Otis Redding
Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul (Collector’s Edition)
Rhino/Atco
By David Chiu
Otis Blue is an enduring document of Redding’s blistering Memphis soul with perfect musical backing by the great Booker T. and the MG’s and a ringing horn section. Every cut on this 1965 classic showcases Redding’s grit on the funk groove “Respect” (recorded over a year before Aretha Franklin made it her song), and the Stones’ “Satisfaction”; His delivery on slow songs “I’ve Been Loving You For So Long” and Sam Cooke’s civil rights anthem “Change is Gonna Come” is equally hard-hitting. The special Collector’s edition contains the full stereo version of Otis Blue in addition to the original mono version; alternate takes and singles; and live cuts from The Whiskey A Go-Go and Europe recorded in 1966-1967 showing what a versatile showman he was in enthusiastic performances of “My Girl” and “Shake.”
A performance by Otis Redding of “Satisfaction”:
NewBeats 