Muscle shoals sound – Shoals Insider

Capturing The Heart of The Shoals Part 2: Carver Commodore

Staff — Sun, 05 Dec 2021 22:03:11 +0000

This rock ‘n roll band is our very own Florence, AL They are currently on tour in the south and just released their second LP. They offer a heavy hitting guitar with traces of retro beats and melodic lyrics that leave you feeling like dancing all over the entire room

Once again I pop open Spotify and find their newest album “Welcome to the Modern World.” The cover art looks straight outta my dad or grandma’s record collection with a sky blue background and a red/yellow/orange arch. I immediately get the sense that they take inspiration from retro rock ‘n roll.

The first song I listen to has such a great dancy beat. There are moments when the music stops and you get a clap beat before it begins again. I feel like rioting and cheering and just…moving to the beat as I’m taken on the journey that is their new LP.

I love the way the vocals are mixed to sound like each instrument gets its time to shine and accents the rest in a beautiful mix that sends me back in time to my reckless teenage days of shows and dancing like no one else was watching.

I have to say Carver Commodore is unapologetically itself and nothing else. There is absolutely nothing else like them musically in our area and I’d argue that you’d be hard-pressed to find another band like them on planet Earth. I can’t listen to them without feeling positive and happy even when the lyrics are telling me something less than stellar.

These guys deserve your attention and I implore you to check them out on Spotify and their website. The band has four members who come together to give us amazing sounds.

They are Payton Pruitt on vocals/guitar, Phillip Blevins on rhythm guitar, bassist Daniel Clark, and drummer Noah Friedman. Give them a listen!

https://carvercommodore.com/

By Josie Maxwell – Staff Writer

SWAMPETTE TOURS SET FOR JUNE 10, SEPTEMBER 2 AND DECEMBER 2

Staff — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 18:42:02 +0000

Florence/Lauderdale Tourism has announced future dates for its popular Swampette Tours of music heritage venues in the Shoals area. Dates are June 10, September 2 and December 2.
Tours are led by “Swampette” Judy Hood, the wife of bass player David Hood, one of the famous Swampers — a group of session musicians who crafted the Muscle Shoals Sound. Traveling on a trolley bus, each tour is slightly different. Each tour will include visits to sites like the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, FAME Studios and 3614 Jackson Highway, which was the home to Muscle Shoals Sound Studios. Cost is $40 per person.
The tour on Saturday, June 10, is scheduled from 1-5 p.m. This tour will begin at the Florence/Lauderdale Tourism & Visitor Center, located in McFarland Park. Seating is limited and seats fill fast, so reservations are recommended. Call the Tourism Office at 256-740-4141.

Music Icon Rick Hall to Receive Honorary Degree from University of North Alabama

H. Wayne Nix — Tue, 26 Jul 2016 21:27:10 +0000

Rick Hall

FLORENCE, Ala. – Officials with the University of North Alabama announced this weekend that music icon Rick Hall will be the recipient of an honorary doctorate degree from UNA. Hall is a legendary music producer known for founding FAME studios; he’s also credited as the founder of the modern day “Muscle Shoals Sound.”

The announcement was made during a reception at Rogers Hall on UNA’s campus as part of a kickoff event for UNA Theatre production “I’ll Take You There: The Music of Muscle Shoals,” an original work that features the musical heritage of the Shoals. The VIP reception before the play was hosted by UNA in conjunction with the UNA College of Arts and Sciences, the Hamada family and UNA Theatre.

UNA President Dr. Ken Kitts was on hand to announce Hall’s honor and noted that Hall has strong ties to UNA. “Very literally, Rick’s legacy has been part of the university in the form of his sons, Rick, Mark and Rodney, who are UNA alumni,” Kitts said.

Kitts went on to list many of Hall’s accomplishments, including his designation as Billboard’s Producer of the Year for the World, his Grammy Trustees award and his publishing catalog that includes some of the greatest songs of our time. Kitts said Hall has also had a profound impact on UNA as well

“Rick has been of significant assistance to the UNA Department of Entertainment Industry as we strive to instill that same love of music in future generations,” Kitts said. “With that in mind, the university’s Executive Council entered conversations about how best to honor an individual who has given so much to our region. As a result of those conversations, the Executive Council nominated Rick Hall to receive an honorary doctoral degree from the University of North Alabama,” he said.

UNA Board of Trustees President Pro Temp Marty Abroms was also on hand for the reception. Abroms stated that board policy on honorary degrees requires that a potential recipient must have “rendered particular service to the institution” or be “persons of outstanding state or national prominence.

“Rick Hall falls into both of these categories,” Abroms said. “This recognizes his significant contribution to both our musical history and the heritage of the Shoals area. Therefore, it is my honor, on behalf of the University of North Alabama , to present the Resolution Approving the Honorary Doctoral Degree for Rick Hall,” he said

Hall, who was very appreciative of his award, which will be conferred at the December 2016 commencement ceremonies, participated in a brief question and answer session following the announcement.

When asked if FAME studios did, in fact, start in Florence, Hall agreed but was also quick to make another point, “but my first hit record was in Muscle Shoals,” he said.

Glenn Frey, of The Eagles, has died.

H. Wayne Nix — Mon, 18 Jan 2016 22:57:18 +0000

https://youtu.be/NN0K-20SEis?list=PL9rYTZUZHoEpms-edH2aXT1ZfJ_251LTm

Glenn Frey, former guitar player for The Eagles, has passed away. While he was best known for playing guitar with The Eagles, he also had solo hits. One of those albums, The Allnighter, was partially recorded in Muscle Shoals.

“Smuggler’s Blues”, an ode to coke dealers, is said to be one of the songs recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound.

Frey was 67. Doctors say it was a combination of rheumatoid arthritis, colitis and pneumonia that caused his death.

This is what the world would be like if the Russians had won.

H. Wayne Nix — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 21:50:33 +0000

If you are from Alabama you have probably heard Sweet Home Alabama several million times. Here’s another version of it.

By the. Red Russian Army Choir & Leningrad Cowboys.

Muscle Shoals Music and 3614 Jackson Highway

H. Wayne Nix — Sat, 09 Jan 2016 19:00:47 +0000

Because of the rich musical heritage of the area I’ve decided to play songs, videos, and whole albums that were recorded here in the Shoals.

First up, Cher’s Album from 1969 that was named after he studio it was recorded in 1969, 3164 Jackson Highway. Although it was a commercial failure, probably because it’s mostly covers and departs from Cher’s previous works, it received a lot of critical support and most musicians love it. Critics say it is one of her best albums. It’s not very pop, like other Cher albums. It’s clearly more influenced by Blues and the focus is on the music. There’s nothing on it that stands out like her previous hit song, Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves. But it is a good, solid blues album.

By the way, the studio is closed for remodeling, but you can still buy shirts and memorabilia at the site.