The Fame Studios Story 1961-1973 is the lynchpin of Ace's extensive catalogue campaign spotlighting the recordings and artists associated with the Fame label and studio of Muscle Shoals, Alabama - home of the Muscle Shoals Sound.

The 75-track, 3CD set is an open-minded, celebratory overview of this world-famous institution's golden era, when under the stewardship of owner Rick Hall, Fame birthed countless recordings that have come to define Southern Soul music.

Hall's idiosyncratic engineering and production technique, and the highly-regarded session crew he employed, resulted in an unprecedented run of hits, not to mention an equal amount of astoundingly soulful misses.

The featured artists are a virtual Who's Who of 1960s soul, including Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Etta James, Arthur Conley, Irma Thomas, Joe Tex, Joe Simon, Lou Rawls, Arthur Alexander and Otis Clay, alongside lesser known, yet no less worthy names such as the Blues Busters, Maurice & Mac, Spencer Wiggins, Willie Hightower, Bettye Swann and many, many others.

The set also includes several of the notable pop hits recorded at the studio by the Osmonds, Tommy Roe and Bobbie Gentry, among others. Special attention is paid to those acts closely associated with the Fame label, such as Candi Staton, Jimmy Hughes and Clarence Carter, as well as its inestimable stable of writers and producers, including Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham and George Jackson.

The Fame Studios Story 1961-1973 is the fruit of two years' extensive research in the Fame vaults by the Ace team, with full access granted to this legendary tape and photo archive. The heavily illustrated package not only boasts over a dozen unissued tracks - including previously unheard rarities by Otis Redding and Arthur Alexander - but also comes laden with informative essays and extensive track notes, all based upon fresh interviews with many of the principals involved.

If you know anything about soul music, you know Fame, which is why The Fame Studios Story 1961-1973 is an essential purchase.

Follows on from our recent release of Candi Staton's Evidence: The Complete Fame Records Masters, which has garnered rave reviews everywhere. Packaged in the same deluxe style as our 2008 mini-box set, Take Me To The River.