Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul

love

Otis Redding has an impressive voice. After an impressive start to the album, I came to the conclusion on further listening that the album didn't excite me. But then it was the hits and the surprising soul version of "I can't get no ..." that made me change my interim judgment. 4/5

Quite good.

I thoroughly enjoyed this album. Crazy that this album is as good as it is being essentially a covers album that was recorded in a day. I guess when you've got the talent that Otis Reading has you can do both of those things effortlessly.

This is a mighty fine soul album, I'll keep this one around. But the opener was the strongest bit for me and I will argue that Aretha Franklin's Respect is the most important cover in history - this one here seems like an imminent call to a domestic abuse line.

Otis Redding has an incredible voice. Definitely gone too soon. He sings with a heart and energy that I haven’t heard from anyone else.

This is a great album even with all the covers. Redding makes them his own. I've been loving you too long is often cited as the can't miss song. For me it's Change Gonna Come.

An amazing cultural artifact, precious and important. It’s not something I’d want to listen to frequently but that doesn’t mean it’s not great.

i was like, eh its alr, and then a change is gonna come starting playing and I got it. rly damn good, his vocals are crazy, nobody sings like this anymore

good but a lot of the songs were done better by others

So much soul. So much passion. It’s cool to hear the original recording of Respect. Aretha Franklin really made her cover of it, her own.

Banger of the album: Down in the Valley Albums like this make me realise I should listen to more soul.

Listened on a sunny morning walk and it certainly put some swag in my steps. A good mix of up-tempo tracks and some slower numbers. Great to hear some versions of songs I already knew. Learned that Respect was originally written by Otis and covered by Aretha Franklin

Absolutely wonderful music from a master singer. The only thing holding it back is that only a couple of these are originals (one of which would soon be completely overshadowed by Aretha Franklin's rendition).

I knew a couple of tracks: My Girl (of course) and A Change Is Gonna Come (what an awesome song). The rest was new to me. I love the combination of his emotional voice and the brass backing. There are a couple of covers in this album that I don't love: Wonderful World and I Can't Get No Satisfaction. His rendition isn't as good as the original and his style doesn't work as well here. But the rest is pretty good. All in all it kinda squeaks by as a 4.

Unmatched vocals. Some of the covers don't rise quite to the level of the originals but it's a quibble since I listened to this at least 3 times today.

4/5. Dang, Otis can sing. It comes so naturally to him. I know most, if not all of these songs, and yet it feels like I'm listening to them for the first time. They feel so second-nature to his vocals that it doesn't feel like a cover album. It is a cover album though so I just don't feel right giving it 5 stars, just cause these versions aren't better than the originals, just different. It's still a great album overall, with Otis and his band truly crushing each song, taking it as their own. Interesting that this was the original Respect version. Kind of cringe considering the correct version from Aretha. Best Song: Down In The Valley, Wonderful World, Change Gonna Come

Catchy blues, definitely encourages dancing. Multiple songs that I'm unsure if they're covers or the original

Great soul, lotta classics, great voice and band

Fantastic album, such a great voice. Packed with classic after classic. What a voice! 4.5, rounded down. Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes. 8/1001, 8/31 (26%) Will I get? Already own Recommend: Yes

Classic Otis Redding album. He did write a few of these tracks, the others are popular R&B covers (except the Stones song). Displays his powerful and emotive voice. One of the best R&B singers of his era. The room reverb on albums of this era really adds to the overall sound. Notables songs include Change Gonna Come, Down In The Valley, I’ve Been Loving You Too Long, My Girl, You Don’t Miss Your Water.

"Don't know much about trigonometry" And they say celebrities can't be relatable.

Good Stuff

Beautiful, raw, timeless soul. Powerful vocals. The originals are as incredible as the Sam Cooke covers. Passionate, gritty, gospel fire. The band is perfectly tight. Isaac Hayes on the keys, who knew!? This album is just back to back hit after hit after hit. It is about as easy a listen as you could ever want. Favourite track - Wonderful World. 9/10.

Such a great album. Always liked Otis, but never listened to a full album. Could see myself putting this on regularly

Bit of a classic album 7/10

Even more RESPECT than I had before

Enjoyed it

Pure soul put into this album 8/10

Oldieeeee ❤️

Otis and the Memphis Horns. Automatic 5. This falls just short of desert island rankings. I get that a lot of these are covers and many have been overplayed. Still this formula scratches that certain itch cannot be beat.

A solid soul cover album, I would t be upset if any of this came on. Really solid covers, surprised by The Rolling Stones cover too. 4 of 5, his voice is amazing.

Great album, have it on vinyl and listened to it that way…in mono.

Otis Redding is one of the great soul singers ever. It's probably not great that I best know him for getting sampled a bunch on that Kanye West/Jay-Z duo album (Kanye West: Piece of shit human, savant-like ability to recognize great music). At least now I can say I have listened to his actual music and it's just great. You can feel his emotion in his singing on every song and it just makes you want to close your eyes and sway with the slow playing of the piano. Solid 4 for me.

This is about as effortlessly cool and composed a soul record as there ever was. Otis Redding has an all time voice for the genre and absolutely owns each of the songs. I could listen to this end over end without tiring. Something about listening to this makes me long for a red Chevrolet and a milkshake... Ole Man Trouble absolutely fucks. Love the progression at work here and horns. TiL that Arethra Franklin covered Respect... Hers is the definitive version, but this jams all the same. My Girl is a classic, as is Wonderful World. His brass-filled take on Satisfaction is fine even if it doesn't stray far from the original source material. But the turn into You Don't Miss Your Water is a bit of weird sequencing IMO. That said, Don't Miss Your Water is one of my favorites on here and absolutely fantastic in the closing slot. High high 4 for me. Just not quite the energy for a 5.

Hard to hate an album with a bunch of covers of well known hits done in expert fashion. Had me grooving for sure.

Been in some really bluesy older music trend here on this list and im here for it. Liked the couple of covers on here. Otis Redding just has such a powerful singing voice

Fun lil album with some great covers and great singing. Solid one I would love to play in the background having some people over.

Great sound. Very cool.

Fantastic renditions of stone cold classics. Satisfaction & Respect are Fantastic

So smooth and cool, and then My Girl hits.

Who knew that Otis Redding recorded "Respect" before Aretha? Not me! His take is certainly not bad, either, but Aretha's arrangement deservedly made the song all hers.

I am glad I could hear it on this lazy morning.

9/10 Lav it! That otis guy can really sing

Damn, the start of the album was extremely strong with "Ole Man Trouble" and "A Change is Gonna Come" which ended up being the favorite track of the lot. The start was hinting at a possible 5, but then the tone of the subsequent songs went to more livelier soul which was still absolutely fine to listen to, but it didn't necessarily transport me anywhere like the other two songs did. As such, this will receive a 4/5 rating.

The majority of the tracks on Otis Blue are cover versions so this album will never be a 5 for me. It seems to be his strongest album, I haven't listened to the others fully but the track lists seem to have 1-2 standout songs. This album is a solid 30 mins of soul. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.

A day after strugging through Foo Fighters' debut album I was blessed with this. Wow, can Otis Redding ever sing. He is one of those artists who I have probably heard many times but I couldn't name any of his songs. What a treat!

Excellent

Obviously, Otis Redding is one of the greatest. This is a really good album to get to know his style which is phenomenal and so many of the songs were hits before he covered them on this album. The standout is "Change Gonna Come" for me. Covering songs back in this time period was done all the time and singers/performers who had their own style would make the song their own and Otis does just that. Really great album.

Nice

The covers are great and there are only a few originals, but great ones at that. It's recorded well - clean, but keeping a natural live sound. A classic that is always listenable.

Fine soul, and mighty-fine work Mr. Redding. Groovy.

I used to listen to the soul show with Ferry Maat on Dutch radio. It was great music.

Better than coldplay

Otis Redding singing is only ever going to be good!

Loved the lyric "shake it like a bowl of soup" This was a cool and influential listen, not the kind of thing I'd normally have in the rotation but more to like than dislike here for sure

Got a little boring with all of these songs sounding similar but it's just classic after classic. Hard to dislike these old school funk albums 7/10

I listened to this two times through and enjoyed it. Then I saw the news about Ozzy passing and I became distracted by Black Sabbath. It was my first time listening to "Paranoid." I have to imagine that album makes an appearance on this list at some point. Seeing as how I've already heard Metallica, twice, and Judas Priest, I would be shocked if Paranoid doesn't make the cut. Anyway, Otis Redding, good soul music. 3.5

Good stuff

Classic stuff from a legend.

4.0

beautiful. You can see where so much music comes from

По началу показался ну очень прикольным! Потом немного надоел, хоть и вовсе не длинный, 32 минуты. Ну и вокал достаточно специфический, вероятно поэтому поднадоело слушать с непривычки.. Снова не мой любимый жанр и мб не очень в настроение, но альбом хороший

great album, made in 24 hours. that's amazing.

From a young age, Otis Redding was the guy on that one rap song that went GAH-JAH-OOO-NAH-NAH-NAH. But years later, I've gotten to know Otis Redding as a man with a voice that defined the very meaning of soul. On this record, you can hear him put everything into singing these songs. I can especially highlight the last 4 tracks which go from sunny R&B to Blues to Rock and Roll and finally a true dose of Soul. I went from expecting a record filled with singles and quick bits (like Elvis) to being able to hear something more within. Otis was a man with all the tricks up his sleeve and a voice that rang on like the wind. His loss was a great tragedy. (8/10, 4/5 on this scale)

7/11/25. Otis has the voice, and loved hearing his take on famous songs during this era. Really adds a lot of soul, hence the title.

a solid album of mostly covers. “a change is gonna come” is my favourite of course. iconic song that..

What an absolute joy this album was. When it came up, I wasn’t sure if I was in the mood for Otis. I stuck it on anyway and thoroughly enjoyed it. Despite already knowing a few songs, this album was just an overall injection of positivity. A definite addition to my library, and a good example of the 1001 generator being very effective.

Ahh, ça fait un méchant boutte qu'un a pas eu un pull de Blues, pis un bon à part de ça!

I enjoyed this. Familiar with the artist, not this particular album. Definitely canonical.

Minus one for mostly covers but what a voice

This is a wonderful album that's just a shot of sunshine. If there's a drawback I prefer most of the originals to the covers presented here, although Satisfaction comes pretty damn close to beating the original.

So.many.hits!! I think my favourite part was the texture in his voice. You really notice that compared to many vocal recordings - it’s sounds like you are right there

Some good covers of known songs

Very nice listen.

Lindo álbum, de un artista que murió demasiado joven :(

An exceptional collection of songs performed by an exceptional artist. Otis has to be on the short list of top musical talents we lost too soon. While none of these tracks match Otis’ peak brilliance on Sittin On The Dock of the Bay, it’s probably his best collection of songs as a whole album released in his lifetime. I’ve Been Loving You Too Long and his rendition of My Girl are highlights.

Really beautiful album. Soaring vocals and melodies. Pleasure to listen to his interpretations of a lot of these hits, even if they’re not my personal fave versions.

I can't get no satisfaction

I love Otis Redding, I always have.. but I’m only giving this 4 stars because Aretha Franklin is the only person that should sing Respect

Surprising how many songs on this album are ubiquitous.

Classic Soul

Really loved this Soul album. Otis' vocal timbre texture really gets you moving.

Not an album I'm eager to download each song to my library, only because it's mostly a cover album, but Otis just always slaps. A voice from Heaven. He does justice to a lot of these covers, and produces the original Respect.

Soul soup to fill tha bowl

His third album. Soul. Those vocals, the horns, the whole sound. A perfect Soul album. Respect, a classic track. My Girl, beautiful. Wonderful World is another classic ! Lovely album.

This was such a surprise at how many of these songs were covered by later bands. I had no idea.

Great selection of covers on this record. I really appreciate the brass instrumentation.

Otis never disappoints—a classic '60s long player with many timeless hits.

Encore de l’excellent soul. J’aime beaucoup sa voix un peu écorchée, sur le bord de se mettre à pleurer, qui transporte toute la douleur du monde. J’aime aussi la place très importante des cuivres dans les chansons. Par contre avoir 2 covers sur un album de 32 min c’est un drôle de choix. C’était peut-être comme ça dans le temps! Respect!

Solid.

I liked his rendition of Satisfaction more than Rolling Stones!

Two songs that became big hits for other artists. This was really solid - enjoyed it!

ja nice

A covers album has no business being this solid.

Great album. Great tracks.

Again, a classic album.

Otis pretty much never misses

Very nice!

monument de la soul

Lots of great songs even if you have heard them by other artists and they may be mo0re of the definitive versions. But you can't deny he does a fantastic job with all of them as the songs are all we have heard before and maybe don't come to mind as the artist associated with them I can't give 5 stars but it is close.

Otis' voice is a great mix of rugged and soulful. Nice, short blues album.

I was pleasantly surprised by this album. It is, of course, a truism to remark that Otis Redding had one of THE great voices of the 60's. Attempting to describe that voice without resort cliche is...well, if not impossible, then certainly close to it. However, I have to confess that I didn't expect to be blown away by this album; I have heard most of the songs before, so I thought I had a good idea of what to expect. But, I must admit that I was surprised. There was something immensely (and surprisingly) enjoyable about just kicking back with some headphones and allowing Otis to transport me to a different time and place for about 50 minutes. I didn't think, I just listened. And, if a work of art is capable of shutting out the noise, of quieting the chaos, even for a little while, well I think there is no higher praise available. A highlight of the record was the cover of 'Satisfaction.' Being a huge Stones Guy I wasn't expecting to enjoy this cover as much as I did. I thought I would have to 'endure it' or, perhaps, to 'suffer through it' (there are some questionable 'Satisfaction' covers out there). Now, is it as good as the original? I wouldn't like to comment on that...but I will say, it is GOOD. Great even. All told, I thoroughly enjoyed this album and plan on revisiting it again and again. Perhaps on rainy nights, when I feel a type of longing I can't quite identify. On nights like that, perhaps Otis can show me the way.

Excellent vibes.

Otis has a great voice and soul to his singing. Enjoyed the covers and the horns were excellent.

He sounds great, I only knew “The Dock of the Bay” before this but his voice is incredible. Lots of emotion and oomph to it. Really tragic that he died at 26, lots of potential. This was great, although the album does kinda drag after the first couple songs.

Great stuff however I do not want to hear anybody but Aretha do Respect

Great songs

good songs to cover, good voice doing the covering - stellar album for just easy listening. Otis Redding is a GOAT and this album, in my opinion, helps to define that legacy

Love his voice and sound.

It’s a cover album but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a great listen. Otis Redding has incredible vocals and it was really fun seeing what personal touches he put on each song. It was also the first time I can remember hearing Respect from the opposite point of view. Really good album, but I don’t know that I can justify a five.

How can you not love Otis Redding's voice? I do wish we got some more original songs though. The covers he does are very well done, but they're not that much different from the original. I wish he would have made them more of his own. I pretty much prefer the original version to all the covers. That makes it even funnier that I prefer Aretha Franklin's version of "Respect" more than the original. Most of the songs on this album I wish were a different version.

Not my genre but beautiful album.

Beautiful soulful album. Only knock was that it was mostly covers

When the Blues built the house

Good album full of covers

Singing with delight, raw emotion, and at times with torment. What I envision quality Soul music should encapsulate. Legendary voice!!

This was very fun

Wait till Otis sees us, he loves us

Viele bekannte Songs im souligen Sound. Für ein 60 Jahre altes Album erstaunlich gut. 4/5

This was a pleasure to listen to

Otis Redding song soulful rhythm and blues with killer backing band. Redding is a great talent, performing songs with emotionality, energy, and swagger. The music is solid throughout - always smooth whether sparse and quiet or more upbeat and fun. Particularly shining is the horn arrangements which provide great accents. It’s all solid with a few standout tracks, mostly on Side A which is strong enough that Side B doesn’t feel essential.

8/10 A load of bangers, sung really well and played really well. Production is good but maybe muted? There are a load of greats on here and not much of the music really stands out strongly. Best: I’ve Been Loving You Too Long

gorgeous gorgeous!

3.6 solid soul album, a bit on the slower side for my personal taste but still a banger faves: respect, down in the valley

Great, but not a 5 since the album is almost all covers, and I wouldn’t say Reddings renditions are the definitive versions. Hell, even his own composition (“Respect”) is better sung by Aretha. But, still great and worth a listen.

Mesmerising music! That voice is heavenly

die musik ist ziemlich schön, sehr energische momente und interessante instrumente! leider erinnert es mich sehr an die musik die peinliche yuppies hören, um ihre überlegenheit darzustellen. 3,5/5

more like GOATis Redding am I right

Such a tragedy this man had to die so young. He is a legend and would have gone on to do some incredible things. Phenomenal talent and album.

Delightful

I am in awe of Otis Redding. I love the Stax/Volt sound. (The story of Stax - Otis occupying a major chapter - is incredible; search it out.) But this album doesn’t present as a coherent work. It plays like a collection of tracks. Three of them on Side A belong in the conversation of best-songs-ever-written, but the track order is odd; the “set list” doesn’t flow. And Side B is just a collection of toss away covers.

Really good album. Classic music right here that so many people were inspired by. Not a skip on the album. Loved hearing My Girl here as well. 8./10

Enjoyed

Very chill. Good for a night in.

I love this kind of music.

No idea that Respect was an Otis Redding song! Or (I can't get no) satisfaction! So many good oldies.

good

Very good listen. My only complaint is the number of covers, but I know that's how they did it back then. "Long Time Coming" hits hard, especially given the context. For sure a soul classic.

Easily enjoyable. Although I realise half the 60s were just covers albums.

Goat

love it

no skips! a true exemplar of the [artist] sings [genre] album conceit! tight 32 minutes! hell yeah!

Knew lots of them, vibes

Otis, my man!! Listening to this album feels like participating in music history. Great covers and amazing originals that would go on to be covered (Respect). Funky, soulful, bluesy (in the best way). 5⭐️

Great album with alot of covers

Too good.

Its a classic of course it was good

4.5, classic soulful tunes

Listened May 2021. What a voice.

Really good album! Soul at one of its finest!

#900 and what an album for the milestone! Man this guy could sing. It is weird how much artists leaned on covers back in the day.

Dazzlingly good, really. Muscular, confident songs that stride out the speakers and demand attention. When you learn most of this album was recorded in a day, you first gasp but then can sort of start to believe it – if the rest of the room was even nearly as talented as Otis, magic was never unlikely. It’s a profound shame that Redding’s career was cut so cruelly short; for a minute, he might have been the brightest light in music.

Brilliant through and through.

good album to chill on weed

Really good, as I expected

This man is so horny. Great crooning.

Great vocals

It's Otis Redding. How can you go wrong?

Fun listen, the covers were interesting and the entire band sounded great. Vocals were of course the standout.

Cool covers, and songs that became famous after they were covered by other artists.

v good! the covers so nice

9/10 Pretty fantastic Soul and Blues record that will make you go “oh, white Rock stars ripped the fuck out of this”. Incredibly groovy and fun all the way through. Great instrumental performances here but the main selling point is definitely Otis’ voice, his slightly smoky, rough, and passionate singing brings all of these sad, funky, and bombastic tunes to life in the best ways. Side note, it was really fucked up that older Black musicians from the 50s and 60s were incentivized to not have their faces displayed on album art due to an appeal to (mainly white) general audiences, they should’ve taken the same picture with Otis in a blonde wig instead

7

All really great arrangements of great songs, with a great voice to anchor them. I wouldn't exactly say anything *innovative* is happening here, but it's all good and very well done.

It takes real skill to make covers as good as - if not better - than their originals. Covers that are so good that people forget that they are covers and that they become the staple version. This album is full of those types of songs - covers that outshine some of the originals.

Wonderful album! Definitely a "new" type of music for me, and I quite like it! I couldn't find much of a story while I listened through it, however.

I love Otis Redding, and I did enjoy most of the songs on this album, but it’s just good to me, didn’t stand out as one of the best albums I’ve heard. Still, I give it an 8.5/10

Awesome

the softest bullet ever shot

Great voice. I enjoyed this. Didn't know he wrote respect, although Aretha version is better. A bunch of good cover versions too.

This album put a big ol smile on my face

Very much a cover album, but DAMN, hard to ignore the backing personnel on this album first of all. You've got Booker T. & the M.G.'s (the house band of Stax Records at the time), members of the Mar-Keys and the Memphis Horns providing, well the horns, and even Isaac Hayes on piano! Of course, the legendary Otis Redding is at the front here, lending his voice to create unique versions of iconic R&B/soul works such as "My Girl", "Wonderful World", and "Satisfaction". The original content of his also sticks out, notably "Respect", which would later be reworked and covered by a certain lady of soul... An enjoyable album that can act as a celebration of 60's soul and R&B, with one of the best covering more of the best.

Looks like the album cover to a 1970 Top Of The Pops album. Disappointed with the production, it sounded mono (it possibly was) and the fadeouts were a little severe. But at the end of the day it's Otis. Smooth bastard. My new go-to blues album if I'm ever on the pull again.

Could only find the collectors version and it was LONG. Enjoyed the songs, My Girl especially is my fave.

Otis Redding's voice is so iconic. It's so powerful, and it really makes me smile. This honestly feels like one of those albums you could play all the way through at a wedding. It isn't the most innovative or experimental record, but it really does make me feel really good. It might be because it feels like he brings so much passion to the vocal performance that it is such an evocative album. The instrumentals on this album are also incredibly passionate and classic-sounding. Everything about this album puts a smile on my face- not much more to say than that. The only thing is that the sound feels a little dated to revisit often, but that might just be because I'm young and really prefer hifi sound. Really liked it 4/5

i don't like jazz very much, but it's nice to listen it in while. Energy, temp, movement. There's good instruments. Really motivation-revival stuff.

Truly iconic. (Could've done with a little editing tho....)

Really good, but prefer to hear these songs as a surprise in a playlist rather than listen to the whole album. 4 ish

Otis Redding is someone I never really paid much attention to, but this was a classic soul and R&B album that I really enjoyed. It had a slightly raw edge, but it was also well balanced, coherent, and easy to take in. That said, if I never hear My Girl again, I wouldn’t mind.

Musically, vibes are immaculate. His voice is like… grainy? In the best way that goes along really well with the brass. (After reading the wiki it’s interesting how I disliked the booker T & the M.G.s album we had but adding his voice complimented it really well and I was a fan of this). Respect made me kinda uncomfortable. But then it was redeemed immediately after with change gonna come. His cover of my girl was absolutely great. Pretty much the rest of the album I just drifted a bit, would be real nice to fall asleep to tho.

Lovely is this little gem, happily listen occasionally for pleasure.

Standouts: • Ole Man Trouble • A Change Is Gonna Come • I've Been Loving You Too Long • My Girl • You Don't Miss Your Water

Love it. Favourite track is A Change Is Gonna Come 4/5

Oh, very excited about this.

85/100. Otis Blue by Otis Redding is a great soul record, showcasing his emotive and raw vocal delivery. The album is truly spectacular, filled with passion and depth, and it rightfully stands as one of the most celebrated soul albums in history. A timeless classic that continues to leave a lasting impact.

4.5 Otis! My Man! This is an all-time classic, but I have to knock it down from the top of the mountain as this is essentially a cover album. If I did it to Dusty, I have to do it to Otis.

I was like hey i know these songs and then i realized it's because they are all covers!

Easy listen

großartige Musik und großartige Vorlagen für viele anderen

Mysigt

Today I learned that Otis Redding wrote “Respect,” and his original version is pretty different from Aretha’s, which came two years later. It’s interesting that this album starts with two original songs, one of which was later famously covered, and the rest of the album consists of Redding covering some legendary songs. Sam Cooke’s “Change Gonna Come” and “Wonderful World” aren’t on Cooke’s 1001 album, so it's nice to get them on the list. Same for Smokey Robinson’s “My Girl” getting represented. But alas, it also means no “Dock of the Bay,” my favorite Redding song. If not for his tragic death, maybe Redding would have put out many more albums worthy of the list.

Much better

Love Otis

A stone cold classic. Showcasing a great soul singer and an amazing backing band.

Song:i have been loving you for too long i like this song because he has a great voice and it is relaxing and i love the lyrics Song:respect i like this song also because it is like giving me happy vibes and he has a good voice again in this song Song: satisfaction this song gives me spring vibes now its like it was a rainy day and the next day is sunny and the grass is wet it just shines and it is warm i love that feeling cant wait for spring so maybe i will listen to this song i recommend this album

I rate it in total a ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Have you ever wanted to listen to music that has sounds? Then this song is perfect for you. In my opinion this album is pretty good. The first reason why I like this is because of how much emotion he puts into his music. Another reason why I like his music is because I like how his voice sounds with the instruments that he is using. I would definitely recommend this to someone else because I really like it and I feel like someone else would also really like it. I would give this a solid 4 stars out of 5.

Great album! I'm so happy when I discover new great jazz albums. This one is one of those.

Liked this a lot. Particularly the faster jazzier numbers.

Nice selection of covers !! Really got into the vibe. The voice of Otis Redding is really moving

Fav: A Change Is Gonna Come Least Fav: Rock Me Baby Otis Purple

When it comes to albums that consist covers I have dilemma. It is very good but tracks are still covers.

A top drawer album, brimming with great instrumentations and, of course, Otis Redding’s rich and soulful voice. Top tracks for me are: Satisfaction and Rock Me Baby.

Listened: 4/02/2025 Album no: 12 % rating: 76% Fave Song: Respect/My Girl/satisfaction Otis Reading is so fucking smooth GOD DAMN. The guitar tones on this album are stunning too, always blows my mind that guitars were sounding THAT GOOD back in the 60s. Madness. Banger after banger, a quality listen for an easy morning.

not what id usually listen to but quite enjoyable

Otis Redding? More like Otis bl... oh my god

The king of it, power soul voice singing the classics. 7.8/10.

Great songs performed well. Timeless. Loses a star becuase some of these songs were performed better by his contemporaries

Brilliant. Lots of passion and emotion.

This was a great listen, it’s Otis Redding so it was a given before even going in. A lovely blues album this one, not much else to say really!

Listened 1/27/25, drive back from Smithfield.

This was fun. I initially gave it five stars but I think it was simply because it was my first time listening to a blues album and I was just enjoying the new sound more than anything. And I did really have a good time listening to it. However, it’s more of a background album for me. I kept thinking throughout my listen that this will be a really good album to cook to. Or to clean to. I don’t think I’d consciously listen to this album ever but I know I would definitely put it on when I’m in my own house as I do other things. As an introduction to blues music, it was a great place to start and has piqued my interest into exploring the genre even more. I’m glad I listened to it. I really enjoyed his version of I Can't Get No Satisfaction. Definitely worth a full listen through and a certified mood lifter.

Classic

Great voice

This album made me feel so much joy. How can you listen to this and not want to dance and sing along? Will definitely go into my regular rotation of albums to listen to.

Classic

A talented stylist with a full orchestra backing. Very listenable. Respect, Wonderful World and I’ve been loving you are particularly good. 4/5

• 4/5 • the template for great soul music • hadn’t realized he penned Respect

Otis was the OG! Not my usual taste but I can appreciate this legendary music/artist.

It's VERY good. Very comforting and cozy as well, def something everyone should listen to before they die. The downside is most of the songs weren't writen by Redding himself, but oh well. Gonna check out his other albums either way. Fav tracks: Ole Man Trouble, My Girl 4/5 (maybe a bit more than 4 tho).

Otis is such a powerful singer. He can show such a range of emotion and makes you feel the words along with him. One of the best soul/blues albums, but there is some great rock elements mixed in as well.

++ Liked it a lot, it's been a few days and I just remember that

Powerful, deeply soulful and triumphant singing. Good covers of songs, but once album is over I can't remember which songs they were. They were great, but at same time failed to leave lasting impression. Right on cusp of 5 Star for me.

Otis Redding was the king of the classics bit the production was dreadful on this one. Brassy and turned into one long song.

Great little album, what's not to love?

It’s been quiet on the “1001 Albums Generator is Sentient” front for me for a while, but today, the generator dealt me this doozy, reinforcing my belief that the generator has a grand design for us all: Yesterday, I was assigned Blue Cheer’s “Vincebus Eruptum” and today this record was assigned. The connection? Both have a cover of BB King’s “Rock Me Baby”. Anyway. Is it even possible to hate Otis Redding’s music? It kind of feels like that should be a metaphysical impossibility.

Beautiful arrangements and creamy vocals. However mainly covers and short Run length means this falls a little short of 5*...

Very solid, feels like a “best of”. Cafe Kelvinos Tuesday Cappucino sessions.

I’ve noticed a trend in my reviews where I explain why a very good album doesn’t quite deserve five stars. It is tedious even to me. Yet here we are again: this is cheating. You take one of the greatest soul singers, give him a lineup of great soul songs, and then package it as an album. This isn’t an album the way we understand it. This is a greatest hits, an all-star game, a dream karaoke situation. I’m not giving this five stars.

Such an emotional voice. He sings songs that sound like how I feel things.

An album of mostly covers, it’s straightforward and full of heart. Simple, strong, and all about emotion. The songs connect without forcing anything. Everything feels real and unpolished in the best way. It’s soulful and grounded, like it’s made to last. It’s just honest music.

Really enjoyed this whole album

This album is mostly cover versions of other songs (there are a few originals) but in any event, you can’t go wrong with Otis Redding. His soulful spin is as pleasant as always, and I really need to dive more into his original material. I always obviously knew that like “Dock of the Bay” but I want discover everything else that is out there from him.

This album is everything I found to be great in soul music.

I can't tell what this guy saying

Yeah good like

Loved it, good stuff, classic tunes.

Sehr schön, Original respect mit toxischen familienmodell Cover von satisfaction und my girl Wunderbarer soul

first listen its great

Well this is lovely stuff. Maybe one too many covers to get a fiver though. Simpsons: Yes

Really nice album and good length.

I really enjoyed listening to this album, Otis Redding has a lovely and smooth voice, particularly the Sam Cooke covers and the cover of Satisfaction

Touches the soul

Cozy, soulful, and full of great bops.

Damn! I totally get Otis Redding now!

something I never would have stumbled across on my own. Glad I got to listen to it

4.5/5

Pretty cool... I've been loving you too long is awesome... This album is like walking in the city a nice day...

4.5

i love otis. i've heard his hits + some, but hadn't heard this whole album. highlights for me are change is gonna come (i prefer this to the original i think), down in the valley, and i've been loving you too long. :chefs-kiss:

Turns out I really like R&B

Otis Redding singing covers of early rock sounds makes this album a fun listen. I enjoyed the faster paced songs better so side two (especially satisfaction) was the go to listen.

Miscellaneous, failed and successful. Classics and extraordinaries.

Respect to Otis for writing Respect, and respect to Aretha for turning it upside down, into an anthem Ole Man Trouble ✅✅✅ I’d listen to Otis cover just about anything. Appreciate the open love for Sam Cooke and his rendition of A Change Is Gonna Come.

- R E S P E C T -

-actually 3.5 stars, really good soul album

Absolutely timeless. One of the best male voices of all time coupled with rock solid blues tracks, hard to beat. 4/5.

Hard to believe he was song young recording this album, truly one of the greatest losses in music history. In my opinion the stand out tracks on this album are: Change Gonna Come, Loving You Too Long, You Don’t Miss Your Water, and Rocking Me Baby it has an absolutely awesome guitar solo, a great blues song, and good change of pace, if you haven’t listened to this album I suggest you stop what you’re doing and give it a shot

Great sound

Some classic songs by a classic voice. There is plenty here that will sound familiar to even casual music fans, from 'My Girl' and 'Respect' to 'Wonderful World' and 'Satisfaction'. Add in writing from Sam Cooke and music by Isaac Hayes. It's hard to deny that this is a great album.

Short but great, an amazing soul album. 4.5

It's kind of a bummer that this is the only Otis Redding album we get in this collection, but an excellent selection nonetheless. I've never listened to a full album by him, so it's nice to get a full half-hour of his distinctive sound and voice. It's also interesting to find out that most of the songs on this album are covers, and somewhat ironic that one of the few Redding-authored songs on the album, "Respect", became *much* more famous and well-known by Aretha Franklin's cover version. And in a truly bizarre moment of coincidence/synchronicity, I literally read a local newspaper article this morning (12/11/2024) about Sam Cooke's now-60-years-old song "Change gonna come" and how Cooke drafted the first version of the song during a visit to Durham, NC, just after meeting with NCCU students; I think I prefer Cooke's version of the song (the same with "Wonderful world"), but Redding's is good too. (And very sad that this album came out just months after Sam Cooke's murder.) A nice album to fill your soul cup, and amazing that it took him and the backing band only about 28 hours to record the whole album.

Soul isn't exactly my style, but Otis Redding certainly knows how to create and put together a great album. Lyrics and instrument accompaniment were expertly done.

This album is so influential I heard almost every song before listening to this. A good share of these are covers but I was so surprised to learn Respect and (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction were made by him. Overall an essential album to this list.

And produced by the wonderful Isaac Hayes. 👍

Really nice record. Probably wouldn't listen to it on the daily but good stuff. Favourite tracks: Ole Man Trouble, Respect, A Change Is Gonna Come, I've Been Loving You Too Long.

I don’t even care that these are all covers… he makes them his own and better at times. Beautiful voice that soothes you one second and wants you to dance another

Most of the covers here are better than the originals. And the originals are better than the covers that people made of them.

A true legend! I don't see how we can dislike this album.

Easy to put on and just vibe to.

Otis Redding is really good. However, we became less enamoured with this as it went on as it felt mostly full of covers which were not as good as the originals/other versions. Still, Redding's voice is such that this album still warrants 4-stars.

great

Easy

Classic and cozy

Really loved this version of 'a change is gonna come' its more inspired by rock and blues than the original version. The soulfulness of the vocals really helped get the emotion of the lyrics across. Really liked the vocals on 'my girl'. Found it much more soulful than the original. I liked the strong feeling of rhythm and the guitar solo in 'rock me baby'. I like the use of saxophones and trumpets in 'satisfaction' I think it really adds to the song. I like how the start and end of the album was quite sad/angry whereas the middle of the album was the most upbeat.

It's the horns. They're perfect. Sam Cooke was a genius. The main misstep on this album is the cover of Satisfaction. It doesn't sound natural at all coming out of the lungs of Otis Redding, and he doesn't seem terribly comfortable with it. This album is a powerful example of the primal appeal of classic soul music.

Listen to it o loud the only way!

Loved this. At first I thought Satisfaction was an Otis original, then JJ & I checked it out & he set me straight. :-)

Old but alright

Holy crap what a voice. I mean this has to be one of the most powerful voices in soul that I've ever heard. But you can't get away with making a cover album.

Wonderful surprise.

Great voice, great album. Highly recommended

It's bar setter. Solid gold soul. A 5 all day long. Surely? I mean, yes. But. Am I ever going to ask "Alexa play that album of Otis Redding singing loads of standards and covers and things" ...

# Album Name: Otis Blue # Artist: Otis Redding # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: Love the sax on ole man trouble. nice little tune to kick off the album. WOW, i was shocked to find out otis wrote respect. i always thought it was an Franklin song. Its not as powerful as her cover but its a really nice chill blues version. Theres some other great tracks on here like change gonna come, shake, my girl, wonderful world, rock me baby, Satisfaction. These are all cracking versions. My major gripe with this album is the large majority are cover songs. For me, it brings the rating of the album down. No doubt about it. Overall, this is a very bluesy album with a lot of soul. Theres some great music on the album and otis' voice is great as always. AND it blew my mind about respect. # Top Tunes: Plenty of bangers on this one. # Would I listen to it again? Yes.

El soul es hipnótico

Chill

Otis Redding isn’t my preferred soul artist of this era, but his music is always great and the dude had such an evocative voice.

7/10 Great songs on this. Unfortunately a few are covers so I cannot give this a high rating Favourite Song=A Change Is Gonna Come Least Favourite Song=

RESPECT BY ARETHRA FRANKLIN IS A COVER?!

Overall great but Respect is surprisingly uncomfortable when sung by a bloke.

On the surface, Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul appears an odd entry in the pantheon of soul’s defining albums. While hailed as one of Redding’s most acclaimed records, much of it consists of covers of songs already immortalized by his contemporaries. The original versions of A Change Is Gonna Come and My Girl are deeply ingrained in popular memory, and Redding’s Respect has been recast as Aretha Franklin’s signature anthem. In an age where any song is just a click away, there’s little reason not to default to the originals—or so it might seem. What Otis Blue proves is that Redding’s voice and delivery make all the difference. His three original songs sit seamlessly among the covers, and his unfiltered, impassioned vocal style transforms each track into something deeply personal. In A Change Is Gonna Come, he amplifies the song’s gospel roots with a rough-edged vulnerability, while his take on My Girl trades sweetness for a deeper, aching warmth. With Satisfaction, he replaces the Rolling Stones’ swagger with pure, frustrated soul, stretching his voice to its limit and giving the song a visceral intensity. Recorded in 1965—amid the Civil Rights Movement—Otis Blue captures the spirit of a turbulent era when soul music became an outlet for Black America’s struggles. The album’s emotional depth and raw delivery resonate with audiences grappling with their own battles for change. Redding’s own I’ve Been Loving You Too Long stands out as the album's true masterpiece and perhaps its most enduring song, alongside (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay. This slow burn of longing and desperation showcases Redding’s extraordinary vocal control, as he shifts from tenderness to anguish. Through this track, Redding bares his soul, encapsulating the timeless agony of unrequited love and solidifying his place as a pillar of soul music. Did/Do I own this release? No Does this release belong on the list? There’s a reason why this album appears in practically every "best album ever" list. Would this release make my personal list? Unsure, unlikely. Will I be listening to it again? Redding's voice is amazing; I'll be glad to hear these songs again.

Timeless classic

A great alvum with flair and energy. Liked all his covers and the variety. The constant use of the horn section to just blow some notes got a bit predictable, could have let them have at least one solo! Not my favourite style of singing but there is enough blues-style and variety to keep me engaged. A good album.

Otis killin jt

Ok, everyone knows Otis Redding for "(Sittin on the) Dock of the Bay)" so I went in with high expectations. I won't say it met the five stars I was hoping for, but Redding still has a strong and wonderful voice. And looking at the history, he had ridiculous talent behind him in the band. It's a very solid album, just not a perfect album. I'd probably put it at 3.75 if I could make very accurate ratings but I'll give it a 4 for how soulful and melodic it is.

I loved it, it was a nice long album and I was there for the whole time. Also Otis "Blue" absolutely genius. Im sadly starting to do these reviews after the fact so I wish I could think of something more concrete to point out but I really did enjoy the whole album. I only listened through once but I was excited for every song that played and I never once felt bored and felt like I was waiting for a song to finish.

Overlong for an album, but an easy listen.

A very straight forward, enjoyable listen. Nice to have one of those once in a while.

Come on man. Who the fuck doesn't like this? This is nearly a 5, but just doesn't have that staying power I'm looking for in an album. God this was good though.