Flip the Record: Discover the Other Side of The Shoals

The best souvenirs are the ones you weren’t looking for.

Story courtesy of Colbert County Tourism

Every great record has two sides.

Side A is the hit. It’s the song everyone came to hear. Side B is where you’ll often find the hidden gem.

The Shoals is much the same.

Visitors from around the world travel to Colbert County to experience the places that helped shape American music. They walk through legendary recording studios, hear the stories behind iconic songs and stand where generations of musicians left their mark.

But once you’ve experienced the hits, it’s time to flip the record.

Beyond the famous studios is another side of The Shoals, one best discovered without an agenda. Historic downtown streets invite you to slow your pace, step inside an unfamiliar storefront and enjoy the simple thrill of finding something unexpected.

Muscle Shoals Record Shop

Start with Vinyl

For music lovers, that journey often begins with vinyl.

Inside Muscle Shoals Record Shop in downtown Sheffield, more than 10,000 records line the shelves, from Muscle Shoals classics and Southern rock staples to brand-new releases and hard-to-find albums. Posters, turntables, speakers and music memorabilia make it just as much an experience as a shopping stop, and it’s easy to spend an hour browsing without ever noticing the time.

Just down the road, Counts Brothers Music has been serving musicians for more than four decades. What started as a small family business has grown into one of The Shoals’ most beloved music shops, where first-time players, seasoned professionals and curious visitors all feel at home.

Vintage instruments, used gear and collectible finds share the floor with brand-new equipment, while conversations about music happen as naturally as the songs themselves. Around here, you never know who might walk through the front door.

Even the legendary studios offer one last chance to take a little music home. Before leaving FAME Studios or Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, spend a few minutes browsing their gift shops. Alongside books and memorabilia, you’ll find thoughtfully selected vinyl that serves as the perfect reminder of where so many timeless recordings began.

Finders Keepers: Explore the Antique and Vintage Shops

Then, keep exploring.

Across Colbert County’s historic downtowns, the soundtrack gives way to stories. Antique stores, vintage boutiques and locally owned shops are filled with pieces that have lived many lives before finding their way onto a shelf, into a booth or hanging on a wall, waiting for someone new to appreciate them.

Spend an afternoon wandering through favorites like Antiques Unlimited, Funky Monkey, Magnolia Collectibles, Uncle A.A.’s Emporium, Serendipity Effect, ReLoved, Home to Home and Vintage South, along with the many other antique and vintage shops tucked throughout our communities.

Every stop offers something different, and that is part of the fun.

One shop may surprise you with colorful mid-century glassware and vintage advertising signs. The next might reveal a weathered farmhouse table, a collection of handwritten postcards, retro décor, classic vinyl or the perfect piece of furniture you’ve been searching for without even realizing it.

There are no two visits exactly alike, and that is what keeps people coming back.

The Discoveries That Stay with You

The music may be what first brings visitors to The Shoals, but it is often these quieter moments that stay with them.

The conversations with shop owners. The stories behind a well-loved record. The excitement of discovering something unexpected. The leisurely stroll down a historic Main Street with a coffee in one hand and a shopping bag in the other.

The best trips are not always measured by what you planned to see. Sometimes they are defined by what you never expected to find.

So after you’ve visited the studios and heard the stories behind the songs, take a little extra time to explore the other side of The Shoals.

Take the Soundtrack Along

Then, keep the experience going with Flip the Record, two Spotify playlists curated by Colbert County Tourism.

Side A: The Soundtrack features many of the iconic songs and artists that helped define the Muscle Shoals Sound.

Side A: The Soundtrack [Spotify link]

Side B: The Stroll is the perfect companion for wandering our downtowns, browsing antique shops and soaking in the charm of The Shoals at your own pace.

 Side B: The Stroll [Spotify link]

Whether you’re adding another record to your collection, finding the perfect vintage treasure or simply enjoying an afternoon downtown, let the music be part of the journey.

Flip the record.

You just might discover your favorite side of The Shoals.