Well, I love this album- I'm excited! Anyone else?
Otis Redding's third album, and his first fully realized album, presents his talent unfettered, his direction clear, and his confidence emboldened, with fully half the songs representing a reach that extended his musical grasp. More than a quarter of this album is given over to Redding's versions of songs by Sam Cooke, his idol, who had died the previous December, and all three are worth owning and hearing. Two of them, "A Change Is Gonna Come" and "Shake," are every bit as essential as any soul recordings ever made, and while they (and much of this album) have reappeared on several anthologies, it's useful to hear the songs from those sessions juxtaposed with each other, and with "Wonderful World," which is seldom compiled elsewhere.
Also featured are Redding's spellbinding renditions of "Satisfaction" (a song epitomizing the fully formed Stax/Volt sound and which Mick Jagger and Keith Richards originally wrote in tribute to and imitation of Redding's style), "My Girl," and "You Don't Miss Your Water." "Respect" and "I've Been Loving You Too Long," two originals that were to loom large in his career, are here as well; the former became vastly popular in the hands of Aretha Franklin and the latter was an instant soul classic. Among the seldom-cited jewels here is a rendition of B.B. King's "Rock Me Baby" that has the singer sharing the spotlight with Steve Cropper, his playing alternately elegant and fiery, with Wayne Jackson and Gene "Bowlegs" Miller's trumpets and Andrew Love's and Floyd Newman's saxes providing the backing. Redding's powerful, remarkable singing throughout makes Otis Blue gritty, rich, and achingly alive, and an essential listening experience. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide
Rhino has announced an expanded, remastered edition of Otis Redding's 1966 album Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul. Due out on April 22, the double disc set includes a mono version of the record on the first CD and a stereo version on the second, both of which are backed by B-sides, live tracks and previously unreleased alternate mixes.
As for Otis Blue's importance in the scheme of Redding's catalogue, it was recorded in 24 hours by the Stax house band (featuring Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & the MG's, and more) and includes a pre-Aretha version of "Respect" as well as a hefty stack of covers. Among them are renditions of songs from the Rolling Stones, Sam Cooke, the Temptations, and Solomon Burke.
Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (Collector's Edition)
Disc 1
1. Ole Man Trouble
2. Respect
3. Change Gonna Come
4. Down in the Valley
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
12. I've Been Loving You Too Long (Mono Mix of Stereo Album Version) [previously unreleased bonus track]
13. I'm Depending on You [bonus track]
14. Respect (Mono Mix of Stereo Album Version) [previously unreleased bonus track]
15. Ole Man Trouble (Mono Mix of Stereo Album Version) [previously unreleased bonus track]
16. Any Ole Way [bonus track]
17. Shake (Live 1967, Stereo Mix of Single Version) [bonus track]
18. Ole Man Trouble (Live at the Whisky a Go Go) [bonus track]
19. Respect (Live at the Whisky a Go Go) [bonus track]
20. I've Been Loving You Too Long (Live at the Whisky a Go Go) [bonus track]
21. Satisfaction (Live at the Whisky a Go Go) [bonus track]
22. I'm Depending on You (Live at the Whisky a Go Go) [bonus track]
23. Any Ole Way (Live at the Whisky a Go Go) [bonus track]
Disc 2:
1. Ole Man Trouble
2. Respect
3. Change Gonna Come
4. Down in the Valley
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
12. Respect (1967 Version) [bonus track]
13. I've Been Loving You Too Long (Live in Europe) [bonus track]
14. My Girl (Live in Europe) [bonus track]
15. Shake (Live in Europe) [bonus track]
16. Satisfaction (Live in Europe) [bonus track]
17. Respect (Live in Europe) [bonus track]
