I recorded an album with the Swampers in 1970. They were looking for local talent, we auditioned and got signed up. I was just a kid and my ego was so swollen I had no sense of how far out of my depth I really was. I sucked. But during that time I got to rub shoulders with The Best. One of the highlights of my long happy life. BTW: These guys were as genuine and down to earth then as they appear on this video.
I grew up as a wannabe musician in Nashville. These guys were absolute heroes to my friends and me. Back in the early-70s, we didn't have RU-vid and the Internet. We found information where we could. I wish some of my old friends who have passed could watch some of the videos. Thanks for posting these; they mean a lot to some of us old guys who are still rocking.
I feel lucky and honored to have worked with Jimmy, and David, and I’ve seen Roger play on a few occasions. Unbelievably nice and humble guys and it’s great to see them get the recognition they deserve.
These guys are just so amazingly humble, yet achieved so much. And their life's work is set in stone. There for all to enjoy and to marvel at, forever.
These gentlemen are so inspiring I can't tell you how much respect I have for them and all the other musicians at muscle shoals thank you for your hard work and dedication to the craft .
Joe, thank you so much for all the work you do. Not only do you honor all the wonderful musicians that have created the music we so dearly love, but you also are a great interviewer and these videos allow new generations to get to know them as well. I just can't thank you enough.
WOW- I always wondered about the "MUSCLE SHOALS" guys. 1st time I heard that name was in a "LYNYRD SKYNYD" tune. Years later, I heard it again and wondered, "What's up with 'Muscle Shoals??'" These guys are great!! Love hearing how they had to save nickels and dimes to buy their 1st instruments... cause that's what I had to do. Took me a year of saving money to buy my FENDER JAZZ BASS... I still have it- 1978 FENDER JAZZ BASS. It's in it's original case with original parts in a thick plastic bag. I'd modified it with EMG pick-ups in the 80s... but kept every original part. My bass hero was "JACO." Bank can take my house, car, socks, old lady... but NEVER that bass, NOR my dog!! BUT these guys jammed with BOB SEGER, PAUL SIMON, STONES, etc. I used to listen to "BOB SEGER" all the time!! SO MUCH feeling in his music... and a tremendous voice. WOW- those must have been some GREAT TIMES for these boys!! AND THEY'RE right there sitting in, thee very studio!! MAN... I wish the clock stopped back then cause it'll NEVER get better than those days!! I listened to and knew more about my parent's generation of music than they did!! I was fortunate enough to see "ELVIS" when I was 11or 12 years old- my 1st concert. He passed not too long after that. AND that was before I learned anything about music. I can still see the women jumping and screaming at the concert... and I had no idea why! It was scary!!! I knew Elvis from listening to records and seeing him occasionally, singing a song on TV... or in a movie. I'd no idea that women would FREAK OUT at a concert. ANYWAY... these "MUSCLE SHOALS" guys are totally CooL!! So many GREAT ARTISTS they worked with, great stories... and they started from scratch- give them a LOT OF CREDIT!! Another GREAT INTERVIEW by "JOE CHAMBERS!" It's gotta be kinds tough for these gentlemen to see the direction most of main stream music has gone. Producers make money regardless... but much of today's music is REALLY HARD on the ears. "Today's music ain't got the same soul... I like that old time Rock 'n' Roll." LONG LIVE "BOB SEGER!!" AND "MUSCLE SHOALS!!" Such AMAZING history!!
Once again, a grand slam interview, Joe!! Jimmy Johnson sadly died recently. The Muscle Shoals documentary that came out in 2013 detailed the chain of events that led to the Swampers striking out on their own. So many are gone now, Wexler, Hall, Aretha, Pete Carr, etc. Seger had to have been their most profitable arrangement because he sold so many LP’s over such a long period of time.
Damn. I didn't know Pete Carr passed away. June 20, 2020. He played with Simon and Garfunkel at their Central Park gig back in '81. That's too bad. He was only 70 years old.
Sir Winston I think Carr’s friendship with Duane Allman kickstarted his session career, they had met in Jacksonville. Years later, his riff on “Main Street” became legendary.
Pete was a really nice guy and talented as you know. We inducted him along with the Swampers into the MHOF in 2008. He gave me the acoustic guitar he recorded “Sailing” by Rod Stewart with at MSS studio. I tried to buy the Les Paul he used to record “Main Street” but he had already let it go years ago. Best... Joe
What a down to earth bunch of guys! I could really relate to Roger’s story about not having a full drum kit and watching other kids squander the opportunity to play their new full drum kits. I knew guys that had brand new LesPauls and full stack Marshalls and they could play maybe an open C chord and maybe a G to go with it. I scrimped and saved to buy a single pickup 3/4 scale Fender like Jimmy had, only mine was a Bronco. I still have it. I couldn’t afford an amplifier so I begged and borrowed until I could.
Hi Tom.... great story... those were kinda hard days for those of us who loved playing but had to wait, beg and work to get what we wanted and needed but I wouldn’t trade them for anything. Thanks for watching... Joe
tomcoryell, (or anybody...) I didn't catch that. What kind of 3/4 scale Fender did Jimmy have? A Duo-Sonic? But you said a single pickup. So, a Musicmaster? Really?? I've heard a Duo-Sonic described as a 7/8 scale, not because the scale was any longer, but because so many big names were seen playing them. Of course I can't afford an original, but I have a lot of fun on my reissue. And I'm sure Jimmy had more than one guitar. Maybe not in the beginning, tho'.
Hi Gary...He had what I had... A one Pick-Up Fender Musicmaster which was a great guitar. My favorite tremolo system was the Fender Mustang. Great guitar with two P-U’s... and great Tremolo. Pull back and forth and pretty much stayed in tune. Thanks for watching.. Joe
Wow, that’s really impressive. You would never pick them out of a crowd, just normal people who are extremely talented. Keeps my faith in humanity alive.
What a great interview! I’m so thankful for having the opportunity to work with David, Jimmy and Roger. In 2000-2001, I recorded at MSS on the river. It was the best time of my life. Thank you Johnny Sandlin for bringing us from Georgia to Alabama. Thank you for sharing all your stories and advice along the way. 20 years just flew by! Seems like yesterday. I will never forget all of you.
We owe you a lot Joe ! These video interviews are some amazing historical Treasure. I'm sure there are many people that grateful for being able to view these. There's a lot of good audio and video that's been recorded over the years that'll never see the light of day for various circumstances, it's nice to see these are available.
I just wanted to add that j really love this show and being able to hear these stories from the musicians producers engineers songwriters and all the other people behind the scenes that most people have no idea about that made such a tremendous impact on the culture of our country and that of the world Its amazing to hear about the sessions that yielded huge hits by Aretha Franklin and Percy Faith and all the others I was fortunate to have worked in Memphis with the great Jim Dickenson and watched his episode with great pleasure Songs that changed peoples lives man so cool This show oozes cool Thanks again Joe
Thank you so much for this interview. These guys and their studio had such a unique and irreplaceable sound that made musicians and groups that were already of high regard sound even better, with a beautifully distinct rich quality which the likes of will never again be seen again. But that's ok because what we do have by these wonderful gentlemen and the spectacular groups that they worked and recorded with will forever be on record and tape for anybody who is interested in listening to real music that has both the right combination of sass and class. Thank God. And thank you joe.
I worked with Roger & Jimmy . They took me in as a songwriter in 1985 thru 1995 and became my publisher . Two great men . They got me in the Alabama Music Hall of Fame soon after becoming my Publishers . I am listed under achievers .
Loved seeing and listening to these gentlemen. Woukd have liked to meet them personally. I believe that only David Hood is still living of the original group. Thank you all for the sounds of my life.
Amazing isn't it Joe how these amazing musicians credit their own heroes who are long forgotten? Another great episode and fascinating insight. I met Ronnie Wood in India recently near my house and he was as humble and friendly as these boys!
Hi Guy...thanks for sharing your thoughts... yes I agree... yes also about Ronnie. I hosted The Rolling Stones traveling exhibit at the museum two summers ago and Ronnie came by with his wife and one ... maybe two of his older sons( he just had baby twins also!) and he was extremely nice. Best... Joe
@@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum fantastic, Joe. I didn't know that. Sally his wife and I went to the same school, we figured out, in Birmingham, England. Small world. Will send you a pic. I'm your number 1 fan in India. No, not Indiana, India! Ha ha. Just wondering if u came across Chris Whitley. RIP I saw him once play in London and he was astonishing. Hey, keep up the fun Elvis stories. They're such fun! Adios.
My first drum set i bought with my own money was a black slingerland set that i bought one drum at a time on law away When i had paid for a drum i brought it home and started on the next piece , it took me a over year to build a four piece set My first set was a beautiful ludwig just like ringo’s , that was stolen in 1973 I still have my black slingerlands and with that set i plaid my first paying job as a drummer in 1980 Roger Hawkins is one of my hero’s man What a monster groove he has I mean god dam!
Good for Bob Segar. I am thrilled to know he's a man of character as well a great rocker. Nothing reveals more about the character of a man than a long term handshake agreement that is honored. Every Bob Seger song I hear now will be that much sweeter. In fact playing Night Moves or Against the Wind seems like the right thing to do just now!
I was smiling right up until Hood said his bass got stolen. That is just heartbreaking. Great interview, Joe. Have you ever thought about making a DVD Collection set of these? I'd certainly pony up for it :)
I didn't know as a kid in the 60s that so much of the greatest music I heard came from Muscle Shoals. When Ronnie referenced the "Swampers" in Sweet Home, I was a young teen. I later learned that Neil & Ronnie were "good" at that time - No Civil or Personal war. Ronnie had a NY Tonight's the Night t-shirt he wore on stage. My favorite Stones album was from Muscle Shoals. Sticky Fingers is, imo, their finest album ever! Joe, your interviews give me something new to learn, with every watch!! Thank you!!
Hi Leslie... yes that makes you feel good doesn’t it... so many stories about musicians getting totally screwed out of their money and here are a group of guys holding together by a handshake for all these years!! Thanks for watching... joe
Solid, salt of the earth individuals. Too bad their humility, humanity, pride & respect isn’t as common place as it once was. We’d be so much better off if that were the case.
This history is amazing. We visited MSSS about 10 years ago when Noel was in charge(?). Somehow, we had a private tour on a Sunday with just a phone call from Memphis.
Theres a Limey in bed with a fever, he puts on netflix...oh whats this Muscle Shoals never heard of it? As a massive music fan i spent the next 90 minutes in humbled amazement as all these incredible songs i knew came floating past me being recorded by the Swampers , its taken 8 years but im finally flying over the big pond very soon and going to see Muscle Shoals and Fame Studiios, to stand in the same place where all this history took place is a massive privilage.
Besides the fact that the Muscle Shoals RSection was badass, the studio had a great vibe to it, albeit a bit funky, which is, in a way, every bit as important as the tech spec. to capturing the magic that occurs during tracking.
I was a fledging musician in 1980, freshman at UNA, one of the original "Commercial Music" students. Had a blast and got to play a lot!! These guys are legends!!! 😃
What a fantastic interview Joe! Gotta admire all of those humble & talented musicians. Now I know where the line that mentions "Muscle Shoals" in the song "Sweet Home Alabama" came from. Great stuff.......Thanks & be well............. 👍👍😉😉
Did not know they were called the stampers had to scramble to my record collection and pull out the first boz scaggs lp and open its gatefold to see their pics they have aged pretty well great question and answer session suprised Spooner was not included can't wait to watch part 2👍👏
Hi John... glad you enjoyed it too... I’m going to put out part two but first a couple of short clips for those of you who prefer shorter stories but the full part two will come out too.., best, Joe
So much to learn here from “Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum” videos. Thank you for being so passionate and willing to share the history of music Mr Joe!
Thanks, guys. I just watched another video on Bob Seger, and the host said he had a verbal agreement with someone else, and their families are still getting royalties.
I worked with Jimmy Johnson from 1997-2001 and he is a character! Super nice, super smart and super talented. I visited MS Sound and got the full tour. Jimmy played me some things I couldnt belkeivce I was hearing. Different versions of Old Time Rock n' Roll with a singer from that area, not Bob Segars! The studio has souls in it, you can feel the vibe! Jimmy and the others are incredible people!
My first/second hot rod was like that. The first was a $75 no title '63 Impala, then dad traded for his '66 Malibu. He had to convince me" This car will be popular one day"
Don't understand why Ken Bell's name hasn't been mentioned in any of the interviews or stories about Muscle Shoals. Ken wrote and played on many of the hits coming out of there.
I'm still catching up. These are great videos. I can relate to that. I used to go to work and practice in me head all day. It actually works. Of course you have to know where the notes are.
