Let's take a moment to recall what Muscle Shoals Sound Studio was, and is. As a go-to production studio for Atlantic Records, among others, in the 1970s and 1980s, Muscle Shoals was the source of some of the greatest hit records of all time. Practically any big rock act you could think of wanted to record there, and many did, from Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Rolling Stones, to Rod Stewart, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan and Bob Seger. Not to mention the studio's elite clientele from the world of rhythm-and-blues, including Millie Jackson, The Staple Singers and even Jamaican ska and reggae great Jimmy Cliff, who recorded part of the "Harder They Come" soundtrack at Muscle Shoals. The studio was founded in 1969 by the members of its house band, The Swampers, partly in rebellion against their former employer, FAME Studios.

 

Although sometimes overshadowed by the more famous L.A. Wrecking Crew or even Booker T and the MGs (also known as the Stax Rhythm Section), if you go strictly by the charts, then the Swampers' sound is responsible for a huge number of hits. Many of those hits were quite sophisticated, too, owing to the genius of the Swampers' less-is-more approach. 

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The studio eventually fell into disuse and disrepair, having become outmoded in its day by more sophisticated recording rooms. But the humble music space, with the ambiance you can't put a price on, was brought back online in the 2010s, helped by a generous donation from the rap music producer Dr. Dre. Amazingly, the occupants of the space during the years it wasn't a studio made no changes to the interior, so the control room and recording booths were intact, and they even hung onto all the funky, late-1960s vinyl-upholstered furniture. Even more incredible: the original baby grand piano heard on so many hit records was found and returned to the space. The studio received its first Grammy in many years, in 2022, for Country Song of the Year, for the song "Cold" by Chris Stapleton. The studio operates as a museum for tourists during the day, which is why Meph's sessions were scheduled for three straight nights, starting at 5pm and going until the wee hours.

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When Mephiskapheles arrived, and all the members had clambered out of the yellow bus and done the requisite photo op in front of the building with the documentary crew, the band was welcomed into the studio sanctum itself by engineer Chase Brandon. After looking around at the museum photos and historic instruments, getting a hint of the spirit of the place, most of the band headed down to the basement lounge for a reception banquet complete with deli trays, chicken wings and prosecco, put on by friends and family of the band. There was even a big birthday cake for Andre, whose birthday was the following day, April 26th. 

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Meanwhile, upstairs in the drum booth, studio engineer Chase and Mephiskapheles drummer Wayne Dunton were wrangling drums and microphones, and when they got those all set up, they came down to the basement to enjoy the party too. All in all, having a mini-fiesta, right off the bat, while things were getting set up, was a great way to start off the sessions. It gave the band and studio personnel a chance to mingle and relax before the pressure of that red recording light!

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