Highs and lows with Lynyrd Skynyrd

In "Sweet Home Alabama", Lynyrd Skynyrd drops the obscure line, "Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers."

They were referring to a nickname for the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, a group of studio musicians who helped create some of the biggest hit albums of the 1970s.

In this interview clip, Rhythm Section members Roger Hawkins and David Hood describe the up-and-down relationship they and partner Jimmy Johnson had with the members of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

For more on the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and other arists featured in The Year of Alabama Arts, visit 800alabama.com/yoa/

Category:

Music

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• Lynyrd
• Skynyrd
• Muscle
• Shoals
• Rhythm
• Section
• Sweet
• Home
• Alabama
• Music
• Rock
• Freebird
• Lynard
• Skynard

[sevinstorey]

Thanks to Mr.David Hood for telling this story,it was not common knowledge to the public that Ronnie held a resentment against Muscle Shoals,Ronnie at heart was a true southern gentleman and he didn't spread gossip,if he had a problem with you he worked it out with you personally,unlike todays music where controversy sells,he had real talent so he didn't need gimmicks.Thank you Mr. Hood and thanks to Mr. Hawkins,and to Muscle Shoals Music.

[olgapate94]

lynyrd skynyrd for life¡¡¡¡

[nickles234]

Recently sent an e-mail to David Hood via his website,found him to be very gracious and helpful.Willing to lend a kind word and inspiration to a fellow bassist.Hard to fathom just how many hits this man and his colleagues played on.The Swampers should be held in just as high esteem as the Funk Brothers and the Wrecking Crew.

[EasyAce]

David Hood and Roger Hawkins were the most underrated rhythm section in R and B.

[MrHeavysteel]

@sevinstorey Ye, nowadays they make money of gossips

[aaronamccoy]

damn, i got to go to muscle shoals sound. it is a very humble place, amazing the hits that came out of there..

[wbaiv]

I remember seeing these guys in the inside of the first Boz Skags album, with Duane Allman, and thinking, dang, I bet THEY have some stories to tell. I KNEW who Mr. Van Zant, etc, were talking about on Sweet Home. 'Cos I'd already about played the grooves off "Loan Me A Dime", "Finding Her There" and all the rest.

[Skynyrdbrothersband]

Without a doubt,The Muscle shoals recordings are my favorite skynyrd recordings,However I am glad the tape got twisted because knowing how record company's do business I don't think Lynyrd Skynyrd would have gotten as good a deal as they did with Al Kooper.They got an experienced Musician,producer+ engineer.Plus Al was trying to make  his new label.All the way around win/ win for the Boys.

Except Kooper Screwed them out of their ownership of their Songs.Kooper said;"it was Just Business"

[eddc1971]

Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers!! I'm the biggest Ronnie/Skynyrd fan in Oregon, you guys rule !!

[jay13jay13]

:) but why they love the gov in brum? boo hoo hoo.