Filmmaker Greg “Freddy” Camalier makes the case that it is the location, alongside the Tennessee River in Northwest Alabama that provided the magic to make the perfect setting for a small recording studio that turned out a whole lot of worldwide hits.
More likely it was the determination of dirt-poor producer Rick Hall who created a warm, no-frills recording room and peerless bunch of easy-funky players to back a line of talented singers starting with Arthur Alexander and continuing with Percy Sledge and Wilson Pickett. In the engaging documentary “Muscle Shoals,” making its debut tonight on “Independent Lens” (PBS, 10 p.m., check local listings), threads of other big music stories make their way there, from the turning point in Aretha Franklin’s career to a high point in the Rolling Stones’ recording career.
So many names made their mark in Muscle Shoals from Etta James to Clarence Carter, mostly with Hall’s strict guidance. But his iron hand also made him a tyrant to some, so the original “Swampers” studio broke off and kept their own studio, meaning there were multiple world-class places to record in a town of less than 10,000. And its sound of soulful black and white belied the segregation outside studio doors.
The town’s success drew big names there to record including Paul Simon, Traffic and the Osmonds. It’s where Duane Allman soared as session man and Lynyrd Skynyrd first recorded and Bob Seger did his standout stuff as well. Some of the most articulate commentators about the town are outsiders, such as Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (but Bono sounds like he learned about most of it from a book). The movie’s trip down South makes for an awfully fine musical journey.
“The Boondocks” (Cartoon Network, 10:30 p.m.) returns after a four year absence without the participation of its creator Aaron McGruder, who originally adapted his sharp cartoon strip into a similarly dangerous Adult Swim show. It will be the final season.
Lana delivers her baby on the fifth season finale of “Archer” (FX, 10 p.m.).
Joey Fatone hosts the new cooking competition “Rewrapped” (Food Network, 8 p.m.) in which contestants are asked to recreate commercial snacks. First up: Goldfish crackers.
The “2 Broke Girls” (CBS, 8 p.m.) find the original tenant of their apartment and it’s the guy from “Barney Miller.”
Live singing (or at least live voting by viewers) finally begin for the Top 12 on “The Voice” (NBC, 8 p.m.).
Possibly a ploy to keep the young audience after Cody Simpson was eliminated last week, a guy from LMFAO is guest judge on “Dancing with the Stars” (ABC, 8 p.m.). Hope it’s not the one with the paper bag over his head.
It’s the 70s flashback episode of “Castle” (ABC, 10 p.m.).
“Southern Charm” (Bravo, 10 p.m.) ends its first season as it began, with Whitney throwing a party.
A week-long 58-film salute to John Wayne begins with “The Big Trail” (8 p.m.), “Frontier Horizon” (10:30 p.m.), “Haunted Gold” (midnight), “Somewhere in Sonora” (1:15 a.m.), “Baby Face” (2:30 a.m.) and “The Telegraph Trail” (5:30 a.m.).
NBA playoffs have Memphis at Oklahoma City (TNT, 8 p.m.) and Golden State at Clippers (TNT, 10:30 p.m.). In the Stanley Cup playoffs, it’s Pittsburgh at Columbus (NBC Sports, 7 p.m.), Colorado at Minnesota (NHL, 7 p.m.), St. Louis at Chicago (CNBC, 8:30 p.m.) and Anaheim at Dallas (NBC Sports, 9:30 p.m.).
Baseball includes Baltimore at Boston (MLB, 11 a.m.) and Cincinnati at Pittsburgh (ESPN, 7 p.m.).
And you can count on more coverage than usual at the Boston Marathon.
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Michelle Obama, Jim Carrey, Christina Hendricks, Dexter Roberts. The View: Mayor Bill de Blasio, Chirlane McCray, Mario Cantone, Debbie Matenopoulos, Angie Martinez. The Talk: Christopher Meloni, Brooklyn Decker, Majandra Delfino, Zoe Lister-Jones, Ellen K., Pat & Gina Neely. Ellen DeGeneres: Ice Cube, Drew Carey. Wendy Williams: Russell Simmons.
Late Talk
David Letterman: Courteney Cox, Jimmie “J.J.” Walker, Christina Perri. Jimmy Fallon: Brian Williams, Christina hendricks, Ilan Hall. Jimmy Kimmel: Billy Bob Thornton, Katy Perry, Chromeo. Seth Meyers: Sen. John McCain, billy Eichner, Jason Derulo. Craig Ferguson: George Lopez, Ari Graynor. Carson Daly: Nick Frost, Lucius, White Sea. Tavis Smiley: Robert English, Rufus Wainwright. Jon Stewart: Gina McCarthy. Stephen Colbert: Marcellus McRae, Kate Elliott. Arsenio Hall: “Wild” Bill Wichrowski & Johnathan Hillstrand, Death. Conan O’Brien: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emmy Rossum, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings (rerun). Chelsea Handler: Bob Saget, brad Wollack, Heather McDonald, Josh wolf, Khloe Kardashian. Pete Holmes: Paul Scheer, Adam Cayton-Holland (rerun).