MSM 90s: Walking in Memphis, Clint Bailey
9/1/26
By Monica Collier
One of my most favorite parts of the annual Muscle Shoals Meets concerts is how it always proves to be a truly eye-opening experience. I love revisiting the greatness of our local superstars, but I especially love seeing [old] songs in a new light. Fun stuff, friends.
Hand to God, I didn't realize Marc Cohn's "Walking in Memphis" originated in the 1990s. Google tells me it was released in 1991 but if I'd been asked man on the street style, I would've guessed it to be a late 80s song. Yeah. That sort of non-descript, genreless sound tells me "Walking in Memphis" is a timeless song that's in the zeitgeist for the long haul.
It's probably just me but even to this day when I hear "Walking in Memphis" on my favorite local radio station, WQLT, I envision the journey in the story as one that begins in the Shoals. I mean seriously, our Shoals to Memphis ties run deep, right? W.C. Handy, Sam Phillips ... !!!
It's so funny, it took Clint Bailey telling me the "Walking in Memphis" story for the trillionth time for my eyes to be opened to how deeply I connect with this song. I know it's a "doh" moment, but friends, this is a really special song.
Clint really helped me understand that the true beauty of "Walking in Memphis" is it's a universal narrative. No matter who you are or where you're from, "Walking in Memphis" is about you. It's a rare song that's a legitimate history lesson cleverly disguised as a brilliant and catchy everyman tune.
From what I could tell, this seventh performance of the night was an all hands on deck occasion. I'm pretty sure the backing vocals game was maxed out in perfection with the Shoals Sisters, Marie Lewey and Cindy Walker, AND Eddie Martin and Malcolm Singleton. Didn't the performance sound so very good, friends?
Looking at Devona Hawkins' fabulous photos from the MSM 90s main show confirms what I have written in my notebook, too: Ben Tanner was on keys, y'all. Yep. Our favorite Grammy-winning native son was next to Clint adding his magic to this very special performance.
Listen, with the right narrator at the helm -- or in this case, behind the keys -- even a great song can be better. I still can't believe how the world-famous Fiddleworms and friends proved "Walking in Memphis" to be more powerful than just a song on the radio that mentions W.C. Handy. Thank you, Clint, for steering this one into eye-opening waters. By the way, Clint really shined bright during MSM 90s Mixtape Week, didn't he, friends?
Stay tuned. More to come.
Dig Worms.
Photo by Devona Hawkins
