Studio Tour: The Legendary FAME Studios

[@sweetwater]

If those walls could talk! What's your favorite music to come out of FAME Studios?

[@pbenson56fran]

Lynyrd Skynyrd and Aretha, ....etc. Then a few British guys came across the water.

[@AtomizedSound]

Wilson Pickett and Aretha’s music is probably my favorite to come out of there, but I enjoy almost all the music that’s been cut there!

[@PeekaPeep]

Candi Staton cut most of her best work there early on in her career (compiled on an excellent 2CD set released by UK reissue label Kent several years back, which I have in my collection THANK GOD for that 😌🙏). Late, great Etta James recorded there for a brief yet productive spell (classic 'Tell Mama' sessions) and of course the Rolling Stones swung by there and laid down the groundwork for what would eventually become their now-legendary 'Sticky Fingers' album. Definitely some of my ALL-TIME favorite music to have come from FAME Studios bar none... 😉👍

[@melodymakermark]

Stones recorded at 3614 Jackson Highway, not Fame.

[@dustystewart430]

I’m glad to see that this historic studio has not only survived, but that it is also still a working studio. There aren’t all that many studios left from those golden days, though some still remain and are still active studios - Sunset Sound, Abbey Road, FAME, and a few others, but many other famous studios are gone now; Western, Goldstar, Stax, Sigma Sound in Philly, Eastern Sound in Toronto, and many others…are now all but a memory, many with just a plaque serving as the only evidence of them being there. Nothing lasts forever, but it’s heartening to know that a few of these iconic studios are still around, and that they remain as working studios. Cool vid. Thanks for sharing. 🙏

[@vincenteades207]

ABSOLUTELY, THIS IS THE MECCA OF SOUL AND FUNK AND WILL NEVER BE EQUALED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TO JUST MENTION A FEW OF MY FAVORITE RECORDINGS MADE HERE ; ETTA JAMES, "THE RIGHT TIME" AND "THE COMPLETE MUSCLE SHOALS SESSIONS". MUSCLE SHOALS HORNS , ALL OF THEIR RECORDINGS . BOBBY WOMACK , A LOT OF HIS RECORDINGS '72-75 . CLARENCE CARTER , WILD CHERRY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS IS VERY HALLOW GROUND THAT WAS HOME TO SOUL, FUNK, ROCK . GOD BLESS RICK HALL AND JERRY WEXLER

[@sightsnsoundsnow]

the IK fame plugin does make things sound thicker & more real,it makes the sound breathe!😊

[@josephbeamon8132]

I recorded a guitar solo on that Blackface Fender on the right during the interview. Recording there was one of the coolest experiences of my life.

[@spencera.4223]

Studios that still have these old designs and layouts are so much more fun to be creative in, compared to modern studios that feel like you're in a spaceship's refrigerator.

[@HushWave]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@m.o.n.d.e.g.r.e.e.n]

im not 100% against the modern studio but yeh oof the all white ones are hideous. good for dentistry

[@sherrood]

yes

[@MrZarlton]

The IK plug-in is one of my favourites. The chamber is so good at adding space but disappearing into the background! Great plug-in!

[@bikesandbeats4693]

The amount of history in this building is insane!

[@jeremythornton433]

At the 25 minute mark I see a Hammond M3! Identical to the one in my living room! Wow!

[@DonnieChoppa]

My dad engineered there and mixed for them for 25+ years. I had the honor of growing up in that magical place the same way Rodney did, he is a good friend of mine. I went from playing with hot wheels cars upstairs, to growing up and shooting videos and playing on sessions there. Its pretty cool to see it showcased on a huge platform like Sweetwater. This place is very near and dear to my heart

[@boogeen1]

It's just so cool that they've preserved the look and feel of the place. It reminded me of my visit to Graceland.

[@pbenson56fran]

What a place. I saw the doc it was good. I need to watch again. I am so glad he kept his father's place.

[@Shiloh7377]

Muscle Shoals has got tha swampers and they been known to pick a song or two, yes they do, lord they get me off so much🎵🎵🎵🎵

[@ronnieparfait]

They pick me up when I’m feeling blue.. now how bout you. 🤘🏼

[@pbenson56fran]

I was honored to have a a Wurlitzer that I purchased from a co worker. He loved shopping at thrift stores. I got an old Sony tube receiver as well. This is a vintage video. Love it

[@powersmusicgroup]

we just tracks 4 songs there.. its an amazing room!... we love it there

[@EndlessMeece]

Very cool! Unfortunately, this Golden Era was before my time... so I deeply appreciate you guys covering this, bringing me some of the essential history of those who came before and paved the way for nobodies like me to hope and dream of becoming a somebody.... Thank you, deeply, Sweetwater

[@sagersound]

Unreal!! Thanks Fame and Sweetwater!

[@exinated]

It's cool to see Mitch geeking out!

[@AtomizedSound]

Great video! I interned there for about a couple of years and helped out with the Muscle Shoals documentary when it was being filmed. Getting to see how Rick Hall worked and meeting the legendary “Swampers” was surreal to say the least. If those walls could talk indeed!

[@salthedrummer1]

WOW amazing ! keeping it alive.. Thank You...

[@glyndwr15]

IK's FAME plugin is easily one of my favorite reverbs.

[@michaelgregory2231]

I spent a day there about 10 years ago and you are constantly struck with the deep and rich history of that special place

[@activelow9297]

In 2003 I was traveling through Florence, AL (right across the river from Muscle Shoals) and I got beaten up for having long hair. I was sitting in a restaurant eating lunch and minding my own business when the young girl at the counter pointed at me and said, "that's not what a man's supposed to look like".. and then 3 big tough looking local boys came over to my table, picked me up by the shoulders and forcibly threw me out the front door. For an area of the country famous for hosting musicians, I was surprised I got that kind of treatment.

[@blackiewheeler4706]

Excellent tour and first hand information on a historical studio. Amazing !

[@agesonjohanesburg2915]

Mesmerized on the difference in size of those two gentlemen.

[@andygreen5565]

This place is amazing. I did the tour several years ago. Great video guys.

[@pbenson56fran]

I did not know they did tours. Wow

[@bbbro34]

All the best sound and studios come to us via analog recordings, F.A.M.E. is part of that. Still sounds the best and really makes players bring their A-game, no digital crutches to lean on.

[@Individual_two]

I really enjoyed this tour of the historic FAME Studios. Thanks for posting!

[@sweetwater]

Thanks so much for checking it out!

[@PurpleMusicProductions]

Wow this was amazing. I was not aware of this studio and the musical history behind it. Thank you for presenting this.

[@oldmannewman]

Fantastic! Thank you for this piece of history!

[@steve_anderson]

I was all in until the "bar turned into memorabilia room" tour. Sacrilege! You just ripped the soul right out of the place! lol I didn't know Mitch was a giant. Great tour guys, thanks!

[@rodneyhall7754]

The "bar" was a storage room from 1972 until recently..

[@leopoldbluesky]

I came to this vid after buying the plugin - glad I did! Great tour guys, thank you.

[@antcall6779]

Wow!!!! Just wow!

[@m.o.n.d.e.g.r.e.e.n]

18:42 vibrolux my fav amp. played a lot of fenders of all ages but i only played the reissue vibro and i love it so much. one day for the vintage.....

[@deangianotti906]

how does this only have a 100 views ?

[@markriddick1092]

nie to see my old Fiji fraternity brother Rodney keeping the studio going. Hey Rodney remember the car I named? Purple Stain! haha! Take care buddy.

[@janbriggs3387]

THANKS FOR SHARING THIS. IT MEANS A LOT TO ME. THE LEGENDARY. ***FAME STUDIO.*** THE AWESOME WONDERFUL MUSICIANS ARE MASTER' MUSICIANS...I WILL VISIT AS A LIFELONG DREAM AS A TOURIST ABD MUSIC ENTHUSIAST ... MAN THOSE GUYS ARE DANGEROUSLY AWESOME ON THEIR INSTRUMENTS. WOW!!! THEY CAN PLAY !!!!

[@kjhammersteinMusic]

I always play that glissando lol. This place is a museum!! Thank you for sharing!

[@snapit420]

Too cool!

[@stuartbarnhill2795]

Awesome video ❤️🔥

[@DanielGlenTimms]

Great job Mitch! Inspiring story

[@janbriggs3387]

ONE DAY AFTER AM GOING TO RECORD HERE !!!

[@Scott__C]

Very cool. Thanks, Mitch and crew!

[@pbenson56fran]

Thank you

[@nugznmugz]

I thought that SSL looked familiar... I mixed on that in school in Dallas!! I also have a BOB on our house kit! And what do you know, I have a M3 at my studio, all original. Got it from a resale shop for 100$...

[@MegaMixking]

excellent

[@rashodlewis2918]

I want to visit this studio one day.

[@MrPeter924]

Great audio. Great lnterview great show.

[@sawsquaresinetube]

I have one of those capacitors!

[@5urg3x]

"This room originally had a bathroom in it, I reckon several artists did coke on the sink and puked in the toilet!" haha

[@JustyStoky]

Cool. Would love to see a video on Studio in the Country in Louisiana

[@paulfilipowski5695]

The Muscle Shoals sound - Some folks like to believe it comes from the River. "Native Americans called it the “River that Sings” and many tribes were said to use the Tennessee River to “sing” their dead into the afterlife."

[@rodneyhall7754]

The documentary is called "Muscle Shoals"

[@rickyjoeshippyful]

What documentary? I need to see this!

[@fr4nc1sPT]

I think it's "Muscle Shoals" (2013)

[@jeffreyhughes9162]

The style of this studio is somewhere between soviet and pizza parlor.

[@ChrisP3000x]

Cool place! If only those walls could talk in the "secret speakeasy"........

[@thepostapocalyptictrio4762]

I can drive there pretty easy. It's within 2 hours drive of here. I've considered seeing about recording there, but im a little too scared of the price to ask..

[@L.Scott_Music]

I would love to go there and build then some new walls to hang picture on. Will trade for studio time. (I don't expect they will take me up on that, but I really do it.)

[@christopherjackson5696]

Great bit of history, thanks for the tour. I did however notice something that prompted me to ask this question, are the studio floors in Fame green carpet?? If so do you have any insite as to the pro’s and con’s of having a solid reflective floor as compared to having carpeting?? The reason I ask is that it seems That more times than not you see studio flooring made of hard woods or concrete tempered with a rug here and there but I can’t recall ever seeing a studio that was carpeted. I am in the “ move in” process of my new home which am fortunate to have a decent sized studio w/ live Rm. And am torn between tearing out the carpet and laying hard wood or just keeping the carpet?!?! Thoughts on this are very appreciated!!

[@rodneyhall7754]

We've had carpet in both rooms since day 1... we do have a small wood floor in the middle of studio A

[@damienlewis7882]

Don’t get it confused though. All the really amazing records were done when the swampers left Fame and Rick Hall and opened the Jackson Hwy studio. That’s where the real Muscle Shoals sound was. Fame did some cool stuff but the Jackson Hwy Swampers studio was where the magic happened.

[@TheVoodoo4u]

I don't know about that. They're both worthy of being seen as great historical studios. It wasn't so much the buildings (Fame is much bigger than Jackson Hwy), but more the people that ran the studios that attracted the artists and made them what they are.

[@rodneyhall7754]

All? Could you elaborate?

[@tmoss89]

I ned a job how can I get one here

[@postinfinity]

Nice! What's with the barber chair in the office??

[@NewHopeAudio]

In case you want to crop off a little top end

[@francoisberkinjr5088]

I'm a 80's baby that 60's décor is a little bit off for me but hey as he said if it ain't broke don't fix it.

[@gregedenfield1080]

The Village has a bathroom in studio A....convenient.

[@user-ew7yt9yp7d]

Its not still happening today!!!

[@FAME2Music]

really? Can you hum us your last hit?? You might want to tell Jason Isbell, Turnpike Troubadours, The War & Treaty, The Revivalists, Steven Tyler, Demi Lovato, Jack White and the others still recording here that it's not happening! Lol!!!!

[@klojke]

Thats not a vintage Ludwig… its a 80’s standard

[@FAME2Music]

Lol!! incrorrect! it has been here since the late 60's so unless there is some sort of time travel going on!

[@klojke]

@@FAME2Music it has a 80’s badge on it

[@klojke]

And that second Hammond in the video is not a a100 it’s a c3 with the smooth sides, a100 never had a cover for the manuals. Check the serial number plate on the inside

[@EndlessMeece]

Very cool! Unfortunately, this Golden Era was before my time... so I deeply appreciate you guys covering this, bringing me some of the essential history of those who came before and paved the way for nobodies like me to hope and dream of becoming a somebody.... Thank you, deeply, Sweetwater