Muscle Shoals…Small Town, Big Sound Unites Generations of Icons for Powerhouse Homage Album Available September 28th
A Portion of the Proceeds Benefit the GRAMMY® Foundation
and Muscle Shoals Music Association and Foundation
NEW YORK, NY – Shinedown front man Brent Smith is joining Steven Tyler, Chris Stapleton, Willie Nelson, Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Vince Gill, Michael McDonald, Alison Krauss, Grace Potter and more to pay tribute to the quietly influential and legendary sound of Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The new star-studded and definitive homage album-Muscle Shoals…Small Town, Big Sound–will be available at all digital retailers on September 28 via The Muscle Shoals Music Group/Dreamlined Entertainment/BMG. This arrives just in time to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the “Muscle Shoals Sound.”
This once-in-a-lifetime collection unites eras of GRAMMY® Award-winning, multiplatinum superstars on one album for the first time, breathing new life into seminal classics by The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Etta James, and more originally birthed in Muscle Shoals throughout the fifties, sixties, and seventies. Brent Smith covers Wilson Pickett’s “Mustang Sally” – for a sneak peek of the song, PRESS HERE to watch the trailer for the album. In order to re-cut these gems, most of the artists made the trek to FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals to record alongside homegrown musicians, channeling the “Muscle Shoals Sound.” Pre-order is available now and includes an instant download of Steven Tyler’s cover of “Brown Sugar” by The Rolling Stones, powered by rip-roaring guitar from Extreme shredder Nuno Bettencourt – PRESS HERE.
Producer, publisher, and co-owner of FAME Studios Rodney Hall executive produced, and curated Muscle Shoals…Small Town, Big Sound alongside GRAMMY®, ACM, and CMA Award-winning producer and Dreamlined Entertainment Founder Keith Stegall. Rodney’s late father Rick Hall remains renowned as “The Father of the Muscle Shoals Sound,” and some of his final productions grace the record.
“If you stop for a moment and think about the most influential songs of all time, I guarantee you a vast majority of those songs were recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Whether it be rhythm and blues, soul, or rock ‘n’ roll. FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals was, and is, all about the artist, the songs, and the attitude… Long live the Shoals!” says Brent Smith.
“The sound is one-of-a-kind,” explains Rodney Hall. “When younger artists hear all of the music that came out of here over the past five decades, they want to check it out. This album is special because it brings together artists that have been inspired by the magic of the Muscle Shoals Sound.”
“This record has been a full circle for me,” says Keith Stegall. “It’s the music I grew up on and that impassioned me to become a writer and a record producer and the music to which I owe my love and deepest respect.”
Dedicated to Rick Hall’s memory, a portion of the proceeds benefit the GRAMMY® Foundation as well as the Muscle Shoals Music Association and The Muscle Shoals Music Foundation-both are 501 (c)3s that promote the area’s musical history.
Brent Smith is currently on a world tour in support of Shinedown’s latest chart-topping album ATTENTION ATTENTION (Atlantic Records) – PRESS HERE.The album simultaneously hit #1 on Billboard’s Alternative, Top Rock and Hard Rock Albums Charts and debuted Top 5 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on iTunes.The story that unfolds as the album progresses is a poignant and enduring statement about humanity, touching on topics such as overcoming struggles, mental health, not being afraid to fail and the resolve of the human spirit as seen on tracks like the band’s latest single “GET UP”, the #1 Active Rock hit “DEVIL”and the anthemic “THE HUMAN RADIO”. “GET UP” has quickly found its way into the hearts and minds of many people and for good reason – the moving, uplifting track offers hope and encouragement in the face of personal struggles, whatever they may be. For front man Brent Smith, the song was born out of watching his friend, Shinedown bassist Eric Bass, deal with depression. Reaching far beyond any genre or label, “GET UP” speaks to the human spirit in a time of need, and it’s a song that has already resonated with the masses – becoming a fan favorite at arena shows on tour where the crowd response is palpable, and racking up nearly 9 million streams since its release. For tour ticketing info, please visit www.shinedown.com.