MEMPHIS & MUSCLE SHOALS

By 1960, Tom Dowd's reputation as a master producer/engineer was undeniable. That stature for excellence led to a decade of personal and professional experiences with individuals who shaped musical and social history.

Along with recording producer friend Phil Ramone, Tom began mixing sound for special events at the White House. Starting with the Kennedy administration and continuing through the Johnson years, the pair were called upon to oversee the sound at State Dinners, White House social functions and even the Democratic National Convention. Other 'freelance' gigs included a nation-wide Broadway-type musical revue for Lee Iacocca and J.Walter Thompson advertising agency, to introduce Ford Motor Company's new car line, the "Mustang."

Also at this time, Atlantic Records arranged a distribution deal with Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee. Jerry Wexler of Atlantic sent Tom to see what their 'problem' was with some consistently inconsistent equipment. The next day, Tom met Jim Stewart, president of Stax Records, and was introduced to life in the segregated South of the early 60's. Tom rebuilt the studio's mono Ampex 350 before the very eyes of their talented house rhythm section, and quickly earned the respect of the group which included Duck Dunn, Steve Cropper, Al Jackson and Booker T. Jones: Booker T. and the MG's.

As Tom recalls, "The next morning, Sunday, I went by the studio to make sure all of my handiwork was up to snuff, when in walked Rufus Thomas. He was passing the studio on his way home from church, . . . and when he saw what was going on he asked if the band would record a little song he had just written, sort of a test. I chucked a reel of tape on the machine and we made perhaps as many as three passes at the song. When I left Memphis I took along a copy of the Rufus "demo" to play for the people in New York to indicate that everything in Memphis was back in good running order. That song was released as a single and became popular under the title of 'Walkin' the Dog.' This sequence of events seems to have endeared me in the hearts of everyone connected with Stax. As the years rolled by I was asked by Jim Stewart, Steve Cropper and some of the Stax artists to visit Memphis whenever they were recording." This led to recordings with, King Curtis ('Memphis Soul Stew) and the immortal Otis Redding ('Otis Blue' album),

In 1967, during a European tour (see poster, above) including an all-star Memphis' line-up featuring Otis Redding,Tom served as the group's chosen ambassador. "Flying across the ocean was a major event in all of their lives. The chance that they might see the Beatles or meet Eric Clapton was a dream come true.

Little did they realize how much those people looked forward to seeing them! They were treated to a reception where, yes, they met the Beatles and many other English artists . . . and were in awe of the accolades being given them. Press conferences, parties, receptions, sightseeing, the works."

Soon to follow were sessions in Muscle Shoals, Alabama with artists such as Wilson Picket ('Mustang Sally'), and a new Atlantic signee, Aretha Franklin. As Tom recalls, "Aretha always did her best renditions at the piano. Every time she tried to record a song standing up, it never worked. So when I produced her I always had to do live performances and capture her vocals while she was singing and playing." It obviously worked, because during her induction speech at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 25 years after their first of many hits together, Aretha thanked her old friend Tommy Dowd for his important contribution in the creation of the classic 'Aretha' sound.

Throughout the '60's, Tom Dowd utilized his experience and flexibility to craft sessions for some of the biggest names in show business. He cranked out #1 gold records for The Rascals ('Good Lovin', 'Mustang Sally'), classic albums for Cream ('Disraeli Gears', 'Wheels Of Fire'), and era-defining songs with Dusty Springfield ('Son Of A preacher Man') and Jerry Jeff Walker ('Mr. Bojangles'). A decade's worth of hit records, politics and road shows behind him, Tom entered the 1970's in search of new challenges. He would find them amongst completely new surroundings.

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