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Otis Redding
During his lifetime, Otis Redding set the benchmark for soul music. He virtually defined the genre, and to this day, his music remains as fresh and vital as it was in the mid-sixties. “Otis Blue” was Redding’s third album release, and the first to provide an unfettered view of his seemingly limitless ability. There is not an ounce of filler on this release, which is why “Otis Blue” so deserves the attention and privilege of a special “collector’s edition’ release. Here is a track-by-track synopsis of why you need to own “Otis Blue”.
“Ole Man Trouble” is a Redding original that stands among the best recordings he has ever made. Steve Cropper’s guitar provides the bricks and mortar for this intense slow burner with blues and country overtones.
What remains to be said about “Respect”? Yes, Aretha’s interpretation put a powerful spin on the Otis Redding composition, but this version reminds us that the song was originally written from a man’s perspective.
Sam Cooke wrote “A Change Is Gonna Come,” and his version remains definitive, but Otis’ interpretation is easily the most expressive recording of this intensely personal song about equality and civil rights.
Besides writing his own compositions, Redding had excellent taste when it came to covering other people’s material. “Down in the Valley” is a Solomon Burke tune that Redding interprets with a deep-fried Memphis intensity.
“I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” is the ultimate example of a soulful pleader. Written with Jerry Butler, Redding bends notes and makes the hairs on your arm stand up from his painful vulnerability, only to build up to a level that captures all the pain of a man on the verge of breaking down.
Otis Redding was obviously a Sam Cooke fan, and easily his best interpreter. With “Shake,” he surpasses Cooke’s own version by allowing the band to groove with a rocking intensity that suits the song’s topic.
Nobody will ever beat the slick city-groove cool of the Temptations original, but Otis takes “My Girl” to the country, adding a grits-and-soul type honesty.
“Wonderful World” is yet another Sam Cooke interpretation that gets the same organic treatment as “My Girl.”
Virtually every quality that is attributable to the “Stax-Volt’ sound is on full display on “Rock Me Baby,” from the unique interpretation of the song’s rhythm to the grooving guitar supporting the hot horn charts, not to mention Otis Redding’s down-to-earth vocals.
With “Satisfaction,” Otis Redding single-handedly turned the tables on the British invasion’s penchant for interpreting American blues and soul classics. Keith Richards himself says that Redding’s performance of his song is the way he intended it to sound in the first place.
“You Don’t Miss Your Water” is another sterling example of Otis Redding’s taste in cover material. William Bell wrote this song about love and hindsight, and Otis brings an intensity similar to that he displayed on “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long.”
That covers the album in its original glory. The beauty of the Collector’s Edition is that is also includes some stellar bonus material, including a generous sampling of Redding’s live recordings in California (at the Whiskey a Go-Go) and excerpts from the classic “Live in Europe” album. Most welcome are the original non-LP B-sides from Redding’s 45-RPM singles, including “I’m Depending on You” and “Any Ole Way.” If you love soul, then you need to own “Otis Blue.” If you don’t love soul, then you never heard “Otis Blue.”
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