Under the spiritual influence of the "Singing River" as Native Americans called it, the music of Muscle Shoals is some of the most important and resonant of all time. "I'll Take You There", "Brown Sugar", "When a Man Loves a Woman", "I Never Loved A Man the Way That I Loved You", "Mustang Sally", "Tell Mama", "Kodachrome", and "Freebird" are just a few of the tens of thousands of tracks created there.
At its heart is Rick Hall who founded FAME Studios. Overcoming crushing poverty and staggering tragedies, he brought black and white musicians together to create music that would last for generations while also giving birth to the unique 'Muscle Shoals sound' and the rhythm section 'The Swampers'.
In this movie legendary artists including Aretha Franklin, Greg Allman, Bono, Clarence Carter, Jimmy Cliff, Mick Jagger, Etta James, Alicia Keys, Wilson Pickett, Keith Richards, Percy Sledge, Steve Winwood and others bear witness to the magnetism and mystery of Muscle Shoals and why it remains a global influence today.
"A thoroughly enjoyable and brilliantly assembled music documentary"
"Featuring a roll-call of musical excellence, this is a glorious, uplifting and affecting tribute to a legendary studio and the man who built it."
"Joyous, uplifting – and as funky as the music at its heart."
“It's an affectionate, uplifting film, with testimony from everyone from Aretha and Sledge to Bono and Alicia Keys"
"A beautiful film from a deep soul visionary"
“The next must see doc. A staple for Soul fans alongside Standing in the Shadows of Motown.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Invigorating. A sumptuously assembled, comprehensive film about music that changed lives.”