1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #51. Otis Redding - Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (1965)

Otis Redding - Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (1965)

Label - Stax
Producer – Jim Stewart
Art Direction – Haig Adishian
Nationality - USA
Running Time – 32:54

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Ol' Man Trouble
2. Respect
3. Change Is Gonna Come
4. Down In The Alley
5. I've Been Loving You Too Long
6. Shake
7. My Girl
8. Wonderful World
9. Rock Me Baby
10. Satisfaction
11. You Don't Miss Your Water

Otis Redding is one of those artists that I had heard the ‘hits’ from, but not much else. Also – I didn’t know that much about him personally. I actually find it refreshing to run across an artist that I feel like I SHOULD know more about, yet don’t. This was Otis Redding's third album, and what most considered to be his first fully realized ALBUM. In an era when it was all about the 45 single record – and lp’s were an afterthought, this record finds Otis with his talent front and center, the records direction clear, and his confidence at an all time high. It’s no mistake that more than a quarter of this album is given over to Otis Redding's versions of songs by Sam Cooke, his idol, who had died the previous December. Two of them, "A Change Is Gonna Come" and "Shake," pop up on every anthology and hits package, but they shine better when set with the other soulful tracks on this record. especially "Wonderful World," which is seldom compiled elsewhere.
Also featured is the original “Respect” which became popular by Aretha Franklin.
It’s a shame Otis Redding died so young – age 26 - as it seems he never reached his full potential and was just finding his voice. I knew he had died – but never knew the story. He and six others were killed when the plane on which they were traveling crashed into Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin on December 10, 1967. Otis Redding's body was recovered when the lakebed was dragged and photos exist of his body being brought out of the water.
This is a very good album and recommended.


You can purchase the CD here.