Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul

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.

Really not sure what was the holdup on me reviewing this since it's not like I really have much to say about it. I really liked it though! I did think It was feeling a little samey by the end, still a very good listen all around

There's only so many songs about heartbreak you can do before you start wondering whether you're the problem.

Was a third through the album and was genuinely thinking my review was going to be "My only complaint is that this isn't longer and that there's a white woman on the front cover. Masterpiece" But then the second half of this album and its ass compared to the front. The first 6 tracks of this album are genuine masterpieces and I wish they were longer and made up the entirety of the album. That being said the back is still alright to good and it's still a cool and easy great 33 minutes. 8/10 Fav tracks - Ole Man Trouble, Respect, A Change is Gonna Come, Down in the Valley, Shake Least Fav - ehhhhhhhhhhhh,

Great sound, not my preferred genre

I love Otis Redding & this is one of his best.

My first exposure to this kind of music. I liked it. Didn't expect Satisfaction to be on it

I like it. Some of the covers are better than the originals. Favorite song: Shake.

beautiful album! otis redding’s butter-smooth voice had me hanging on to every word.

One of the greatest soul albums, full of iconic tracks. Having grown up with the RedLetterMedia Mr. Plinkett reviews of the Star Wars Prequels, hearing "Shake" was a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one (IYKYK). But unironically an amazing song with big, thunderous drums.

Really good, amazing voice. Fun hearing his take on some popular covers.

What a voice, what a band and what a recording! The Stax sound is so cool. Full of life, soul, swing and swagger. I don't listen to this stuff often but it always sounds so good. The only negative is that so many of the best songs here are covers of classics; Smokey Robinson, Sam Cooke, Jagger & Richards etc

Damn he can sing. Classic soul.

nice horns and beautiful singing.

I really enjoyed listening to this. I feel like my attention span is getting longer and I’m appreciating seeing more of an artists discography than just their top five hits.

First listen. Pretty good.

He has a fantastic voice and I really enjoyed how smooth this album was. There were a few covers on here I couldn't get into because I couldn't get another version of it out of my head, so unfortunately that loses some points for me. There were some really stunning songs on here. I loved "A Change Is Gonna Come", but the whole front half of the album is great.

Yeah Otis is a good singer. Was surprised to hear covers on this.

It was calm and lovely, but had some oomph

So much fun! Really nice light hearted listen after dragging myself through some depressing Radiohead dross. 4.3

3.5

Great album, some versions not my favorite, but Shake, Satisfaction and I’ve Been Loving You Too Long are epic.

A wonderful listen

I love otis's voice and I grooved all the way through the album, but I don't like albums completely full of covers. A lot of the songs he covered are done better by the original artists.

love love love ! thanku

Great voice, good song selection. Fades into the background nicely.

Enjoyed the two listens. Redding’s bluesy vocals were a joy to experience. 4/5!

Classic album

Great listen

Good collection of covers

Smooth like butter. Some different takes on big songs than you're used to.

Beautiful album, Otis Redding had such a beautiful voice and shows it on this album. His versions of My Girl, Satisfaction & A Change is Gonna Come are fantastic his version of Respect is great but not as good as Aretha's but I've Been Loving You To Long is tender and beautiful and personal highlight on a great album.

Really nice, just vibes all the way through

I need to run this one back a few times. Great sound, although I wish the brass did articulation other than marcato sometimes. Some real classics on here. I feel cultured.

Good

Very cool album by the king of soul. This had so much energy that you can get dizzy by it. Really enjoyed listening to his voice.

Kicks off with a seriously riveting riff on Ole Man Trouble and does not let up! And those vocals are so unbelievable, right down to his signature grunts. I got misty-eyed at points of this album from the sheer passion of the music!

Some great renditions of some great songs. Good fun!

as a guy with a newly broken heart this was not fun to listen to

So many hits here. Unfortunately, my notes didn't save (user error). I don't need to tell you that this is a great album. I'll give it a 4.

Can't go wrong with Otis. Such a singular dynamic voice that expresses so many shades of emotion, going from sweet soulful gentleness to full-chested growl effortlessly. This was a nice collection of songs that showed off his voice well. Band sounded really tight, too. It's kind of funny to have so many cover songs on an album, but this seems like it was really common to do back in the '60s; I see it a lot with other artists of that era.

Great. Really great.

Favorite song: Change gonna come/Ole man trouble/loving you too long (good album) On you don't miss your water: the timbre in his voice becomes more raspy as he escalates in volume and tempo causing the feeling of desperation to ramp while he realizes how much he misses the partner he cheated on/let go and reflects that it's his fault that he didn't realize how good he had it. It's cool that at first it feels like he is preaching to the listener about something vs towards the end he is crying out because he's talking about himself. The control in his voice at the beginning contrasting the desperation at the end helps tell a story. Think Respect is my least favorite, but it's not offensively worse than any of the others the trumpets replacing the guitar riff in satisfaction is kinda fire, but I think overall I like the rolling stones' version better strong 4/5

Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background Respect, I've Been Loving You Too Long...some of my favorites. Gets a bit cover heavy on the back have, but enjoyable throughout.

Should've called it Otis Blueing

classic.

Me encanta.

Nice soul album. Good covers.

About half of these I pleasantly recognized as covers of songs I already knew. But his voice and energy in these songs are awesome, I liked this for sure

Otis Redding and the Stax band set an unreachable high bar here and make it sound EASY. Pretty incredible, important historically, aged to perfection.

A really great and worthwhile listen. Otis vocal performance is magnetic and hard to hit pause on! The deep soul style feels so influential for the second half of the 60s and early 70s. Many of the tunes are covers but the arrangement and style feel very different and more swampy than the original! Makes me want to dove into more Otis! I gravitate more to the ballads as I think he just does them with such passion that it’s hypnotizing!

This is not your run of the mill covers album. On Otis Blue, Otis Redding covers contemporary R & B hits and interprets these songs as his own with a dynamic performance that showcases his powerful voice, with an incredible band backing him up. A classic Soul album, with so many great songs and in many cases this is the superior version.

I wasn't crazy about it at first but I kinda knew that there had to be more to it. And there is. Great album!

Ran out of tracks much faster than I would've liked it to—immediate favorite

This was the first time I had listened to Otis Redding, and I enjoyed this album quite a lot. Though I would have been more interested in hearing original works, Redding's rich soul-filled vocals lend themselves well to these covers. The only criticism I have is that the instrumentals are a bit hit or miss. None of them are outright bad, but a few tracks have more impactful instrumentals than others. This album is still great though, and I'm looking forward to exploring more of Otis Redding's music.

Fantastic. Redding’s voice really shines and the song selection is great. 4/5 Will listen again

I’m more familiar with Otis Redding through the various samples I’ve heard of him. This dude is a legend when it comes to soul rap samples. Otis, Da Mystery of Chessboxin', Eye Know and Shimmy Shimmy Ya are all amazing hip-hop tracks that use his music. But after hearing this album, I would group this in with a bunch of other records that I think everyone needs to hear once in their life. I’ll admit that this genre and this time period has never been that strong for me. Most of it is just a little too primitive and repetitive for me. Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul does not suffer from those same issues. This is less the blueprint for soul, like Little Richard’s music was for rock and roll, but more like the standard. Or the bar. This is probably what all blues and soul artists in the 60s wished they could sound like. Because people weren’t really doing it like this back then. Even if this is mostly covers, I think Otis does justice to artists like Smokey Robinson, B.B. King, and even Mick Jagger. Truthfully he has one of the most iconic singing voices of all time. It’s totally timeless, and can be appreciated by anyone from any generation. But he is not the only thing that rules here. The band backing him, Booker T. & The M.G.'s, just bring the intensity up a notch. Plus, Isaac Hayes was playing piano on these songs, which just elevates the level of awesomeness even more. It’s wild how intertwined all of these artists' careers were during this time. Me liking this as much as I did was just as much of a surprise as the Nina Simone album. Unfortunately I have predetermined opinions on many of these genres from past experiences. But it’s always very cool when something like this comes along. Rating: 8/10

my girl, wonderful world

Favs: A Change is gonna come Shake No satisfaction It’s a slay obviously it’s incredible blues and soul. It’s not an album I’d actively be purely listening to, as in that’s the activity is listening to the album. But as background ? GORGEOUS. It blows my mind that certain songs originate from this album.

Good album but I don’t think his best. Live in Europe was amazing. I don’t think this studio album showed his range and excitement as much.

Brilliant album.

Good soul. Lots of alternative versions/covers. All well done. Solid liaten

So WTF with the album cover? I mean, I guess I know the answer, but where's Otis? Worth noting that Redding was 24 when this was released. He sounds like a grizzled veteran. This is a classic, contains renditions of songs I hadn't heard before, not to mention his original "Respect," which puts Aretha's version into sharper focus. I'm not at a 5-star only because this isn't music that moves me personally so much, it's just an era before mine, I guess. But damn, dude can sing, he was a pioneer, and you can hear why. Not sure why they left half of "Satisfaction" out of the tune, but that was a fun inclusion.

yeah, great stuff. Otis has never been my favorite of the great 60s/70s soul singers, but when he's on he's on fire, and he's on fire more often than not on here. His covers are pretty ballsy (A Change is Gonna Come, Satisfaction) but he pulls them off. Respect is great, of course, though Aretha's cover is definitive. Loving You Too Long is perfection. And solid backup from Booker T's band along the way.

Classic soul. Love it.

Great voice, solid classics.

5/11, 45%

Buen album

I absolutely love Otis Redding. This is not my favorite collection of songs by Otis but it is hard not to like it.

Sam Cookie is 5 stars so this has to be 4

Amazing album 4.5

So much soul, better than what has been on this list so far.

Great selection of soul songs and some great takes by Otis.

This was surprisingly kind of hard core? I liked it way more than I imagined I would.

Otis Redding has such a good voice. It is hard to know (without doing the research) which tracks here are covers and which are original. Satisfaction? Yeah that’s a Rolling Stones cover. Respect? Actually this is the original, and Aretha Franklin was the cover. There is a lot here that I vaguely recognise which brought with it some cosy familiarity. It is easy to listen to and enjoy, with nothing too wacky going on. I wouldn’t say it is groundbreaking, but I enjoyed listening.

I think this was the first time I listened to this album. Power, energy and passion in the vocals, ably backed up by some legendary musicians.

Had a few classic songs on, good vibe for the first album

Pretty well done - but felt more commercial pop than blues & soul. Not his best album

Otis sings the classics, what's not to like?

Very nice album

Sure thing, Otis

I had a great time listening to this one, so much music history here.

Pretty good I’ve already heard some of these songs. I like the singers voice it sounds nice.

That's more like, classics

cool

Very good and nice soul music!

Pretty chill album

Great blues album with classics

Lots of covers. Very rnb soul. Singer songwriter dreamland

Pretty much all covers but Otis is great.

Great Sunday morning music.

This was great, I really enjoyed hearing him do some of my favorite Sam Cooke songs. I will definitely have to look into more Otis Redding. 4.5/5

Never heard this before. I thought it was very good.

Classic

Couple of skips keep it from being rated higher but really enjoyed the highs. Love the run of tracks in the middle of the album.

Fantastic.

Day 7 - June 8th, 2024 One week into 1001 Albums, and wow, what a good album. Highlights were My Girl and "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction. 4/5

Overall very good album. Lots a great songs.

Actually slapped

Otis being Otis

absolutely love this dude

Good soul, a few covers, decent

Man Otis has such a powerful voice. I enjoyed the original songs on this album a lot, but I found myself really being surprised by the covers on this one. His soulful and emotive delivery can really elevate already great songs or with others like (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction offer a unique take on a classic. Also did not realize Respect was not originally Aretha Franklin’s song. Wild. Fav songs: Ole Man Trouble Respect A Change Is Gonna Come I’ve Been Loving You Too Long

I do genuinely like Otis Redding, so this rating was a forgone conclusion.

I love this album and he’s such an incredible powerful soul singer. Every song bops. However, for a lot of these tracks, like; “Respect”, “Change Gonna Come”, “My Girl”, etc. His version is not the definitive version. Meaning that someone did that song better and I can’t give this album a perfect score knowing that there are better versions of these songs out there. A real conundrum because I want to give everything Otis does a perfect ten. Unfortunately, we’ll just have to settle for a. 4/5

Mmmm Buttery

Starts slow and picks up by the end!

This was an enjoyable listen top to bottom.

Another wedding playlister here, in the best way. Can't believe it was recorded in a day! Wow! He really was shakin it all night long.

Otis is a legend of R&B, and this album helped cement it.

Perfect. Gets a four just because it’s mostly covers. No one makes music like this anymore.

good times on this one

Top Three Songs: 1) Old Man Trouble 2) A Change is Gonna Come 3) Wonderful World Bottom Three Songs: 1) Shake 2) Satisfaction 3) Down in the Valley

Oh yeah. This is great. Love those guitars.

Good stuff

A legendary voice explores some soul standards (and one rock standard). Really like how the sound is tasteful but maintains some bite. Smooth, easy listening. Best song: Wonderful World

Classic. Wouldn’t say it’s my type of thing but really enjoyed it. Amazing voice, catchy brilliant musicianship and some classic songs.

Túlkunin hjá þessum gaur var úr einhverri annarri vídd. Geggjuð plata!

Otis has an amazing voice and really speaks to emotion, full of soul. my only gripe is one or two of the covers miss the mark a little bit but not by much at all. Wanna be sad and in love? listen to this

Otis Redding has my favorite voice in soul music. This album was very pleasant. I wasn’t wild about some of his covers but overall it was an enjoyable time

I've seen the album cover so many times in my life, but never got the chance to listen to a copy before. The content is an efficient compilation of soul at its highest peak. Some tracks lack of consistency though, while others are just extraordinarily crafted (I've been loving you too long, change is gonna come...) Overall: Really enjoyable and majorly important in 1960s culture

Surprised about versions of popular songs.

Banging

I quite enjoyed this considering it’s basically just an album of covers/standards. Fave Tracks: Ole Man Trouble, You Don’t Miss Your Water 3.5/5

Great soul album, enjoyed every song. Low 4.

woah

A perfect late afternoon record, especially with a joint and a book. With Otis, you know what you’re getting and it’s always going to be great: brassy backing tracks, strong charismatic vocals, and pop standards you heard all your life without knowing it was Otis Redding who originally wrote it all along. He’s always got a little uptempo soul, a little downtempo blues, and a couple sultry ballads. It’s pitch perfect ‘60s soul, and fills that niche flawlessly. There is no such thing as a bad Otis Redding song or album, and Otis Blue is no exception. That said, this album does have a lot of covers – more here than on later albums – and I’ll be honest, the covers are the weakest versions of these songs. And I’d even argue that, for the original cuts here that became well-known off their cover versions, they’re also the weaker version of the song in question. And because of that, I have a hard time meeting Otis Blue on its own terms. It’s still a very good album, one I’d gladly own and listen to, but it’s never going to be a personal favorite, either. Now, if we were talking about Pain in My Heart or The Dock of the Bay….

So much better than the last one. Good songs, some known, like his voice

Great album full of great covers. Nice singing by Otis, but I'm not sure if that's enough to make it exceptional. I'm pretty sure I might like some of the original songs better, although it's a really good try.

Now this is what I'm talking about... this was so much better than rolling stones, there's variety in the singing, the trumpets (to die for). So good at bringing out the emotions in the lyrics

Classic album - favorite so far

About as good as raw 60's soul gets

great but I dislike the fadeouts

Very good