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Otis Redding

Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul

  • AMG Review of Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul

    Amg
    Bruce Eder
    All Music Guide

    Otis Redding's third album, and his first fully realized album, presents his talent unfettered, his direction clear, and his confidence emboldened, with fully half the songs representing a reach that extended his musical grasp. More than a quarter of this album is given over to Redding's versions of songs by Sam Cooke, his idol, who had died the previous December, and all three are worth owning and hearing. Two of them, "A Change Is Gonna Come" and "Shake," are every bit as essential as any soul recordings ever made, and while they (and much of this album) have reappeared on several anthologies, it's useful to hear the songs from those sessions juxtaposed with each other, and with "Wonderful World," which is seldom compiled elsewhere. Also featured are Redding's spellbinding renditions of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" (a song epitomizing the fully formed Stax/Volt sound and which Mick Jagger and Keith Richards originally wrote in tribute to and imitation of Redding's style), "My Girl," and "You Don't Miss Your Water." "Respect" and "I've Been Loving You Too Long," two originals that were to loom large in his career, are here as well; the former became vastly popular in the hands of Aretha Franklin and the latter was an instant soul classic. Among the seldom-cited jewels here is a rendition of B.B. King's "Rock Me Baby" that has the singer sharing the spotlight with Steve Cropper, his playing alternately elegant and fiery, with Wayne Jackson and Gene "Bowlegs" Miller's trumpets and Andrew Love's and Floyd Newman's saxes providing the backing. Redding's powerful, remarkable singing throughout makes Otis Blue gritty, rich, and achingly alive, and an essential listening experience.

Pseudo Cyborg
Pseudo Cyborg of Rapscallion The Ne'er-Do-Well, Erased Files
"I don't wanna stop now."
over 3 years ago

I was on a flight earlier this year, solitary and ear-deep in my iPod—as was the custom at the time.I'm used to shutting myself off to the world with headphones, being the master of public transportation that I am. The days I forget them are always filled with the longest rides. Perhaps strangers speak to me because I have an approachable face. I really have no idea. And, sure, sometimes I don'.

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Otis.................my man
7 months ago

It is rainy here in Minnesota, and being that it is Sunday it seems like fitting weather. Outside was not an option today so a family trip to the library was on the agenda. I know I have said it a million times before, but I love going to the library to get a new crop of music to add to my music collection on my home computer. I was a little disappointed today at the selections my library had t...

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Otis Redding, 1966 Stax-Volt European Tour
11 months ago

i love old footage/soundboard recordings of live otis redding. he definitely laid it on down...crowd didn't know exactly how to deal.The 1966 Stax-Volt European Tour contains performance footage of the first major multi city tour of America's R&B superstars.Superb performances by Sam & Dave and Otis Redding hypnotized the European kids again opening up new audiences for them and propelling the...

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friday random ten, 1965 edition
about 1 year ago

1) Fontella Bass, "Rescue Me." It hit #1 on the R&B charts, the only time Bass would make it to the top. Bass had an interesting career ... she played piano for Little Milton and recorded with avant-garde jazzbos the Art Ensemble of Chicago (she was married to band member Lester Bowie). Not a one-hit wonder at all.2) Buffy Sainte-Marie, "Until It's Time for You to Go." Her vibrato-laced vocals...

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Pseudo Cyborg
Pseudo Cyborg of Rapscallion The Ne'er-Do-Well, Erased Files
"I don't wanna stop now."
over 3 years ago

I was on a flight earlier this year, solitary and ear-deep in my iPod—as was the custom at the time.I'm used to shutting myself off to the world with headphones, being the master of public transportation that I am. The days I forget them are always filled with the longest rides. Perhaps strangers speak to me because I have an approachable face. I really have no idea. And, sure, sometimes I don'.

More >
sunday night live :: otis redding
about 1 year ago

as this is the last edition of our sunday night live series prior to tuesday's election, we've decided to dedicate this song, "ole man trouble" by otis redding , from a 1966 performance at whiskey a go go, to john mccain. ole man trouble leave [us] alone. dig? otis redding - ole man trouble

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