The Vinyl Brew: Otis Redding - Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul

Shiny Day Brewers,

This week as we sit down with our players and our choice of album, I hope you are comfortable and warm. This week’s artist is someone who was lost to the musical word long before his time. One of the defining voices of Soul and among the most influential performers of all time. We are of course talking about one of the “Kings of Soul”, Otis Redding, and his third album Otis Blue.

‘Otis Blue’ is the third studio album by the late great Otis Redding. I guess it’s hard to put into words the incredible talent that this man had. With a voice that could move you to tears and, at the time of this album, was just 24 years of age he really is the definition of a soul man. The album is mainly a cover album of contemporary R&B songs although 3 tracks were written by Redding himself. The album also contains three tracks written by the Sam Cooke who had passed away several months before the album was recorded.

This remarkable album is often quoted by critics as Redding’s best work and it’s easy to see why. Otis gives a vocal performance of epic proportions and makes you feel every word he sings; whether it’s love, respect or racial segregation the message is clear and is coming straight from his soul. There is a craving, sorrowful sound to Redding’s voice that plays perfectly into the album’s tracks. What adds so much to the album is the musicians that Otis surrounded himself with while recording the album. A veritable who’s who of recording artists with Booker T & the M.G.’s, members of The Mar-Keys and The Memphis Horns plus Isaac Hayes on piano, who all lend their talents to this recording.

Now I know what you are all thinking, T has gone fanboy on us again. It’s true that “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” is one of my favourite songs of all time but it does not appear on this album. Otis wrote the song with the help of Steve Cropper and recorded for it twice – one of those just 3 days before he tragically passed away in a plane crash. He was 26 years old at the time of his passing and it’s hard to imagine that he wouldn’t have gone on to be the biggest soul artist to ever live. As it is we have 7 studio albums of his catalogue to listen back to. “Dock of the Bay” was the first posthumous release to hit number 1 on the Billboard chart. ‘Otis Blue’, except for one track, was recorded over a 24 hour period, and if this is what Otis Redding could produce in 24 hours imagine what we have missed in the 55 years since he passed away.

So, as we end our little chat this week, I urge all of you to grab a copy of this album. There is not one track on here that won’t make you feel something. Otis Redding is a force of nature that left us way too early. As always head on over to Twitter @Vinyl8Records and let us know your favourite Otis track. Now, we need something to play us out and this week it has to be ‘I’ve Been Loving You Too Long’.

"With you my life

Has been so wonderful

I can't stop now”

Till next time,
T

Next Sunday's brew is Kings of Leon's Only by the Night. Why not add this gem to your collection so we can listen together next week!