“Now, Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
And they’ve been known to pick a song or two
Lord, they get me off so much
They pick me up when I’m feeling blue
Now, how ’bout you?“
Sweet Home Alabama / Lynyrd Skynyrd
I promise I will be back on Monday with new medleys. Thank you for your patience!
Los Angeles had The Wrecking Crew of session musicians. Nashville had The A Team. Detroit had The Funk Brothers. And in Alabama, there was a group of studio musicians who more than held their own.
The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, also known as The Swampers, thanks to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s tribute, consisted of four men you’ve definitely heard – but likely never heard of. Session musicians David Hood on bass, Jimmy Johnson on rhythm guitar, Roger Hawkins on drums, and Barry Beckett on keyboards (later replaced by Spooner Oldham), played on scores of hit records in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s
From 1969 to 1978 alone, The Swampers played on more than 200 albums and had hundreds of hit songs with artists including Bob Dylan, Bob Seger, the Staples Sisters, Willie Nelson, and Cat Stevens, just to name a few. More than 75 RIAA Gold and Platinum records came out of their studio.
The Swampers honed their craft at FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama by playing with musicians like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, and Wilson Pickett. To FAME owner Rick Hall’s surprise, shortly after the Aretha Franklin sessions, The Swampers left FAME to start their own recording studio.
Jerry Wexler, the vice president of Atlantic Records, had offered the men a $19,000 loan to start their own studio and offered them financial support for the first 18 months. The Swampers took it and opened the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio at 3614 Jackson Highway in Sheffield, Alabama, which is within the “Shoals” jurisdiction.
More than a few musicians were surprised to see how small the studio was and even more surprised to learn that the musicians backing many notable black artists were white guys.
“When Paul Simon wanted to come here to record,” said Jimmy Johnson, “he phoned Al Bell at Stax Records, who had put out some of our recordings, and said he wanted the same black band that had played on those records. Bell said, ‘Well I can book you the same band but for black guys you’re going to find them awfully pale.'”
Black, white or green, The Swampers left a legacy of timeless music, including a newly added and mesmerizing 12 1/2 minute slow blues jam which they played alongside Boz Scaggs and Duane Allman before he started the Allman Brothers Band.
The medley below is a very small sample. And yes, they do “pick me up when I’m feeling blue. Now, how ’bout you?“
Memories … That’s What We’re All About
Play button is on the left … Volume slider is on the right
The Swampers Medley
Percy Sledge – Aretha Franklin
Staple Singers – R.B. Greaves
Paul Simon – Wilson Pickett
Simon & Garfunkel – Bob Seger
Boz Scaggs & Duane Allman
Good Morning Ray, Have to confess at 1st I wasn’t sure about the Swampers reference but it clicked as soon as I started reading your explanation. I read them aloud as Ted learns by hearing rather seeing the words. Anyways I knew it was going to be a good medley & wasn’t disappointed at all. Good choice 🙂 Glad you’re feeling better but don’t overdo. Have a good weekend even if we get rain. Lee & Ted
Thanks, Lee & Ted 🥰🥰
I’m very glad you enjoyed the music. This will be it for archived music. I’ll be back on Monday with new medleys, and as was demonstrated last night, they will be shorter by an overwhelming majority of comments!
“All the crap I learned in High-School” (OMG, wished that I had paid more attention than I did!) “Please don’t take my I-Phone away” are the new lyrics.
These selections were a lot of fun to listen to.
Amen to paying more attention back then, Jim!
I love the new lyrics! 🙂
This is what I like best about these medleys- the backstories!
Knew a bit about Muscle Shoals, but your expansive information made it so much more interesting
If shorter medleys mean less of this, then I vote for longer
Glad to hear you a feeling well
Loved this
Thank you, Mary Helen 🥰
I’m glad you appreciated the info on the Swampers! I do enjoy providing backstories, but now I am in a bit of a quandary with so many people wanting shorter medleys. I’ll come up with a solution. I promise.
I agree with MH! So sorry it took a weeks worth of you not feeling good but lucky for us to be reminded about such wonderful medleys (like this) that are available to all of us and can be found in the archives…. Beatles, Doo Wop, Mathis … how many would you say we have to choose from? 😉
Thank you, Rose 🥰
I appreciate the kind words. I would estimate there are approximately 2,000 medleys in the archives, if people are inclined to wander in and find them. There is another possible solution. I could continue to play archived material instead of creating new medleys. Yep, even more Mathis music is in there, something both Mary Helen and you would be happy about. 🙂
I think I love The Swampers! These were great. I will listen to these again.
Thanks, Pat! 🥰
Those were some great, great musicians!