accounts of how such classic tracks as Aretha’s ‘Respect’ and the Stones’ ‘Brown Sugar’ were created.” – Dennis Harvey, Variety
“A triumph, a stunning, soulful achievement. A must-see for even the most casual of music fans, so chock full of moments of grace and beauty that even the most jaded can still properly fall in love with it.” – Jason Gorber, Twitch
“A MOVING, LIFE-AFFIRMING DOCUMENTARY.” – Andrew Hultkrans, Art Forum
“A FASCINATING FIND.” – Marsha McCreadie, Film Journal International
“4 STARS. Propelled by gorgeous music and rich anecdotes, it’s joyous, uplifting, and as funky as the music at its heart.” – David Gritten, The Telegraph
“EVOCATIVE, SOULFUL, ENORMOUSLY ENTERTAINING. A terrific documentary.” – Gary Goldstein, LA Times
“HUGELY ENTERTAINING - A SOULFUL MUSICAL FEAST. It’s mandatory viewing for fans of the classic rock, soul and R&B of the 60s and 70s.” – Walter Addiego, San Francisco Chronicle
“**** Hands down one of the best music documentaries ever made.” – Seattle Times
“MAGNIFICENT - Muscle Shoals is more magical than any two Harry Potter movies put together.” – Mark Feeney, Boston Globe
“3½ out of 4 stars – A standout music doc.” – Dan DeLuca Philadelphia Inquirer
“3½ out of 4 stars – MESMERIZING” – Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post
“Muscle Shoals will delight and inform music fans.” – Howard Cohen, Miami Herald
“The filmmakers struck gold. Even fans who don’t know Muscle Shoals by name know its music by heart.” – Chris Riemenschneider, Minneapolis Star Tribune
“ONE OF THE YEAR’S MOST ENTERTAINING AND ENRICHING NONFICTION FILMS. Moving and joyful, “Muscle Shoals” is must-see stuff for anyone who loves the music.” – Marshall Fine, Huffington Post
“A MUST-SEE DOCUMENTARY FOR ANY ROCK N' ROLL HISTORY CONNOISSEUR.” – Rodrigo Perez, Indiewire
“THE NEXT MUST SEE DOC. A staple for Soul fans alongside Standing in the Shadows of Motown.” – John DeFore, The Hollywood Reporter
“MUSIC LOVERS WILL GET PLENTY OF THRILLS hearing first-hand accounts of how such classic tracks as Aretha’s ‘Respect’ and the Stones’ ‘Brown Sugar’ were created.” – Dennis Harvey, Variety
“A triumph, a stunning, soulful achievement. A must-see for even the most casual of music fans, so chock full of moments of grace and beauty that even the most jaded can still properly fall in love with it.” – Jason Gorber, Twitch
“A MOVING, LIFE-AFFIRMING DOCUMENTARY.” – Andrew Hultkrans, Art Forum
“A FASCINATING FIND.” – Marsha McCreadie, Film Journal International
“4 STARS. Propelled by gorgeous music and rich anecdotes, it’s joyous, uplifting, and as funky as the music at its heart.” – David Gritten, The Telegraph