Fame Records Relaunches With Hughes CD

Dormant for more than 30 years, Fame Records is relaunching this fall via a new distribution deal with EMI. The first release from the label, which introduced the Muscle Shoals sound to the rest of the world, will be “The Best of Jimmy Hughes,” due Oct. 28.

Fame is being supervised by Rodney Hall, the son of FAME Recording Studios founder Rick Hall. The Alabama-based company is planning to bring to market reissues as well as unreleased and new recordings.

The 18-track Hughes compilation is led by his best-known song, “Steal Away,” and also includes hits like “Try Me” and “Neighbor, Neighbor.” Hughes retired from the music business in the 1970s but still sings in church near his Muscle Shoals, Ala., home.

FAME was the epicenter for a host of legendary R&B and soul recordings in the 1960s and ’70s from the likes of Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding, many of which featured the Muscle Shoals backing band. The label ran from 1964-1976 and released music from artists such as Candi Staton, Clarence Carter and Dan Penn.

source – Billboard