Memphis part 1

While heading to Graceland, We pass a sign for the Stax recording studio museum. I MUST GO TO THIS! For those who don't know, Stax was a record label owned by Atlantic Records and was responsible for Wilson Pickett, et al. see photo of sign.



This is in a pretty poor neighborhood, but it looks really nice. We went inside and had to wait 10 minutes. (a 20-minute film about the place is included with the self-guided tour.) We saw the film and then walked through the exhibit. Lots of memorbilia in glass cases. Lots of video screens showing interviews with artists about the place and, of course, the music itself.



The interesting part is the mixture of black and white artists working together without regard for color during a time in history where segregation was still a huge issue... just making your foot tap was the point. They played music that they wanted to hear. Steve Cropper said it best: "When you walked through the door, everything else disappeared except the music."

This all ended with the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When this happened, it affected the working relationships between artists and turned the neighborhood into a violent scene. (Note: King was shot at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis - very nearby - and it is now a civil rights museum.)

By far, the best part for me was the studio where it all happened. I was not allowed to take any pictures inside, so this explains the few shots I took here. The first stop is the control room. Ancient recording gear lives here. As a geek and nostalgia buff, I loved this. The play, over the loud speakers, the sound of different artists in the process of recording their songs. You hear the songs breakdown and people laughing as they try for take 5 of a song.

Finally, You walk through the actual studio itself where it all happened. Guitars and basses encased in glass. From Steve Cropper and "Duck" Dunn respectively. Those were the only things in glass here. There was a drum set sitting on a moveable isolation platform and, best of all, Booker T's actual Hammond Organ used in the recording of "Green Onions." The amazing thing is that is was sitting on a stand about 6 inches high with some velvet ropes around it - BUT you could reach out and touch the thing. The back cover was off so you could see all the tubes and electronics in there (considerable.) I was in there for about 10 minutes by myself... feeling the vibe and heavy atmosphere. I wish I wasn't so rushed so I could really get into the vibe there, but after continuous driving to that point, and knowing that we are only a little more than halfway to our destination, kept my mind occupied.

Next Stop: Graceland!

.:C:.