5 Facts About Bettye LaVette’s The Scene of the Crime

The album was recorded at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Additional recording took place at Water Music Recording Studio and Chase.

It was tracked with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, the same session players who backed Aretha Franklin and Wilson Pickett. This gave the album a raw, Southern soul sound.

LaVette recorded the vocals live in the studio with the band. This approach captured a spontaneous, unpolished energy.

The album features covers of songs by artists like Elton John and Willie Nelson. LaVette reinterpreted them with a gritty, bluesy delivery.

It was released in 2007 on Anti- Records. The album received critical acclaim for its authenticity and LaVette’s powerful performance.