The acronym is F-A-M-E, but it may as well be S-O-U-L.

It was a full half-century ago that the recording studio, record label and publishing operation originally known as Florence Alabama Music Enterprises established itself and its trademark sound with the hit recording of 'You Better Move On' by Arthur Alexander. In the fifty years since, FAME Studios and its idiosyncratic founder Rick Hall have been at the forefront of the Muscle Shoals Sound. FAME begat the process whereby a little known Alabama backwater would evolve into the very crucible of southern soul, a holy place to where musicians, singers and fans still make a very specific pilgrimage in the hope of experiencing a little bit of the magic behind so many hit records: 'I'm Your Puppet', 'Land Of 1,000 Dances', 'Tell Mama' and countless others.

Rick Hall is now a grand old man of the music business, but back in the 60s he was more akin to an enfant terrible, with an unbending will that helped him make it against almost insurmountable odds, matched by an attention to detail that bordered on obsession. There have only ever been a handful of truly self-sufficient producer/eeers in the history of popular music, and Hall is pre-ent amongst them. Atlantic, Chess and so many other legendary labels flocked to FAME to avail themselves of the sound, the players, the material, and most importantly the vibe that Rick Hall had created.

The FAME Studios Story 1961-1973 is an exhaustive three CD set derived from two years' worth of excavations by the intrepid Ace team at the hallowed FAME vault. The result is a full programme of FAME-related releases slated for issue on Ace, Kent, and BGP over the next couple of years, but the lynchpin is this definitive anthology that focuses upon the halcyon days of the studio and the label. It's an open-minded, celebratory overview that, across 75 tracks, spotlights both artists and records that are either acknowledged greats, or lesser known – yet no less worthy – entries in the lexicon of soul.

The line-up is a virtual Who's Who of 60s soul, and includes Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Arthur Conley, Irma Thomas, Joe Tex, Joe Simon, Lou Rawls, Spencer Wiggins and Otis Clay. Deep soul fans will recognise names such as The Blues Busters, Billy Young, Maurice & Mac, Willie Hightower, Bettye Swann, James Govan and many, many others. Special attention is paid to those acts closely associated with the Fame label - Candi Staton, Jimmy Hughes and Clarence Carter - as well as its inestimable stable of writers, producers and players, including Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham, George Jackson and the Fame Gang. And the programme also includes several of the notable pop hits recorded at the studio by the Osmonds, Tommy Roe and Bobbie Gentry, as well as more obscure recordings by the Del Rays, Mark V and Terry & The Chain Reaction.

With unprecedented access granted to its tape and photo archive, well over a third of the contents of The FAME Studio Story 1961-1973 are new to CD, and of those, over a dozen tracks are fully unissued – including previously unheard rarities by Otis Redding and Arthur Alexander. The heavily-illustrated package with an 84 page book comes laden with two informative essays and extensive track notes, all of which are based upon fresh interviews with many of the principals involved.

If you know anything about soul music, you know FAME, which is why The FAME Studio Story 1961-1973 is an essential purchase. By Alec Palao

Disc 1 - Steal Away
01. Arthur Alexander - You Better Move On (Dot 16309) 1962
02. The Tams - Laugh It Off (ABC Paramount 10502) 1963
03. The Mark 5 - Night Rumble (ABC-Paramount 10433) 1963
04. Tommy Roe - Everybody (ABC-Paramount 10478) 1963
05. Arthur Alexander - I Hope They Get Their Eyes Full (previously unissued) 2011
06. Jimmy Hughes - Steal Away (Fame 6401) 1964
07. Dan Penn - Let Them Talk (Fame 6402) 1965
08. Joe Tex - Hold What You've Got (Dial 4001) 1964
09. Barbara Perry - A Man Is A Mean, Mean Thing[Alternate Take] (previously unissued) 2011
10. The Del-Rays - Fortune Teller (R & H 1005) 1963
11. Bobby Marchan - Funny Style (Dial 4007) 1965
12. June Conquest - Almost Persuaded (Fame 6406) 1965
13. The Entertainers - Too Much (Chess 1951) 1966
14. James Barnett - Keep On Talking (Fame 1001) 1966
15. Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces - Searching For My Love (Checker 1129) 1966
16. Spooner & The Spoons - Wish You Didn't Have To Go (Fame 6405) 1965
17. Joe Simon - Let's Do It Over (Vee Jay 694) 1965
18. Jimmy Hughes - Neighbor, Neighbor (Fame 1003) 1966
19. Billy Young - Feed The Flame (previously unissued) 2011
20. James & Bobby Purify - I'm Yout Puppet (Bell 648) 1966
21. Arthur Conley - I Can't Stop (No, No, No) (Fame 1007) 1966
22. Terry Woodford - Gonna Make You Say Yeah (Fame 1002) 1966
23. Spooner's Crowd - Two In The Morning (Cadet 5533) 1966
24. James Gilreath - Why Not Tonight (previously unissued) 2011
25. Wilson Pickett - Land Of 1000 Dances (Atlantic 2348) 1966

Disc 2 - Slippin' Around
01. Otis Redding - You Left The Water Running (Stone 209) 1976
02. Clyde McPhatter - A Shot Of Rhythm & Blues (Amy 968) 1966
03. Art Freeman - Slippin' Around Without You (Fame 1008) 1966
04. Kip Anderson - Without A Woman (Checker 1145) 1966
05. Arthur Conley - Sweet Soul Music (Atco 6463) 1967
06. Clarence & Calvin - Thread The Needle[unedited version] (Kent LTDEP009) 2011
07. Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) (Atlantic 2386) 1967
08. Ted Taylor - Miss You So (Ronn 15) 1967
09. Don Covay & The Good rs - You Put Something On Me (Atlantic 2340) 1966
10. Etta James - Tell Mama (Cadet 5578) 1967
11. Terry & The Chain Reaction - Keep Your Cool (United Artists 50199) 1967
12. Jeanie Greene - Don't Make Me Hate Loving You (previously unissued) 2011
13. Irma Thomas - Cheater Man (Chess 2010) 1967
14. Linda Carr - Every (Bell 658) 1967
15. The Wallace Brothers - I Stayed Away Too Long (Jewel 800) 1969
16. Laure Lee - As Long As I Got You (Chess 2041) 1968
17. The Blues Busters - Don't Lose Your Good Things
18. Clarence Carter - Slip Away[demo] (previously unissued) 2011
19. Otis Clay - Do Right Woman, Do Right Man (Cotillion 44009) 1968
20. Spencer Wiggins - Once In A While (Is Better Than Never At All) (Goldwax 337) 1968
21. Ben & Spence - Thief In The Night (Kent LTDEP009) 2011
22. Mitty Collier - Take Me Just As I Am (previously unissued) 2011
23. Maurice & Mac - Why Don't You Try Me (Checker 1206) 1968
24. George Jackson - Search Yor Heart (Kent LTDEP009) 2011
25. David & The Giants - Ten Miles High (Crazy Horse 1300) 1968

Disc 3 - Get Involved
01. Lowell Fulson - Lady In The Rain (Jewel 801) 1969
02. Wilson Pickett - Hey Jude (Atlantic 2591) 1969
03. Unknown Female - Another Mans Woman, Another Womans Man (previously unissued) 2011
04. Clarence Carter - Snatchin' It Back (Atlantic 2605) 1969
05. Etta James - I Got Your Babe (Cadet 5606) 1968
06. James Govan - Wanted: Lover (No Experience Necessary) (Fame 1461) 1969
07. George Jackson - Find 'Em, Fool 'Em And Forget 'Em (Fame 1457) 1969
08. Candi Staton - I'm Just A Prisoner (Of Your Good Lovin') (Fame 1460) 1969
09. The Fame Gang - Grits And Gravy (Fame 1458) 1969
10. The Osmonds - One Bad Apple (MGM 14193) 1970
11. Brothers Unlimited - Take Me Back (Capitol LP 600 "Who's For The Young") 1970
12. Spencer Wiggins - I'd Rather Go Blind (Fame 1470) 1970
13. Willie Hightower - Walk A Mile In My Shoes (Fame 1465) 1970
14. Clarence Carter - Patches (Atlantic 2748) 1970
15. Bobbie Gentry - Fancy (Capitol 2675) 1969
16. George Jackson - Double Lovin' (previously unissued) 2011
17. Little Richard - Greenwood, Mississippi (Reprise 0942) 1970
18. Roscoe Robinson - What Colour Is Love (Fame 1469) 1970
19. Lou Rawls - Bring It On Home To Me (Capitol 2856) 1970
20. Bettye Swann - I Can't Let You Break My Heart (Fame 1479) 1971
21. Willie Hightower - Back Road Into Town (Fame 1477) 1971
22. Candi Staton - The Thanks I Get For Lovin' You (Fame 91009) 1972
23. George Soule - Get Involved (Fame 302) 1973
24. Clarence Carter - Put On Your Shoes And Walk (Fame 179) 1973
25. Travis Wammack - You Better Move On (Fame LP 1801 "Travis Wammack") 1972



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