Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding Jr. (1941–1967), often called the "King of Soul," was an American singer-songwriter whose raw, emotive vocal style defined the sound of 1960s soul and influenced generations of artists. Born September 9, 1941, in Dawson, Georgia, Redding moved to Macon at age two. He sang in church and school bands but dropped out of high school at 15 to support his family after his father fell ill with tuberculosis.
He gained early experience with The Upsetters (Little Richard's former band) and dominated local talent shows, winning the "Teenage Party" contest 15 weeks in a row. In 1962, while working as a driver for guitarist Johnny Jenkins, Redding was allowed to record during the end of a session at Stax Records in Memphis. He cut "These Arms of Mine," which became his first major hit and launched his solo career.
Redding was a prolific songwriter and arranger who helped shape the "Memphis Sound" alongside house band Booker T. & the M.G.'s. His signature tracks include "Respect" (1965), which he wrote and was later popularized by Aretha Franklin; "Try a Little Tenderness" (1966); and "I've Been Loving You Too Long" (1965).
He recorded a popular duet album with Carla Thomas, featuring the hit "Tramp". His performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival famously introduced him to a mainstream white audience, where he was considered the festival's breakout star.
On December 10, 1967, Redding was killed at age 26 when his private plane crashed into Lake Monona near Madison, Wisconsin, while on the way to a concert. Just three days before his death, he finished recording "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay". Released posthumously in 1968, it became the first song in history to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 after an artist's death.
Redding was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1989), the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1994), and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1999). His widow, Zelma, founded the Otis Redding Foundation, which continues to support musical education and youth talent in Georgia.
Lonely and Blue: The Deepest Soul of Otis Redding
Written-By – Jones, Floyd 2:56
A2 Gone Again
Written-By – Rock, Redding 2:22
A3 Free Me
Written By – Bishop - Tommy
Written-By – Lawson 3:08
A4 Open The Door (Skeleton Key Version)
Written-By – Redding 2:26
A5 A Waste Of Time
Written-By – Redding 3:17
A6 These Arms Of Mine
Written-By – Redding 2:33
B1 I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)
Written-By – Redding 3:15
B2 Everybody Makes A Mistake
Written-By – Isbell, Floyd 3:23
B3 Little Ol' Me
Written-By – Redding, Cropper 3:11
B4 I've Got Dreams To Remember (Rougher Dreams)
Written-By – Redding 3:34
Label: Volt – STX-34165-01
Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2013
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Sixties Soul, Southern Soul
Lonely & Blue: The Deepest Soul of Otis Redding is a compilation album that gathers Otis Redding's most emotional, heartbreaking slow soul ballads and presents them as if it were a classic, single-themed album he might have released during his lifetime. The collection focuses exclusively on the theme of sorrow, lost love, and yearning, providing a cohesive listening experience.
The album was conceived by producer David Gorman with the goal to "create the best album Otis never made" by focusing on a specific mood rather than being another "hits" compilation. The packaging was also intentionally designed to look and feel like a vintage late-'60s Stax/Volt LP, complete with simulated ring wear on the cover, to enhance the illusion of a forgotten classic. Released in 2013, the album includes tracks recorded between 1962 and 1967.
The compilation features a mix of well-known hits and lesser-known songs that fit the album's theme of deep sorrow and blue emotions.
Customers and reviewers praise the album for its excellent sound quality and for showcasing Redding in top form as a balladeer. Reviewers describe the music as "soul deep" and "heartbreaking," providing comfort and companionship in shared feelings of loss. The focused theme is consistently noted as a strength, allowing listeners to experience the depth and beauty of his most emotional performances in a new context.
Love Man
Written-By – Cullipher, Otis Redding, Steve Cropper 2:15
2 (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher
Written-By – Carl Smith, Gary Jackson 3:03
3 That's A Good Idea
Written-By – Otis Redding 2:17
4 I'll Let Nothing Separate Us
Written-By – Otis Redding 2:51
5 Direct Me
Written-By – Otis Redding, Steve Cropper 2:18
6 Love Man
Written-By – Otis Redding 2:17
7 Groovin' Time
Written-By – Otis Redding, Steve Cropper 2:46
8 Your Feeling Is Mine
Written-By – Otis Redding 2:19
9 Got To Get Myself Together
Written-By – Otis Redding 2:25
10 Free Me
Written-By – Gene Lawson, Otis Redding 3:06
11 A Lover's Question
Written-By – Brook Benton, Jimmy Williams 2:52
12 Look At That Girl
Written-By – E. Morris, R. Stewart 2:36
Label:
Atco Records – SD 33-289
Format:
Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre:R&B Soul
Style: Sixties Soul, Funk
Love Man is a highly regarded posthumous album that showcases Otis Redding at his most energetic, with critics praising its raw groove and a number of strong original performances, though some note it is not as consistently brilliant as his essential earlier works like Otis Blue.
Critics generally praised the album's instrumental energy and Redding's vocals. Rolling Stone highlighted several strong performances, while AllMusic acknowledged the energy but found the album less consistent than earlier releases. Q magazine described the album as showcasing "Redding at his up-tempo frantic and frenetic best". Many listeners consider it among his best posthumous releases, noting its high-energy and danceable nature, although they often recommend starting with his core albums.
Notable tracks include the title track "Love Man," a Top 20 R&B hit, and a spirited cover of Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher". "Direct Me" is often cited as a standout Memphis soul track with excellent guitar work, and "A Lover's Question," a cover of a Brook Benton ballad, was another R&B hit. The album also features "I'm a Changed Man," which includes Redding experimenting with scat singing.
Otis Blue - Otis Redding Sings Soul
Written-By – Otis Redding
2:55
A2 Respect
Written-By – Otis Redding
2:05
A3 Change Gonna Come
Written-By – Sam Cooke
4:17
A4 Down In The Valley
Written-By – Solomon Burke
3:02
A5 I've Been Loving You Too Long
Written-By – Butler, Redding
3:10
B1 Shake
Written-By – Sam Cooke
2:35
B2 My Girl
Written-By – Ronald White, William Robinson
2:52
B3 Wonderful World
Written-By – Barbara Campbell
3:00
B4 Rock Me Baby
Written-By – B. King, Joe Josea
3:20
B5 Satisfaction
Written-By – Mick Jagger & Keith Richard
2:45
B6 You Don't Miss Your Water
Written-By – William Bell
2:53
Label: Volt – VOLT 412
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1965
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Southern Soul
Released on September 15, 1965, Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul is widely regarded by critics as Otis Redding's first great album and a definitive masterpiece of the 1960s soul era. Recorded almost entirely in a single 24-hour period at Stax Studios in Memphis, the album captures Redding at the peak of his raw, expressive vocal power.
Unlike many 1960s R&B records that were collections of singles and filler, Otis Blue is considered a cohesive artistic statement. The album features Redding's self-penned hits, including "Respect" (later famously covered by Aretha Franklin) and the soul ballad "I've Been Loving You Too Long".
The tracklist is composed largely of covers that Redding made his own, including a horn-driven version of The Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and a popular rendition of The Temptations' "My Girl". Three songs—"A Change Is Gonna Come," "Shake," and "Wonderful World"—honor his idol Sam Cooke, who had died just months before the recording.
Redding is supported by the iconic Stax house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, along with the Memphis Horns and pianist Isaac Hayes. It was Redding's first album to top the US R&B charts and reached number 6 in the UK. The album frequently appears on "greatest of all time" lists, including those by Rolling Stone and Time magazine.
Music historians credit the album with helping to establish the term "soul" to describe music previously categorized simply as R&B. The album cover is notable for featuring a blonde-haired woman, often believed to be German model Dagmar Dreger, rather than Redding himself.
Pain In My Heart
Written-By – Naomi Neville 2:22
A2 The Dog
Written-By – Rufus Thomas 2:30
A3 Stand By Me
Written-By – Ben E. King, Elmo Glick 2:45
A4 Hey Hey Baby 2:15
A5 You Send Me
Written-By – Sam Cooke 3:10
A6 I Need Your Lovin'
Written-By – Bobby Robinson, Don Gardner 2:45
B1 These Arms Of Mine 2:30
B2 Louie Louie
Written-By – Richard Berry 2:05
B3 Something Is Worrying Me
Written-By – Phil Walden
2:25
B4 Security 2:30
B5 That's What My Heart Needs 2:35
B6 Lucille
Written-By – Richard Penniman 2:25
Label: ATCO Records – 33-161
Series: Volt Series
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1964
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Southern Soul
Otis Redding's 1964 debut album, Pain in My Heart, is critically acclaimed as a foundational masterpiece of Southern Soul, showcasing the raw power and emotional depth of his voice that would define his short but legendary career. Backed by the stellar Stax rhythm section, Booker T. & the M.G.'s and the Memphis Horns, the album is celebrated for its unfiltered soul and energetic performances.
The album is widely recognized as marking the beginning of Otis Redding's distinctive style, paving the way for the soul music revolution that followed. Critics noted that he "hit the ground running" with an excellent set of soulful gems, showing no signs of being a newcomer.
Reviews consistently highlight Redding's "astonishing power, energy, and boldness". His delivery is described as raw and passionate, using his voice like a horn, swelling and decreasing in volume, and triumphing at "rendering agony".
The tight, groove-laden foundation provided by the Stax in-house band is a crucial element of the album's success, giving it an authentic, funky Memphis sound.
The album features a mix of Redding's own compositions, such as his first hit, the timeless ballad "These Arms of Mine," and the "electrifying" up-tempo groover "Security". These tracks sit alongside powerful covers of popular songs like Ben E. King's "Stand by Me," Little Richard's "Lucille," and Richard Berry's "Louie Louie," all of which he makes his own.
Pain in My Heart is considered more than just a debut; it is the first chapter of an unforgettable legacy. The album peaked at number 20 on Billboard's R&B chart and number 85 on the Hot 100, establishing Redding as a significant force in soul music. The title track, in particular, set the template for all his future ballads.
Overall, the album is regarded as a classic of the Southern Soul genre, a testament to Redding's immediate virtuosity and his profound emotional impact on listeners.
The Soul Album
Written-By – Robinson, Redding, Cropper 2:55
A2 It's Growing
Written-By – Robinson, Moore 2:40
A3 Cigarettes And Coffee
Written-By – Thomas, Walker, Butler 4:00
A4 Chain Gang
Written-By – Cooke, Cooke 2:58
A5 Nobody Knows You (When You're Down And Out)
Written-By – Cox 3:10
B1 Good To Me
Written-By – Green, Redding 3:45
B2 Scratch My Back
Written-By – Moore 2:45
B3 Treat Her Right
Written-By – Head 2:10
B4 Everybody Makes A Mistake
Written-By – Isbell, Floyd 3:00
B5 Any Ole Way
Written-By – Redding, Cropper 2:32
B6 634-5789
Written-By – Floyd, Cropper 2:50
Label: Volt – VOLT 413
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1966
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Sixties Soul, Southern Soul
Otis Redding's The Soul Album (1966) is a critically acclaimed Stax release showcasing his raw power and tender sensitivity, featuring brilliant covers ("Cigarettes and Coffee", "Just One More Day") backed by Booker T. & the MG's and Memphis Horns, proving his mastery at transforming others' songs into deeply personal anthems, despite some reviewers finding lesser tracks average. It's a crucial, powerful collection cementing his "King of Soul" status, blending energetic stompers with heartbreaking ballads.}
Redding's voice shines, delivering primal power and nuanced emotion, from pleading ("Just One More Day") to soulful yearning.
The tight, brilliant backing of Booker T. & the MG's and The Memphis Horns provides iconic Stax soul instrumentation.
He reinterprets songs by Sam Cooke, Smokey Robinson, and Wilson Pickett, making them his own through intense, soulful performances.
Standout Tracks: "Cigarettes and Coffee" is often cited as a jewel, alongside "Just One More Day" and "Good to Me".
It is Generally seen as a flawless work and essential to his catalog. A few find some covers, like "Treat Her Right," weaker than the originals, or the overall album slightly less iconic than Otis Blue, though still strong.
In essence, The Soul Album is an essential listen for its powerful soul performances, brilliant musicianship, and Redding's unique ability to inhabit any song, solidifying his legendary status.