7:09 - Greeted the day with my daily opener - "Good morning, Lord. Where are we going today?" I've been awakening with those words for decades now. The Bishop says a better way to say it would be, "Where are You going today, Lord - may I come, too?" He has a point, but the Lord knows what I mean.
9:00 - The car's all packed and here we go - off to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the first stop on this trip to Marion, Arkansas. I went the back way through North, then Wagner, to I-20.
Crossing the Savannah River into Georgia, reminded me of Sylvia's famous statement to me: "We can live anywhere you like John, as long as it's east of the Savannah River!"
12:10 - I see that it takes three hours and a few minutes to make it to Atlanta from Orangeburg.
Seems to be a lot broken-down trucks on the road today. I've seen four on the side of the road so far. And something interesting. Every time another 18-wheeler in the right lane passes by an 18-wheeler on the side of the road stopped for repairs, they automatically move over to the left-hand lane (whether you are there or not) as they pass by - even though there's plenty of room in the right-hand lane. And they don't move over for cars stopped on the side - they seem to only move over for other trucks. Must be a trucker ritual, paying their respects to a fallen comrade. Who knows?
Next up, Birmingham. It may be just me, but the skyline from I-20 looks a lot like the skyline of Indianapolis, and also a bit like Richmond Virginia. (Like I said, it may be just me.)
Heading north now - about a hour till I get to Muscle Shoals. This is rural Alabama - Farming country. - And it's absolutely gorgeous!
Welcome to Muscle Shoals. Left at 9:00, got here at 3:15. Well, 3:15 Central Time.
There's the reason I came - Fame Studios. They have a tour this afternoon at 4:00, and I'm going.
I also stopped by the other famous recording studio in town - This is the place the Rolling Stones recorded "Brown Sugar" and where Lynard Skynard recorded "Sweet Home Alabama" and where Paul Simon recorded "Loves me like a Rock."
But this place is the whole reason I came - Welcome to Fame Studios. Home of Rick Hall and the original Muscle Shoals Swampers.
This is the place where Wilson Picket recorded all of his hits except Midnight Hour. (That was done in Memphis.) This is where Clarence Carter recorded all his songs. This is where Joe Tex recorded his hits. The Staple Singers recorded all their hits here. This is where Aretha Franklin recorded "Chain of Fools" and "Baby I Love You" and "I've Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You." Oh I'm just getting started. This is where James and Bobby Purify recorded. The Commodores recorded here. "What Kind of Fool Do you Think I am" by the Tams was recorded here. Mac Davis recorded his 1970's hits here. The Osmonds (remember "One Bad Apple?) recorded all their hits here along with All of Donny Osmond's hits. And Marie's.
And this one really blew me away - Paul Anka recorded "You're having my Baby" right here at Fame. Mercy!
This is the main recording board. 32 inputs.
This is a friendly town! Everybody you walk past says "Hi!" I really like this little town. Reminds me of home. (Orangeburg.)
So that's the first day. Tomorrow, it's on to Marion for the our first of two days with Horace and the fine folks at Trinity In the Fields. Thank you for your prayers, and pray tomorrow. Pinckney and I make our first presentation to them tomorrow about 7:00pm (6:00, your time.). Talk to you tomorrow!