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Track Listings
| 1. Ole Man Trouble |
| 2. Respect (Single/LP Version) |
| 3. Change Gonna Come |
| 4. Down In The Valley |
| 5. I've Been Loving You Too Long (Single/LP Version) |
| 6. Shake (LP Version) |
| 7. My Girl |
| 8. Wonderful World |
| 9. Rock Me Baby |
| 10. Satisfaction [I Can't Get No] (LP Version) |
| 11. You Don't Miss Your Water |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Otis Blue has always been that rarest of beasts: a 60s soul album that could actually have been made as an album, rather than as a slapdash assortment of singles and fillers. The point being that there is no filler among these 11 classic Redding tracks that range from the crisp stomp of "Respect" and the Stones' "Satisfaction" to the touching pop of the Temps "My Girl" and Sam Cookes "Wonderful World"--not forgetting, of course, the heart-rending anguish of "Ole Man Trouble" and "I've Been Loving You Too Long". Otis Blue captures Redding at the very peak of his raw, unpolished powers, with the peerlessly punchy backing of Booker T. and the MGs. --Barney Hoskyns
Review
Recorded in a single day with the Mar-Keys (who included Isaac Hayes on keyboards and Steve Cropper on guitar) Otis Redding's third album, Otis Blue, was his first number one hit in the US soul charts and a huge commercial and critical success.
Standing at the crossroads of pop, rock, gospel, blues and soul, it's a set of short, punchy covers and originals, flawlessly ordered to ebb and flow between stirring balladry and foot stomping exuberance.
Three of the re-cuts featured are the songs of Sam Cooke, and of these, the moving "A Change Is Gonna Come" makes the most lasting impression. Redding's voice then injects some ambivalence into the Temptations' more blissfully rendered "My Girl", where despite his apparent happiness, hurt seems to be just around the corner.
There's even some interesting recycling of the Stones' "Satisfaction", written in thrall to Redding and his label-mates in the first place. As for his own compositions, "I've Been Loving You Too Long" was the biggest smash, while "Respect" was of course made famous by Aretha.
It's tempting to look for some faults here just for the sake of balance. But try as one might, they fail to present themselves, as the rawness of the playing, the sprightly rhythms of the upbeat tracks, and the grainy grief of Redding's voice reach in to your very core.
A gutsy, visceral affair that leaves you thinking that, with the power of music, anything is possible; Otis Blue was, and remains, his definitive statement. --Angus Taylor
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Outside of an anthology or greatest hits package, this is the Otis Redding disc to own. Eight of the eleven selections are cover tunes, but Otis and crew attack the material with such passion and precision that it escapes the usual haphazard feel of a full length record slapped together around a few strong singles. There's three Sam Cooke numbers, ("Wonderful World," "Shake," and the incredible "A Change Is Gonna Come"), a fabulous rendition of Solomon Burke's "Down in the Valley," B.B. King's "Rock Me Baby," William Bell's "You Don't Miss Your Water," and the Motown hit, "My Girl," done Stax-Volt style. When Otis released his blistering take on "Satisfaction" in early 1966, many thought that the Rolling Stones had gotten the song from him instead of the other way around. The three originals show Otis in top songwriting form with "Respect" (later turned out by Aretha Franklin), "Ole Man Trouble," and the exceptional ballad "I've Been Loving You Too Long." The Big O is of course backed up by the always impressive Stax house band Booker T. & The MG's, augmented by horn players from the Mar-Keys and Isaac Hayes on keyboards (who often played with the group whenever Booker T. was away at school). Without question, this is an essential Otis Redding CD, a classic Stax release, and a milestone of the soul genre in the 1960's. Follow this one with the aptly named "Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul: Complete & Unbelievable."
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have just stumbled upon OTIS BLUE on Amazon.I suddenly remembered that it was the first L.P. I bought.Hearing "MY GIRL"as a single I just had to hear more of this incredible singing voice.I was not disappointed,and this album remains one of my favourites.I am looking forward to hearing it again on C.D.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
While this is fine Otis Redding album worthy of 5 stars (if you like soul), I have only given it 4 stars because Amazon neglect to inform you it is remastered from the MONO master tapes, whereas it was originally issued in STEREO and MONO (I know - I bought the STEREO version in 1968).
The collectors edition from Rhino (which Amazon UK don't seem to carry themselves) includes both the MONO and STEREO mixes and some bonus tracks, including a MONO down-mix of the STEREO version (showing that the STEREO version was a true stereo mix, not just 'enhanced mono'). However, a reviewer reports a large amount of hiss on the stereo version CD.
This may be the same as the item Amazon UK lists as no date, 2 discs and with no label.
Amazon currently - Jun 2009 - list (but do not sell themselves) other editions on:
Audio CD (28 April 2008)
Label: Rhino
Number of Discs: 2
ASIN: B0017PCW8K
Audio CD (15 Jul 2008)
Label: Ultradisc/Mobile Fidelity
Number of Discs: 1
ASIN: B001AUKUSG
Audio CD - no date given
Number of Discs: 2
No Label given
ASIN: B0013SJ44Q (see review of this item)
Update Feb 2010 to review of June 2009: Amazon have (partially) redeemed themselves by making the collectors edition available as an MP3 download. This edition contains various versions of the tracks in MONO and STEREO, but some tracks are only available if you download the full album. For the number of tracks the MP3 album is a reasonable price, but you don't get more songs - just various versions and mixes of the same ones. So in my opinion you are better off buying ASIN:B0013SJ44Q which seems to be the same Rhino material on a CD.
The collectors edition from Rhino (which Amazon UK don't seem to carry themselves) includes both the MONO and STEREO mixes and some bonus tracks, including a MONO down-mix of the STEREO version (showing that the STEREO version was a true stereo mix, not just 'enhanced mono'). However, a reviewer reports a large amount of hiss on the stereo version CD.
This may be the same as the item Amazon UK lists as no date, 2 discs and with no label.
Amazon currently - Jun 2009 - list (but do not sell themselves) other editions on:
Audio CD (28 April 2008)
Label: Rhino
Number of Discs: 2
ASIN: B0017PCW8K
Audio CD (15 Jul 2008)
Label: Ultradisc/Mobile Fidelity
Number of Discs: 1
ASIN: B001AUKUSG
Audio CD - no date given
Number of Discs: 2
No Label given
ASIN: B0013SJ44Q (see review of this item)
Update Feb 2010 to review of June 2009: Amazon have (partially) redeemed themselves by making the collectors edition available as an MP3 download. This edition contains various versions of the tracks in MONO and STEREO, but some tracks are only available if you download the full album. For the number of tracks the MP3 album is a reasonable price, but you don't get more songs - just various versions and mixes of the same ones. So in my opinion you are better off buying ASIN:B0013SJ44Q which seems to be the same Rhino material on a CD.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Listened because it is in 1001 albums you must hear before you die
This album is amazing
So soulful why do all the talented musicians and singer die this mans voice is just amazing like Sam cookes only a slightly more musky I think the... Read more
So soulful why do all the talented musicians and singer die this mans voice is just amazing like Sam cookes only a slightly more musky I think the... Read more
Published 11 days ago by Cubby Kovu
The best soul Cd ever made
45 years after the recording it's always amazing to hear young people say : what is this ? It's wonderful..!And the magic of Otis redding always works..
Published 6 months ago by Ascheri Robert
Excellent Album Displays a Real Soul Singing Talent
'Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul' does what it says on the tin. Redding executes he vocal skills to a selection of songs; some songs are better known from other performers... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Andy Norton
The SOUL MAN
This is THE classic Otis album, indeed many would call it THE soul album (and some reviewers would even call it the greatest album of all time!). Read more
Published 12 months ago by Dangerous Dave
Otis Blue by Otis Redding
I especially liked his version of Satisfaction, but every track is great. What a shame he died so young!
Published 18 months ago by Sylvia
Wonderful soul album
This is a fantastic record, very moving and Otis Redding's voice has never been better. This is the kind of CD you can just melt into - fantastic stuff and highly recommended.
Published on 13 Oct 2008 by CJ
OTIS BLUE: REAL SOUL
If you really want to know the meaning of Soul then listen to this album by Otis. This album shows how his rapidly developing talent had matured into excellent writing on his own... Read more
Published on 18 May 2007 by brentalexis
Forget Motown!!!
What can I say? This album is just good! Like a lot of people I always thought that Motown was the finest soul music there was. Thus, I wasn't too keen on it as a genre. Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2001
One of the finest soul albums ever made.
For its legendary status, "Otis Blue" is not flawless and a few of the songs have dated since the mid sixties, but it remains a powerful document of Southern-style,... Read more
Published on 14 Nov 2000
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