MOG Editorial Review

With the recent passing of this R&B architect, it's immediately recognizable that Johnny Otis's musical contributions can't be contained in a single compilation, but The Capitol Years is a fun way to remember him nonetheless. Kicking off with notorious hit "Willie and the Hand Jive," the set captures Otis the rock and roller, combining various sounds at a time when the new genre was still waiting for a charisma like his to come along, something that's evident on stompers like "Castin' My Spell." While you'll have to look elsewhere for his soul and blues-oriented work, these tracks are enough to make us miss him already.