Recorded Live at FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, the Album Reimagines Classics Made Famous by Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Cher, Bob Dylan and More

NEW YORK , NY, UNITED STATES, August 26, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Acclaimed singer-songwriter and powerhouse vocalist Chrissi Poland released her new full-length album, Forever Muscle Shoals, digitally on all platforms today. Recorded live in Alabama at the legendary FAME Studios and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, the project is Poland's deeply personal tribute to the songs, musicians and unmistakable sound that emerged from Muscle Shoals during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The inspiration for Forever Muscle Shoals began in 2022, when Poland stopped in Florence, Alabama, while on tour and visited FAME Studios. Standing in the room where some of the most influential soul recordings in American music history were created sparked an immediate emotional and visceral reaction.
She knew she needed to return — this time to make a record.

"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," Poland said. On Forever Muscle Shoals, Poland brings her formidable voice and distinctive interpretations to songs associated with legendary artists including Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Wilson Pickett, Cher, Bob Dylan and others.

Rather than simply recreating the originals, Poland approaches the material through the lens of a lifelong singer, songwriter and musician whose artistry has been profoundly influenced by soul music.

"I could feel the vibrations of Aretha and Etta in the room," Poland said. "I could visualize the moment Spooner Oldham played the famed opening riff to 'I Never Loved a Man' on that gorgeous Wurlitzer. So many of these songs shaped my brain, heart and soul as a singer and a writer."

"Above all, the feeling is what I connect to most deeply. 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."

The album includes Poland's rendition of "Wild Horses," featuring CMA winner and two-time Grammy nominee country singer-songwriter James Otto. The single has already earned editorial recognition from Apple Music, which selected the track for its New in Americana playlist. Additionally, the single “Respect Yourself” features three-time Grammy nominee Ryan Shaw.

Her latest single “Hold On I’m Comin” has landed on Pandora’s editorial playlist AMP Fresh Cuts. The single holds special meaning to Poland, as it’s a tribute to Sam Moore, a pioneer of soul music as part of the duo Sam & Dave who Poland spent over a decade touring with.

Adding to the album's launch, international coffeehouse chain Caffè Nero will feature Poland and Forever Muscle Shoals as its Artist and Album of the Month, bringing the project to listeners throughout its cafés. Stacey Anderson, of the New York Times, calls the album “Sheer ferocity…”

With Forever Muscle Shoals, Poland pays homage not only to a catalog of timeless songs, but to a place and musical community whose influence continues to resonate generations later. Her ability to inhabit a song with both technical command and emotional intensity has long distinguished her as a vocalist.

ABOUT CHRISSI POLAND
Chrissi Poland is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose music draws from soul, blues, rock, jazz, and Americana. Known for her powerful, emotionally expressive vocals, Poland has built a career that bridges her own original music with collaborations and performances alongside acclaimed artists across multiple genres. With Forever Muscle Shoals, Poland returns to the music that helped shape her as an artist, recording in the historic Alabama studios at the center of one of the most celebrated chapters in American music history.

Jennifer Lyneis
Ue3promotions
jen@ue3promotions.com
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