Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers. What an iconic line- and what a place to visit if you're in the area. This very small and humble looking building has a huge history in music in America. The tour was a great way to see and experience what it was like when rock, pop and country legends recorded there. The tales of recording sessions bring everything to life. The studio still records music and it is part of a non-profit organization. The building is on the national register of historic places. Our tour guide was passionate about the history past and present. It's a good companion tour to the tour of the Fame studio just a few miles away. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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Fantastic tour. The guides were knowledgeable, weaving the history and stories with music - great experience for all ages! read more

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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. read more

Muscle Shoals Sound Studio - Piano used on Freebird - Recording & Rehearsal Studios Near Me - Sheffield, Alabama

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Lots of information and Memories if you Love History in Music especially Skynyrd! The tour was personalized and the Rolling Stones stories are Very Enlightening. read more

My friend, Mike, and I visited Muscle Shoals Sound Studio back in February. We really enjoyed our visit and wanted to call out our tour guide for his excellent introduction to the history of the place, as well as his insightful comments and stories about the musicians who recorded there. We were the only people in the group at that time, so we essentially got a private tour with a very knowledgeable guide. I have wanted to visit this place for many years, and our tour guide made it all the more worthwhile for both of us. I took lots of photos and continue to think about my visit even now, two months later. I highly recommend this historical site and in particular, the very helpful and friendly tour guides who make its history come alive. read more

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 read more

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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. read more

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Really enjoyed our tour today. So much amazing musical history in this unsuspecting building. Didn't know what to expect but was very impressed with all the knowledge our guide shared and would highly recommend a visit & tour. read more

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.. read more

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Enjoyable and interesting facts about the music recorded here in the 70's. Guide had worked there 8 years and took his time to cover a lot of things plus answer questions. Amazing amount of music recorded in a relatively short time. Happened to meet David Hood and his wife Judy. read more

Lovely tour ! I came here today and had a wonderful experience with the tourguide who is a fellow UNA alum that is a sound engineer and very knowledgeable of the history on Muscle Sounds Studios. Very fun tshirts for sale as well. read more

Much more than we expected! Chase gave us a 45 minute tour packed with fascinating stories and fun facts about the studio. Well worth the visit!! read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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!!!

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! read more

Muscle Shoals Sound Studio - Recording & Rehearsal Studios Near Me - Sheffield, Alabama

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. read more

Muscle Shoals Sound Studio - Studio - Recording & Rehearsal Studios Near Me - Sheffield, Alabama

Wow, wow, wow, wow!!!! This is where the soundtrack to our lives was recorded. It's a one room tour but the guide was awesome, knew all the Swampers personally and had great stories to tell. Not near anything else but so, so worth the drive (took about 3 hrs from Nashville). Trust me, treat yourself. read more

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To see the place where so much of the music I have listened to over the past 45 yrs, was actually created... was AWSOME! I recommend a visit & tour to any music lover! read more

The sounds of your childhood can be found here at the nondescript but unforgettable Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. The Rolling Stones "Brown Sugar." Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock and Roll," Paul Simon's "Kodachrome," and "Free Bird" were recorded here on the same piano. The Stones wrote "Wild Horses" here. If you remember the 70's, you can't miss this destination! read more

The location and aura the place gives off is awesome.  I wish they would just allow you to browse about the studio... We did the tour, and were overwhelmed by the  tour guide (thus minus one star).  He wouldn't leave us alone, kept talking and talking and insisting that we pay attention to his message.  It would've been better if he were more chill or let us be, let us soak up the environment.   Maybe the other tour guides are better. It's absolutely, definitely worth the stop, and experience, and a few minutes in the actual studio is really, really cool too. read more

We went Saturday august 2021. Tickets were $15/each.the tour was nice not as good as the Fame studio tour but pretty good.they are still building it up, so maybe in a year it should be better. The tour I thought needed more script for the tour guide., more music played and more story behind the music . Good stories are always great. read more

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Wonderful tour. Our guide was really passionate about the studio's history and the music coming out of it, and answered everybody's questions. Many in the group had seen the "Muscle Shoals" documentary, but he gave us a brief and interesting history of how they opened the studio. As he walked us through the lounge and studio, we got a lot of cool stories. Here's the bathroom (located right next to the studio) where Keith Richards locked himself in to finish writing "Wild Horses". The grand piano is the one that the piano intro for "Freebird" was first played on (and recorded on their demo), and "Codachrome" plus a lot of Bob Seeger and Leon Russell classics were played. The bass corner of the studio - left intact - is where "I'll Take You There" was tracked. My husband and I are musicians and we loved it. read more

I've always been such a fan of the Shoals, ever since I moved there in 2010 to attend UNA. I was so happy to hear the Muscle Shoals Sound Studios had been revitalized and was open to the public. This tour is a must-do for any music lover and resident of the area. Anyone that's lived here will tell you that this town has a sort of magic to it. There's just something in the water. This was hands down one of the best tours that I have ever been on. The building itself has been molded back into what it once was with replicas of most of the furniture, tons of music equipment sourced from the time period and a few things that are actually original to the studio. But it's not all of that that makes the tour so special. It was the guide that really pushed this review to five stars. He was so knowledgeable and spoke with such passion about the studio and the time period that he had me pulling out my phone every five minutes to Google this and bookmark that and maybe order this from Amazon. To hear someone speak with so much passion about something and have that first hand, I was there knowledge, is just remarkable. This tour is a must do! read more

Muscle Shoals Sound Studio - Recording & Rehearsal Studios Near Me - Sheffield, Alabama

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My family and I shared one of the best experiences we've ever had together at this incredible place. I'd call it holy ground. Our guide was one of the best story tellers I've heard. His name is Terrell and he alone turned a possibly great time into one my parents, myself and my children will always remember. Too many amazing stories to go into myself and I could never do them justice. Please do yourself a favor and stop by. If you love music and music history, MSS is a holy place that must be seen and felt to believe. read more

Muscle Shoals Sound Studio - Myself and kids - Recording & Rehearsal Studios Near Me - Sheffield, Alabama

Remember all those vinyl LP's you had from the 60's-70's that said "recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios"? Like the Stones 'Sticky Fingers' or Traffic's 'Shootout at Fantasy Factory'..well, this place is a venerable who's who of the music business and a must see for the serious music fan. I got goosebumps when I saw Les Paul's 'Octopus' sitting in the corner and when Noel, our guide, pointed to a tape recorder on the floor while explaining this was John Lennon's (Yoko donated it) I began to tremble. Oh, there's the Marshall amp that belonged to Ted Nugent, the drumset that belongs to Alabama..the toliet seat hanging over the bathroom like a good luck horseshoe on which 'Wild Horses' was composed..I was a kid in a candy factory! Everything is original and functional..the piano which gave us the lilting solo at the end of Layla..the worn couches where many a star lounged, the walls full of signatures and notes from the recording artists..it's all here. AND they still record music to this day. Noel said a metal band from Detroit was coming in that afternoon for a session. As a National Historic Preservation site and only $10.00 admission, it is well worth the trip there. And they have cool t-shirts for $25.00/each. Do check this place out, you will be in awe! read more

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So cool to see this restored music studio. Shout out to Dr. Dre for his generosity. $15 for the tour and worth every penny that goes back to the nonprofit that owns and operates the studio. Great history and stories. If only those walls could talk. Great gift shop too. read more

Muscle Shoals Sound Studio - Recording & Rehearsal Studios Near Me - Sheffield, Alabama

We paid $15 for what they said was a 45 min tour. We walked into the studio and through it into the sound booth and that was it. We stood waiting for a tour and al he said was that Cher was the first contract. They are a 5013c and I cannot see what we paid for. Terribly disappointing! read more

5 stars purely based on it's history and ambience. I am not worthy!!!!! Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, formed by a breakaway group from FAME in 1969. This studio mentioned in "Sweet Home Alabama" by Skynyrd. The following artists recorded here. The Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cher, Bob Seeger, Aretha Franklin, Cat Stevens, Rod Stewart. I thought the building was empty, so pulled my Harley up front. But the roar and backfire of my pipes, woke up a couple of hippies that are sleeping inside. Maybe they are a band recording a new album? I dont know. But after my visit, I listened to Sticky Fingers, by the Rolling Stones, which was recorded here. If you are into music history, definitely worth a visit. read more

Muscle Shoals Sound Studio - My Harley outside Muscle Shoals Sound Studio - Recording & Rehearsal Studios Near Me - Sheffield, Alabama

Ever since my daughter treated me to a tour of the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio a couple of years ago, I have wanted to take my hubby. Just couldn't get it out of my bloodstream. I knew he would love it as much as I did. If you love old time rock and roll, r& b, and soul music from the late 60s thru late 70s go take a look and listen. Our guide Chase was just incredible!! You can tell he's more than passionate about this history and really made it come alive for us read more

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

This is a must for music lovers! It was such a good time. Small building with big history. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable, and very friendly. read more

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Amazing tour! This was an amazing historical site with an amazing story. Terrell told the story with animation and lots of humor. The Swampers original studio is a wonderful experience you do not want to miss! read more

So much cool information for music lovers! To think, we were standing where many talented legends had stood and performed! I was hanging on every word and wanted to know more. Our guide was very knowledgeable and personable. I highly recommend! read more

There's nothing particularly wrong with this one, it's just that it's a waste of time compared to the authentic FAME tour just down the road. It doesn't feel very historic at all since it was renovated by Apple and Beats, whereas FAME studios looks just as it does in the documentary. The part about the bathroom was pretty cool though. read more

The tour guide was very knowledgeable on all of the history behind this studio! So many great bands performed here, it's fascinating to be apart of! read more

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We toured both here and FAME. Both had their attributes and history but the lady that gives the tour here MAKES IT! She loves the artists and knows the history. Very friendly and knowledgeable read more