Muscle Shoals Sound Studios in North Alabama, the small but mighty music recording facility where The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Cher, Wilson Pickett, Rod Stewart and countless others recorded hits and classic tracks turns 50 this year.

Written and recorded by R. B. Greaves, the American soul song “Take A Letter Maria” was released in September 1969 and sold 2.5 million copies. The song was recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio on August 19, 1969 using the house studio musicians nicknamed The Swampers.  This and other hit records to come out of the studios at FAME and Muscle Shoals Sound is why this area was named the “Hit Recording Capital of the World.”  

The Swampers opened Muscle Shoals Sound in the small town of Sheffield in 1969, following a successful run backing R&B stars such as Wilson Pickett and Etta James at nearby FAME Studios.

David Hood with fellow Swampers guitarist Jimmy Johnson, drummer Roger Hawkins, and keyboardist Barry Beckett recorded much of their work at a studio in a small rectangular building formerly home to a coffin factory. Pop star Cher was the first act the Swampers worked with at the studio. Cher's resulting album, released in June 1969, was titled "3614 Jackson Highway" after Muscle Shoals Sound's street address. That address was superimposed on the album's cover photo. Only later did Muscle Shoals Sound add the now iconic address sign that hangs on the studio's cut-stone front, where countless music fans and visiting celebs have taken selfies since.

The Swampers relocated their studio to a larger location at 1000 Alabama Ave. in Sheffield, a former Naval Reserve Building along the Tennessee River, in 1978. (The Alabama Ave. location is where Dylan recorded his 1979 "Slow Train Coming" and 1980 "Saved" albums, from the legendary songwriter's "Christian period."). In their Muscle Shoals Sound heyday, the Swampers would often cut three or four new songs a day.

The many '60s and '70s essentials cut at the original Jackson Highway location include The Rolling Stones' libidinous "Brown Sugar" and country-tinged "Wild Horses," Bob Seger's raucous "Old Time Rock and Roll," Jimmy Cliff's island R&B "Sitting in Limbo" and Staple Singers' sanctified gems "I'll Take You There" and "Respect Yourself." Rod Stewart and Paul Simon are among the many other stars to record at Muscle Shoals Sound, in search of The Swampers' signature country-funk sound.

Decades later, Ohio blues-rockers The Black Keys recorded much of their breakthrough 2010 album “Brothers” at 3614 Jackson Highway, helping renew interest in Muscle Shoals Sound's history. The 2013 documentary film “Muscle Shoals,” focusing on the region's recording legacy and interwoven arcs of FAME impresario Rick Hall and The Swampers, sparked a Shoals music resurgence that remains ongoing.

The studio, reopened in January 2017 after being closed for decades, benefited from nearly a million-dollar-gift from Beats Electronics founder Dr. Dre who was inspired by the 2013 documentary 'Muscle Shoals'.

Restored to the way it looked in the early '70's, the non-profit studio is open for day-time tours and night-time recording sessions.

For more information, please visit: www.muscleshoalssoundstudio.org / www.visitflorenceal.com / www.alabama.travel