Most of us have heard Lynyrd Skynyrd's Sweet Home Alabama, but not everyone completely understands the verse that begins, "Now, Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers, and they've been known to pick a song or two." The Swampers were the backing band for some of the greatest soul music ever recorded, at Rick Hall's FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, in the nothing-special Alabama town of Muscle Shoals. With commentary from Bono, Keith Richards, Aretha Franklin and others, this new film from director Greg (Freddy) Camalier thoughtfully chronicles the story of the hard-driving Hall and the sound and groove that still picks us up when we're feeling blue.
April 30, 9:15 p.m., Bloor; May 3, 6:15 p.m., Bloor; May 4, 9 p.m., Bader.
Brad Wheeler