Project Studio Soul: The Casket Factory

Fred Bevis, who had converted an old casket factory at 3614 Jackson Highway into a four-track studio, was ready to sell. The four musicians pooled their assets and bought it. With a promise or steady work from Wexler, they immediately upgraded to eight track. Their first project for Atlantic was Cher, and although that project was reasonably successful, it was the next visitor who would firmly establish the studioÕs FM album rock credentials.

Sign posted near Muscle ShoalsÕ tiny airport, probably in mid-70Õs.

At the time, only bassist David Hood had even heard of the Steve Miller Band, and he had not looked closely enough at the album jackets to remember the face of Boz Scaggs. He eased into town, introducing himself (backed by co-producer/publisher Jann Wenner) as a reporter for the Rolling Stone.

He hung out for two or three days, left, and came back several weeks later to cut a milestone recordÑan underground classic that marked the only collaboration between Scaggs and the studios lead guitarist at the time, Duane Allman.

ÒWe had fun playing on that one,Ó recalls Beckett. ÒWe enjoyed it because we could loosen up and play what we wanted to play. We were dying to shake off the tight discipline of some of the New York sessions.Ó

It wouldnÕt be long before the Muscle Shoals musicians had a chance to loosen up even more. In the next installment, to be posted in two weeks, weÕll look back at sessions with Paul Simon, Traffic, Jimmy Cliff and Bob Seger.