- Otis Redding (RIP 1968) - vocals

- The Soul Clan

Genre: soul

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads

Company: Volt

Catalog: 411

Year: 1965

Country/State: 

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: minor ring and edge wear; name 'Leland' on front and back covers, as well as inner label; mono pressing

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: not yet listed

Price: $10.00

Released in the wake of his participation in The Soul Clan tour and album (see separate entry), 1965's "The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads" offered up a mix of earlier singles and new studio material.  Those earlier singles were:

- 1964's 'Come To Me' b/w 'Don't Leave Me This Way' (Volt catalog number 45-116)

- 1965's 'Chained and Bound' b/w 'Your One and Only Man' (Volt catalog number 45-121)

While some folks will disagree, to my ears Redding's sophomore release reflected major improvement and artistic growth.  Not only did Redding sound far more confident and comfortable in the studio, but he seemed to gel with his backup band including Booker T. and most of the M.G.'s.  Moreover the overall mix of originals and cover tunes was far stronger than on the debut with Redding consistently finding a nice mix between Gospel, R&B and lighter soul moves.  Highlights included the opener 'That's How Strong My Love Is' (which was subsequently covered by The Rolling Stones - I think it's included on 1965's "Out of Our Heads"), the original 'Chained and Bound' and 'Your One and Only Man' (the latter aptly showcasing Steve Cropper's slashing guitar and the Memphis Horns at their best).  Elsewhere, 'Mr. Pitiful' (the nickname he'd been given by Memphis DJ Moohah Williams), provided Redding with his first major pop hit ('Mr. Pitiful' b/w 'That's How Strong My Love Is' (Volt catalog number 45-124)).  While the overall feel was still a little too raw for mainstream white audiences (something "Otis Blue" would fix), the combination of positive reviews from music critics, the top-50 hit and extensive name recognition via The Rolling Stones' cover all helped the parent album hit # 147.

"The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) That's How Strong My Love Is   (Jamison) - 2:24

2.) Chained and Bound   (Otis Redding) - 2:25

3.) A Woman, a Lover, a Friend   (Wyche) - 3:18

4.) Your One and Only Man   (Otis Redding) - 2:48

5.) Nothing Can Change This Love   (Sam Cooke) - 2:59

6.) It's Too Late  (Willis) - 3:00

(side 2)

1.) For Your Precious Love   (Brooks - Brooks - Butler) - 2:49

2.) I Want to Thank You   (Otis Redding) - 2:35

3.) Come to Me   (Otis Redding - Walden) - 2:38

4.) Home in Your Heart  (Blackwell - Scott) - 2:10

5.) Keep Your Arms Around Me   (McClinton) - 2:46

6.) Mr. Pitiful   (Otis Redding) - 

Genre: soul

Rating: ***** (5 stars)

Title:  The Dock of the Bay

Company: Volt

Catalog: S-419

Year: 1968

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: --

Available: 2

GEMM catalog ID: 5008

Price: $10.00

I probably own 30,000 + albums, of which perhaps 100 I'd rate as 5 star performances.  This is one of those rarities.   I've also often wondered if part of my affection for this album stems from the tragic circumstances surrounding its release (that may be underscored by the fact the title track is one of my first radio memories).  Could be, but I suspect this album would have attained classic status regardless ...

Recorded after surgery to remove polyps from his throat, the title track was cut in a mammoth series of December 1967 recording sessions where Redding re-recorded earlier material, as well as a host of new songs.  The sessions wrapped up on December 7th, 1967.  The next day Redding and his backing band The Bar-Kays hit the road for a series of concert and television appearances.  Two days later Redding was killed when his Beechcraft aircraft crashed into a lake on the way to a concert in Madison, Wisconsin (the crash also killed most of The Bar-Kays).

Released in early 1968, the single '(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay' b/w 'Sweet Lorene' (Volt catalog number 45-157) was unlike anything else Redding had recorded.  Soft spoken and reflective, the track abandoned Redding's soul roots in favor of a stunning pop feeling.  Supposedly written while staying on a houseboat in Sausalito, California after his performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, the track quickly topped the US charts.  Volt subsequently pulled together a mixture of previously released singles, album tracks and unreleased material drawn from Redding's final 1967 recording sessions.  Produced by Steve Cropper, by all rights "Dock of the Bay" should have been little more than a throwaway retrospective.  Thankfully that wasn't the case.  Under Cropper's care the album served as a showcase for Redding's multifaceted talents.  It's all here - Redding the blues man ('I Love You More Than Words Can Say'), Redding the soul star (his duet with Carla Thomas on 'Tramp') and Redding the pop star ('The Huckle-Buck'). It also ends on the perfect note - Redding's disturbing 'Ole Man Trouble'.  Volt also tapped the album for a second single - 'Glory of Love' b/w 'I'm Coming Home (Volt catalog number 45-152).  Propelled by a wave of posthumous grief and publicity, the parent album hit # 4 in the States.

"The Immortal Otis Redding" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay   (Otis Redding - Steve Cropper) - 2:38

2.) I Love You More Than Words Can Say   (Eddie Floyd - Booker T. Jones) - 2:50

3.) Let Me Come Home   (Otis Redding - Booker T. Jones) - 2:53

4.) Open the Door   (Otis Redding) - 2:21

5.) Don't Mess with Cupid   (Steve Cropper - Eddie Floyd - Deanie Parker) - 2:28

(side 2)

1.) The Glory of Love   (Billy Hill) - 2:38

2.) I'm Coming Home   (Otis Redding) - 3:03

3.) Tramp   (Lowell Fulsom - James McCracklin) - 2:32

4.) The Huckle-Buck   (Roy Alfred - Andy Gibson) - 2:58

5.) Nobody Knows You (When You're Down and Out)   (Jimmie Cox) - 3:10

6.) Ole Man Trouble   (Otis Redding) - 2:36

Genre: soul

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  The Immortal Otis Redding

Company: ATCO

Catalog: SD 33-252

Year: 1968

Country/State: 

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: still in shrink wrap

Available: SOLD

GEMM catalog ID: SOLD

Price: SOLD

In a cutthroat business, it probably wasn't a major surprise to see ATCO release "The Immortal Otis Redding" so soon after Redding's untimely death.  Produced with loving care by longtime producer/collaborator Steve Cropper, musically the set offered up ten previously unreleased tracks that Redding had recorded during the Spring-Fall of 1967.  The 11th selection "The Happy Song (Dum-Dum-Do-De-De-Dum-Dum)" had previously been released as a non-LP single.  Sadly the quality of these songs only served to underscore what a tragedy Redding's death was.  There literally wasn't a bad song in the lineup.  Interestingly, the album managed to provide a view of both Redding's hardcore soul roots ("You Made a Man Out of Me" and "Think About It"), as well as his more recent moves towards a more commercial orientation ("Nobody's Fault But Mine" and "Champagne and Wine").  While hard to pick, personal highlights include "Amen" and "A Waste of Time".  Elsewhere, pulled as singles "Amen" b/w "Hard To Handle"  (ATCO catalog 45-6592) and "I've Got Dreams To Remember" b/w "Nobody's Fault But Mine" (ATCO catalog number 45-6612) both went top-40, while the parent LP hit # 58.

"The Immortal Otis Redding" track listing:

(side 1)

1.) I've Got Dreams To Remember   (Zelma Redding - Otis Redding) - 3:10

2.) You Made a Man Out of Me   (Deanie Parker - Steve Cropper) - 2:06

3.) Nobody's Fault But Mine   (Otis Redding) - 2:20

4.) Hard To Handle   (Allen Jones - Elvertis Jones - Otis Redding) - 2:09

5.) Thousands of Miles    (Otis Redding) - 2:09

6.) The Happy Song (Dum-Dum-Do-De-De-Dum-Dum)   (Otis Redding - Steve Cropper) - 2:40

(side 2)

1.) Think About It   (Don Covay - Otis Redding) - 2:59

2.) A Waste of Time   (Otis Redding) - 3:15

3.) Champagne and Wine   (Otis Redding - Roy Johnson - Allen Walden) - 2:49

4.) A Fool for You   (Ray Charles) - 2:55

5.) Amen   (traditional arranged by Otis Redding) - 3:20