Sorting out Otis Redding’s Live Albums can drive you mad. Here’s why: There are only 3 sources for his live performances: Live at the Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles, CA. All 7 sets. April 8-10, 1966 Stax / Volt Revue tour performance. Olympia Theatre. Paris, France. Typically March 21, 1967 His set at […]
Soul
Who Whistled at the end of “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay?”
Short Answer: “The whistle at the end of “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” belongs to longtime musician Sam “Bluzman” Taylor, who was brought in to finish the final overdubs. Longer Answer: Once upon a time, the greatest soul singer in the world wrote the greatest song the world would ever know. A song […]
Where did Otis Redding write Dock of the Bay?
Where Otis Redding wrote “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” is one of the more controversial music topics I’ve seen since we’ve moved out to San Francisco Bay Area. Here’s the answer as best as I can find. So far: Otis Redding wrote the first verse of “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” […]
The Dock of the Bay album
“The Dock of the Bay” is the first album released after Otis Redding passed (December 10, 1967). What you will find are a few remaining gems held over the last recording sessions Redding & Cropper snuck in between heavy tour dates. The forthcoming album already had a heavy buzz about it thanks to Redding’s groundbreaking […]
Live in Europe – Otis Redding
“Who?” He’s the director of the foundation that runs the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and Stax Music Academy. Sadly, these are the only intuitions that remains of the once-proud Stax Records. “Oh. Shit. That sucks.” Yeah. It do. Many of the Stax / Volt artists outside of those who toured with Redding in […]
King & Queen: Otis Redding & Carla Thomas
My liege. If I may: Album Specs Released: March 16, 1967 Where Recorded: Stax Records. Memphis, TN Record Labels: Stax / Atlantic / Rhino (current. By Time / Warner – manufactured and marketed) Produced by: Booker T. & the MG’s, Jim Stewart, Isaac Hayes (pre-Shaft), David Porter Album Peak Chart: #36 on Billboard Top LPs. […]
Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul
Quite true, but the last album he records before his death is a duet album, “King & Queen,” with Carla Thomas. The rest are songs cobbled together after his death. Trust me, I wish there was more to write, review, and most importantly, hear. Otis’ life gives testament to the idea that you should do […]
“The Soul Album,” Otis Redding’s 4th studio album.
I played “The Soul Album” for two months before soft reviewing it. I took it up and down California and Oregon, morning and night. I took it with me out drinking in Silicon Valley and walking abandoned train tracks along the Oregon Coast. I took it with me to the gym. I took it writing […]
Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul
Otis Blue does have as many originals as it does Sam Cooke covers (3), a fact that intrigues me. This album was cut 9 months after Sam Cooke passed away, but this was the second album Otis cut since Sam’s passing, the aforementioned “Soul Ballads”, and on it he had only recorded one Sam cover: […]
The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads
Album Specs Released: March 1, 1965 Where Recorded: Stax Records. Memphis, TN Record Labels: Volt (Stax) / Alco (Atlantic) / Rhino (current. By Time / Warner – manufactured and marketed ) Produced by: Steve Cropper, Jim Stewart, Booker T & the MG’s Album Peak Chart: 147 on Billboard Pop Charts. Not sure about R&B charts. […]