Chrissi Poland has been singing soul for years, and on Forever Muscle Shoals, she returns to the songs that taught her how. Recorded live at FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, the album brings together versions of songs associated with Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Wilson Pickett, Cher, Bob Dylan, and The Rolling Stones.
Poland is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Her work has spanned soul, blues, rock, jazz, and Americana, and she has worked with Hozier, Lady Gaga, Nile Rodgers, Mavis Staples, Chaka Khan, Sting, and Smokey Robinson, among other artists.
The truth is, she does not approach this repertoire as an outsider. These songs are at the foundation of how she sings and writes.
The idea emerged in 2022 during a tour stop in Florence, Alabama. Poland walked into FAME Studios and knew she wanted to record there. “Returning to The Shoals to honor the music and artistry that shaped me, and to be part of a new era of recording happening in this sacred geographical corner of American music, is nothing short of a dream come true,” she explains.
Jay Tooke produced the album, which features Kelvin Holly, a member of the FAME Gang who also worked with Little Richard; Jimbo Hart, known for his work with Jason Isbell; and other guest musicians.
Wild Horses features country singer James Otto, while Ryan Shaw appears on Respect Yourself. Hold On, I’m Comin’ carries a different weight. The song is dedicated to Sam Moore, with whom Poland spent more than a decade touring. It is a tribute to an artist who was an important part of her musical journey.
Soul holds the record together, although the songs also make room for rock, country, and American roots music.
Poland does not want to copy the original recordings. She wants to reach what still beats inside them. She speaks about feeling the presence of Aretha Franklin and Etta James in the studio and imagining Spooner Oldham playing the introduction to “I Never Loved a Man” on the Wurlitzer.
“Soul music isn’t just a genre but more so an experience of human emotion. It demands that you be raw, real, and connected. That’s why I’ve always been called to it,” she says.
Forever Muscle Shoals makes it clear where part of Poland’s voice comes from. The studios and songs carry history, and Poland steps into that history, sings, and makes the repertoire her own through everything she has experienced onstage. That is where the album’s value lies, in making those songs feel present again.
Listen to “Forever Muscle Shoals” and connect with Chrissi Poland on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
