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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Although Redding was a great songwriter (he gave us Aretha's "Respect" and Arthur Conley's "Sweet Soul Music"--'nuff said), he partially made a reputation for himself as a great interpreter of other people's material, ranging from Beatles and Stones covers to "Louie Louie" to standards like "Try a Little Tenderness," which had originally been a hit for Bing Crosby. And unlike other soul artists of the time, including the great Jackie Wilson, Redding--with the help, of course, of guitarist Steve Cropper, bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn, and drummer Al Jackson--could take even schlock, at least in R&B terms (i.e., "The Tennessee Waltz"), and transcend it, making it his own. Otis makes all 11 tracks here his own--not that any of them were ever considered schlock. But many, including Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang," Roy Head's "Treat Her Right," and Wilson Pickett's "634-5789," were closely associated with their originators. Redding's cover of Smokey Robinson's "Scratch My Back" is so awesome that it makes you forget the Miracles' original. The Soul Album is sometimes underrated because it's a covers album--but it's a classic covers album, nevertheless. --Bill Holdship
Product Description
CD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Dangerous Dave
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
This was an unusual album for Redding (and Stax) in that it didn't contain any singles and indeed, much of the content was covers albeit not always of predictable material. Like the first reviewer I had this on vinyl and well remember putting the first side on the deck, many, many times, often late in the evening. It was always the first side - Stax seemed to have front-loaded the better performances.
"Just One More day" is a good, intense, slow starter. Typical Redding with the Memphis Horns answering Redding's pleas. "It's growing" ups the temp nicely but the first major highlight is "Cigarettes and Coffee", a lesser known Redding slowie which doesn't deserve to be. Everyone i.e, Otis, Booker T, Steve Cropper plus the Memphis Horns all play their roles to the full in a late night saga of pleading intensity, lasting for all of four minutes. An absolute age in a era of 2 to 3 minute singles. This is followed by Otis taking another Sam Cooke number, "Chain Gang" - he was one of his favourites - and doing his best to make you forget the original. "Side one" closes with the Otis version of "Nobody knows you when you when you're down and out". This is a blues that's associated with the older jazz and vaudeville artists i.e not an expected song to hear in this context. Otis proves to be a full match for the material and pulls off an excellent version with the backing band also shining, Booker and Cropper again to the fore.
The old vinyl side two lets things down a bit. "Treat her right" was originally a hit (the only one) for Roy Head who employed mimalist backing along much the same lines as the MG's on Redding records.... Read more ›
"Just One More day" is a good, intense, slow starter. Typical Redding with the Memphis Horns answering Redding's pleas. "It's growing" ups the temp nicely but the first major highlight is "Cigarettes and Coffee", a lesser known Redding slowie which doesn't deserve to be. Everyone i.e, Otis, Booker T, Steve Cropper plus the Memphis Horns all play their roles to the full in a late night saga of pleading intensity, lasting for all of four minutes. An absolute age in a era of 2 to 3 minute singles. This is followed by Otis taking another Sam Cooke number, "Chain Gang" - he was one of his favourites - and doing his best to make you forget the original. "Side one" closes with the Otis version of "Nobody knows you when you when you're down and out". This is a blues that's associated with the older jazz and vaudeville artists i.e not an expected song to hear in this context. Otis proves to be a full match for the material and pulls off an excellent version with the backing band also shining, Booker and Cropper again to the fore.
The old vinyl side two lets things down a bit. "Treat her right" was originally a hit (the only one) for Roy Head who employed mimalist backing along much the same lines as the MG's on Redding records.... Read more ›
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Rodge
Format:Audio CD
I bought this as a vinyl LP in the 1960s - back when I was at school. O My! - does it take me back, smoky rooms, dim lights, late at night, glorious soul from Otis and his backing group. Fantastic. Turn the lights down, get a glass of whisky, and fly!
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.3 out of 5 stars
10 reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Untoppable soul
17 Aug 2000
By hyperbolium
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
This is a small-frills reissue that includes no bonus tracks or alternate takes. What it does include is nice *mono* remastering by ace Bill Inglot, taken from the original master tapes. It also includes a nice reproduction of the original album front and back (the latter in almost life size). The interior of the CD booklet gives release info (label, date, chart info) as well as a list of the musical support.
Musically, Redding proves himself over and over to be perhaps the greatest soul singer of all time (though Ray Charles during his Atlantic period might give him a run for the money). The eleven tracks on this disc (about 32 minutes) find Redding reaching to the depths of his emotions for vocals that no one else could ever rival. Everything his vocal chords touch becomes *his*. Covers of hits that are unforgettable in their original version (e.g., Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang", Wilson Pickett's "634-5789") become something entirely different when Redding turns his attentions to them.
The band (including Booker T., Isaac Hayes, Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Al Jackson Jr., Sammy Coleman, Wayne Jackson, Bowlegs Miller, Andrew Love, Charles "Packy" Axton and Floyd Newman) provides some really incredible backing. Booker T's organ and Steve Cropper's guitar, in particular, create an incredible atmosphere, punctuated beautifully by the horn section. There is a cohesiveness between Redding's vocals and the musical background that is not evident in lesser soul recordings. There is a sort of empathy between the players and the vocalist that is jazz-like and rare.
From the slower, soulful ballads such as "Just One More Day", the wrenching "Cigarettes and Coffee", and "Good To Me" through the medium paced blues of "Scratch My Back" through upbeat pieces like "It's Growing", Redding never misses a beat. His vocals are a revelation every time you listen to the disc.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Number Four And Holding..
15 July 2009
By R. Webb
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Otis Redding never recorded a bad song or much less a bad album, capable of taking on any ol' song at hand and simply turning it golden. THE SOUL ALBUM, 1966, was Redding's fourth and his third, OTIS BLUE, was a mighty tough act to follow, and yet still, THE SOUL ALBUM, holds it's own in the very limited Otis Redding catalog, containing Redding co-written songs, JUST ONE MORE DAY, GOOD TO ME, ANY OLE WAY, the rest of the album consist of covers, Cooke's, CHAIN GANG, Pickett's,634-5789, - co-written by guitarist Steve Cropper, also including, SCRATCH MY BACK and the ballad, CIGARETTES AND COFFEE. The remastered "SOUL ALBUM" is a good solid effort from the man, Otis Redding, be sure to collect all recordings from the genius of soul. Rhino/Atco
5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Redding
19 Mar 2013
By Morten Vindberg
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
It is probably fair to describe Otis Reddings fourth studio album, "The Soul Album" as one of his lesser known, perhaps largely because the album does not contain any of his greatest classics or hits. Only single was taken from the album, his and Steve Cropper's own "Just One More Day", which in many ways is akin to "I've Been Loving You Too Long" from the previous album "Otis Blue"
This does not in any way make it a weaker album than Redding's other. His vocals are always top notch, and the songs fit in most cases his voice perfectly.
The musicians are the famous Stax people, with Steve Cropper and Booker T Jones as some of the best known.
Only three of the songs have Redding credited as a songwriter. In addition to the single "Just One More Day" they are the slow ballad "Good to Me" and the more optimistic "Any Ole Way", which could have been written by Sam Cooke. A great Sam Cooke song is "Chain Gang", which is also one of the album's highlights. Redding actually makes this song into something completely different, new and more exciting than Cooke's otherwise fine original.
Classic R & B ballads are "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" and less "Cigarettes and Coffee" - both convincingly interpreted by Redding.
"Scratch My Back" and "Treat You Right" are two "good time" numbers and well-known live favorites recorded in countless versions over time.
The final number "634-5789 (Soulsville, USA)" is another higlight, at least as strong as Wilson Pickett's more famous version.
This does not in any way make it a weaker album than Redding's other. His vocals are always top notch, and the songs fit in most cases his voice perfectly.
The musicians are the famous Stax people, with Steve Cropper and Booker T Jones as some of the best known.
Only three of the songs have Redding credited as a songwriter. In addition to the single "Just One More Day" they are the slow ballad "Good to Me" and the more optimistic "Any Ole Way", which could have been written by Sam Cooke. A great Sam Cooke song is "Chain Gang", which is also one of the album's highlights. Redding actually makes this song into something completely different, new and more exciting than Cooke's otherwise fine original.
Classic R & B ballads are "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" and less "Cigarettes and Coffee" - both convincingly interpreted by Redding.
"Scratch My Back" and "Treat You Right" are two "good time" numbers and well-known live favorites recorded in countless versions over time.
The final number "634-5789 (Soulsville, USA)" is another higlight, at least as strong as Wilson Pickett's more famous version.
›
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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