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    Muscle Shoals Sound Studio

    4.6 (55 reviews)
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    Services - Muscle Shoals Sound Studio

    Recording and rehearsal studios

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    Pri P.

    A fascinating tour if you have any interest in the music of the 60s and 70s. Very easy to sign up in advance via the website with lots of options to fit all schedules (every hour on the half hour.) Excellent tour guide, unfortunately her name escapes me, but she held our attention throughout. It lasted about an hour, and was packed with information. One interesting factoid is that this studio is beatifully restored to what it looked like in the late 60s/early 70s, and is set up somewhat like a museum (photos from the past everywhere) even though it is also (once again) a working recording studio. It is now owned and operated by a non-profit foundation--at the time of this writing only one of the original Swampers is still living. Highly recommend watching the movie documentary "Muscle Shoals" prior to booking this tour.

    Dustin H.

    This was my first stop when I rolled into town for Shoals Fest 2025. Such an absolute blast of a tour---our tour guide (I wish I could remember her name) was so good. She had a wealth of knowledge and stories which she told with an obvious interest in the subject at hand. It's so great this space has been restored to its former glory and it feels really great to stand in this space and hear some of the classic songs recorded here from years past. Highly recommended tour for music fans.

    Ashley S.

    What a cool historic property with a lot of awesome music history. They are open for tours. The studio was renovated and Dr. Dre helped with funding the project. Musicians are still using the recording studio and it's set up kind of like a museum. Really neat. It's worth a visit to keep supporting this little snap shot back into history.

    Piano used on Freebird
    Jeff H.

    To quote Ronnie Van Zandt singing in "Sweet Home Alabama": Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers And they've been known to pick a song or two (yes, they do) Lord, they get me off so much They pick me up when I'm feelin' blue, now, how 'bout you? There is much written about The Swampers (officially the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section), so won't repeat it hear other than to say: 1. They created a unique mix of R&B, soul, and country music that helped many songs become great hits 2. In 1969 they left Rick Hall and FAME Studios where they started and formed their own music studio 3. They attracted musicians/groups such Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Lynard Skynyrd, Wilson Pickett, and many others to their sound studio because of their talent and somewhat unique sound This is the historic music studio. It is now owned by a non-profit and the studio has been recreated in its original building with some of the original equipment and other equipment similar to what was originally there. It is also an active studio for musicians who want a more analog recording experience. So it is basically a working museum. So come and do the tour, see where Mick sang and Keith played, where Aretha crooned, and Cher hung out with Sonny for a week. We detoured to Muscle Shoals when driving from Birmingham to Nashville. It is a detour worth taking and it is a nice drive through the countryside and small towns vs the main highway. If you go, you can also visit FAME - the studio that first put Muscle Shoals on the map. It is a very active studio with updated equipment.

    Terrel was an AMAZING tour guide. That man had some neat stories and just new how to share in a fun, engaging, yet laid back way. What a cool experience overall. Be prepared to come out wanting to listen to all the favorites that came out of this little studio *recommend for music lovers of all ages

    The hidden bar/ lounge
    Keith B.

    You can feel the history when you walk into this building. Aside from the building itself which is like a time capsule, the tour was great. Chase was a great tour guide. Very knowledgeable about the buildings history and music history in general. This is a very laid back tour they give you plenty of time to roam, look, take pictures, ask questions, etc. it lasted about an hour. Even if you're not a music nerd, I guarantee you will recognize many songs and artists that have graced this place.

    Robert B.

    The Rolling Stones recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama, during their 1969 American tour. The studio, known for its unique sound and vibe, attracted numerous artists from various genres, and The Rolling Stones were no exception. In December 1969, The Rolling Stones arrived at the studio to work on their album "Sticky Fingers." The band was drawn to Muscle Shoals Sound Studio because of its reputation for producing soulful and authentic recordings. The studio was equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and had a distinct sound that many artists sought. During their time at Muscle Shoals, The Rolling Stones recorded several songs, including "Brown Sugar," "Wild Horses," and "You Gotta Move." The sessions were highly productive, and the band embraced the studio's unique atmosphere. They were inspired by the studio's soul and blues heritage, which influenced their music and added a new dimension to their sound. The Rolling Stones' experience at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio left a lasting impact on their music. The recordings made there would go on to become some of the band's most iconic and beloved songs. The collaboration between The Rolling Stones and the studio resulted in a fusion of rock, soul, and blues that helped shape their sound during that period. Overall, The Rolling Stones' decision to record at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in 1969 was a pivotal moment in their career. The experience allowed them to experiment with new sounds and genres, contributing to the evolution of their music and solidifying their status as one of the greatest rock bands of all time. This was a fantastic tour and if you're a music lover I would highly recommend visiting. Definitely worth it and Alabama is beautiful. The nearby town of Florence it's also a very nice place to visit..

    Fame recording, music, studio, and muscle showed
    Calvin A.

    This place is definitely worth going and seeing it's a lot of history to it look up muscle shoals on television and watch the documentary. it will set the stage for what you're in for. We wrote our bikes down matches trace out of Tennessee. Great bike ride worth the trip when you got there.

    Pamela M.

    This is a nice tour of a recording studio rich in history. It's a non-profit and one of approx. 14 in the region. The coolest part for me was the speakeasy in the basement. I think the tour is 12 and you go to the basement room first and then upstairs to the studio proper. It's small. The merch offered is good - picks, hats, t-shirts, postcards. Nice people. One hour tour was 30 minutes too long for best friend and I. I really think dropping names of producers is boring and just hitting the highlights would make the tour piece more interesting. It's a functioning studio still so call before you plan to go to ensure they will have a tour. I asked what it costs to record there and they couldn't answer me. Nice thing to check off your southern music history list. I think the last of the original Swampers passed away last year. If you are a huge music industry buff this is your jam.

    Sara H.

    The tour line was out the door so I don't think I need to convince anyone to come here....but if you're on the fence for whatever absurd reason, go to Muscle Shoals Sound and take the tour! BUT I do recommend going to FAME first and then Muscle Shoals sound because the stories flow together in that order. Hear the story of how THE ROLLING STONES started! It's an experience you can't get anywhere else and is seriously so amazing!

    Studio
    Roxanne P.

    What a great walk back in time! A fascinating music tour and so many stories of artists who recorded here and the albums they turned out... I could have listened to our tour guide, Chad, all day. It's a small studio but big on history. Lots of photos and original items from the studio's production days. There's a small gift shop.

    The Swampers

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    Shawn is a wonderful hairdresser. She's very professional and always knows what to do with my hair. Thank you Shawn!!!

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    Some people do not know of the importance of Muscle Shoals to Alabama music history! That's too bad.

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    Ask the Community - Muscle Shoals Sound Studio

    Review Highlights - Muscle Shoals Sound Studio

    I have wanted to visit this place for many years, and our tour guide made it all the more worthwhile for both of us.

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    Fame

    Fame

    (29 reviews)

    Definitely a fun stop if in the Shoals area. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect and didn't know…read moreall the interesting history of the music scene that has long been in the area. Though the building itself is not large- the tour packs lots of history and personal stories about the music and musicians that recorded there. Our tour lasted about 45 minutes and our guide was passionate about the studio, music and its famed (pun intended) history. It's hard to leave the tour without being a little in awe of the performers that recorded there. I mean muscle shoals has got the swampers!

    About ten years ago a friend said to me, "you must watch this movie 'Muscle Shoals.'" I'm like, ok,…read moresure. Fast forward to last week when I found it streaming and we watched it just before heading off on our Alabama roadtrip. Thank goodness we did as it offered a perspective on Muscle Shoals we wouldn't have realized. We came here to golf, but we were not about to miss the chance to visit this amazing piece of music history. We chose the full tour for twice as much money, and from our perspective it was well worth it. We got a 1.5 hour long visit, including Rick Hall's office and a few other upstairs areas packed with memorabilia, plus the regular tour which only includes Recording Studios A and B. (Also totally worth it if that's all you can do.) Our tour guide, Will, was so knowledgeable and personable and patiently answered question after question, never rushing us at any time. The incredible music that has been created and recorded in this building by so many talented musicians over so many decades is staggering. Plus it has consistently been in use as a recording studio and publishing house since that time, which directly links it all the way back. I find this mind blowing! Definitely watch the movie prior to visiting here if you can, it will enhance this tour. Highly recommend!

    Muscle Shoals Sound Studio - recording_studios - Updated May 2026

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