91原创 musician Karen Lee Batten never sang the song Sweet Home Alabama.
But last week, she released a remake of the legendary single, the first song from her new album Under the Covers in Muscle Shoals - and she has quite the story to tell around its release.
Her take not only features some of the swampers who originally recorded the song back in the 1970s, but she recorded it in the same studio where it was originally produced, and she鈥檚 now turned it into a tribute to FAME Studio founder Rick Hall 鈥� who passed away a month ago.
Sweet Home Alabama was cut, along with 10 and a half others songs (two of them run together, she explained) recorded in only four day at the studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where most of the soul classics were recorded in the 1960s and 鈥�70s. And Hall took time out, while Batten was there recording, to come and visit.
鈥淚鈥檝e actually never sang that song in my life before, until I sang it down in the studio of FAME,鈥� she said, explaining why she chose to tackle such a famous song.
鈥淚 actually got to cut that song with some of the original guys who played on it with Lynyrd Skynyrd back in the day. So, if there was going to be any time I was going to sing that song, it was going to be then. So, I feel pretty amazing to have that opportunity,鈥� she said.
鈥淲alking into FAME Studios, looking around that room for the first time鈥� I just felt the history in the walls,鈥� Batten added.
鈥淚 knew standing there that these were the songs I wanted to sing, and for the first time in a long time, I was nervous. But those nerves came from the respect I felt 鈥� I was about to sing some of the greatest songs of all time, and I can only hope I鈥檝e done them proud,鈥� the artist shared.
鈥淭he cherry was the moment Rick Hall came down to the studio saying 鈥業 heard there was an artists worth coming down for.鈥� Here was the founder of FAME, the man who originally produced all these great songs, standing on the floor while we cut, sitting behind his console, while I sang,鈥� Batten recounted.
鈥淓verything about that moment is completely unexplainable,鈥� she added, noting that just recounting it put her into tears.
鈥淚t was completely surreal, totally overwhelming.鈥�
鈥淭here are no words to describe what it feels like to stand in the same spot as Aretha, Etta, Bob, Skynyrd, Redding and so many more,鈥� she said.
鈥淭o sing with their musicians, and to record with their producer 鈥� Rick Hall 鈥� the man that brought black and white musicians together to create music that would last for generations, in the room鈥� I can say that this has been one of the most amazing highlights of my career, if not the most!鈥�
Sadly, before she could release the song, Hall passed away back on Jan. 2.
Batten said she鈥檚 鈥淚鈥檓 not sure how I got so luck to have met him, but this girl feels pretty damn lucky.鈥�
This is not just an album, she told the 91原创 Advance. It鈥檚 an opportunity, she said, to recognize and thank some of the world鈥檚 best ever musicians 鈥� artists whose accomplishments in the music industry are legendary, not only with songs such as Sweet Home Alabama, but also Aretha Franklin鈥檚 Respect and Mustang Sally by Wilson Pickett.
鈥淚t鈥檚 was truly one of the best moments of my life and career to date,鈥� Batten insisted.
鈥淭here were so many important people鈥� I shook hands with these people鈥� I sang with these people鈥� My jaw was on the floor the whole time,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was such a crazy experience just to be near these people鈥� They are forever my friends.鈥�
Batten is a country music singer who first became a household name in 2003, during the launch of Canadian Idol, when she made it to the top 11 performers. She went on to release her debut album in 2005, and has been the winner of the female vocalist of the year multiple times as she continues to record, perform, and participate in a number of local fundraising initiatives in and around her hometown of 91原创.
The album is set to release on March 9, and a tour is in the works. She鈥檚 not sure where it will take her. She鈥檚 expecting to perform both in Alabama and in Canada.
Who knows where else it might take us,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 will go wherever it wants me to go.鈥�
_________________________________
Is there more to this story?
Like us on or follow us on
_________________________________
