Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul

I’m me of the best albums of all time. Easily top 10.

Damn! I totally get Otis Redding now!

Some classics and impossible to hate but most I wont return to Rating: 3.1

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

4.5/5

Overall, solid, but not really my type of music. I think part of the fact is that I'm used to albums containing all, or almost all, original songs, while this is still the era in which covers rule. Don't get me wrong, Otis puts a great spin on "My Girl" and "Satisfaction", but I'm sad there aren't more originals. That said, I was actually shocked to learn that this is the original version of "Respect"! Yes, Aretha did it better, but it's still a great song. Fav tracks: Ole Man Trouble, Respect, My Girl

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

4.5

Gone too soon! A fabulous album. He is missed.

I love Otis and his influence on most of the music I listen to, but I felt a bit bored throughout this album. The songs picked up for me in the end with My Girl and Satisfaction. I think I enjoy listening to his individual classics like Sitting on the Dock, Try a Little Tenderness, and Cigarettes and Coffee rather than sitting through a full album.

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:

10/10. No notes. A perfect album

Great sound and consistency as Soul / R&B entered the album era. For me this is more like a 4 but I’m rounding up to show “Respect”!

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.

Whole extra star for “My Girl”

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.

Nice soul music

J’adore Down in the Valley J’aime bien You don’t miss your water

- R E S P E C T -

Truly a masterpiece here. Not sure if he OG on dome classic tracks but his version is great as well. Had a lot of fun with album and I imagine seeing him love back in day would be amazing.

-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.

This album was exactly what I was hoping to find in this project: Excellent music I would never have considered thoroughly listening to otherwise. I spend the last day discovering the Soul genre and countless fantastic artists I had heard of, but never actually listened to. Is this particular album one of the greatest of all time? I have no idea, but it certainly is pretty great, and I'll give it five stars just for getting me interested in this huge part of music history that I had'nt been too invested in before.

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

This album inspired so much future music, amazing listen and Otis Redding just absolutely brings all the heart, all the soul….10/10 will listen again.

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.

One of my all time favourite voices, phenomenal singer. Such an enjoyable record of classic soul hits. Easy 5 star

Short but great, an amazing soul album. 4.5

Our first album getting back into listening, in Ireland, and what a great way to venture back into the list. Just a super tight, classic album of standards and covers where you know every song and sung by one of Ciara’s favorites, Otis Redding. It’s an album we certainly wouldn’t mind having on the shelf as it seems like a definitive record of soul/blues. Really enjoyed “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” and I don’t think I ever realized “Respect” was an Otis song before Aretha made it her own. Also loved the cover of “A Change Is Gonna Come” as that might be one of my favorite songs of all time. That on any record will elevate my rating, but truly think this is a stone cold classic and can be listened to again and again.

I love Otis Redding but 99% of the time I am listening to his live recordings, which tend to be higher energy and more emotionally urgent than this is. Still, this album has a fine array of tunes and as always his backing band is stellar, notwithstanding that the intonation on Steve Cropper's guitar sounds a little off in a couple of spots. But who cares about pitch when you got soul and this album gives you lotsa soul. I love hearing Otis cover Sam Cooke, too. Still, if you like this? Do yourself a favor and check out his Live in Europe and Monterey Pop Festival recordings - that's where the real heavy sh*t goes down!

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.

I enjoyed this but I really enjoy live recordings of Otis more.

Beautiful Soul album

Pretty good gets a lil boring

I have risen from the sea of schoolwork. And blues was really what was needed. A Change is Gonna Come is good ofc. I thought this would have been boring and same all around, but i think there was enough variety to keep me interested. And yall know im a sucker for trumpets...

Nice album. Interesting arrangements of his and other people's songs. What a voice.

Verg good. There is a reason rappers still make songs about Otis. 4/5

solid

Enjoyed it. Easy to listen to, some classic songs.

Decent album, Otis has a fantastic voice. Didn't really resonate, soul is a bit slow and winding for me, but the horns are great.

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.

That was pretty good, but I don't see why I would listen to it often. Still, it totally deserves its place here!

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

Short and sweet but very enjoyable, that’s the way to do covers!

Хорошо

Great stuff.

Listening to this album isn’t an unpleasant experience and there’s no denying Otis’ vocal talent. The record is littered with great musical talent - Booker T and the MG’s were the backing band. Is it a classic, well it’s certainly good but the majority of tracks are covers, which helps rather than distracts from it being a classic. There’s no doubt this was in part of the albums crossover appeal and commercial success. In that sense it’s a classic album bringing soul to a wider audience. Not entirely my taste but I can see it’s importance in the history of popular music 🎶

There's a lot of classic stuff on here but I've also heard it like 2,000 times so it doesn't really hit anymore

This is just pure brilliance

This is genius, made by geniuses. Perfect Soul and Blues Rock. Everything here is astonishing.

Creo que nunca antes había escuchado a Otis Redding, y debo admitir que quedé encantado. Sus apasionantes interpretaciones de composiciones soul y R&B clásicas me dejaron boquiabierto. La producción se escucha fresca, a la vez, con un especial énfasis en la guitarra y los bronces, los cuales crean divertidos juegos sonoros que dejan a quien lo escucha más que hipnotizado. Puedo escuchar las cosas que inspiraron a que Lennon hiciera su discografía solista, aunque no sé si lo sacó de este artista en específico. De todas formas, escúchelo, es sumamente recomendable.

Top soul album. They may be covers, but sound perfect when Otis sings. 5/5

Good album but it is all covers.

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.

hour 356 of listening to 60s blues mash songs which were surely all nice by then but now are kinda meh (unfortunately also thanks to the garbage recordings back then)

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.

Bei Cover Versionen bin ich skeptisch. Bei Otis blue noch mehr. "Satisfaction" von den Rolling Stones ist so übermächtig, wer singt das nach? Aber alleine schon an diesem Song erkennt man, wieviele Farben ein Künstler in seiner Stimme haben kann. Otis Redding brilliert mit seinem Gesang auch zwischen den Zeilen und die Arrangements sind die Kräuter, die jedes Essen noch etwas verfeinern oder Drive geben.

No esta mal, not mi rollo

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. :-)

A little whiny tbh

From the heart! Of course, you get Isaac H, Booker T, and all those other guys together on something, it’s about guaranteed to be badass. One of those that finishes and you might as well just start it over.

Old but alright

Off to a great start

Iconic in its own terms, but it does have lots of filler songs.

I know I'm wrong, but I don't really like Otis Redding. I think his music was used too much in 80s-90s movies or something - it's hard to evaluate it from a neutral perspective.

Amazing voice and some great versions of classic songs. 5/5

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.

One of the easiest five star reviews I've had.

I never heard of the last song: You Don't Miss Your Water but I really liked it.

Otis Redding songs songs other than Sittin in the dock of the bay!?!?! This can’t be right. I’ll call the list maker. It’s ringing. Hey, man. First of all, fuck you. Yeah, Uh huh. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs were big for you in college? Right right. What was the deal with that late era Bob Dylan album? Yeah? Well, it wasn’t good. Anyway, I’m seeing here that Otis Redding will not be singing his seminal hit “Sittin on the Dock of the Bay.” Hmm, I’m an idiot??? Well, we’ll see who’s the idiot when I write my OWN book called the 1002 albums that are better than The Killers’ Hot Fuss. Otherwise titled, every album ever written. Good day to you sir. Alright, I’ll call tomorrow. Take care. What were we talking about? Oh yeah. This first song was ok. Was hoping for a bit more punch, but it was fine. Did Otis write this song??? No R-E-S-P-E-C-T?? How else am I supposed to know how to spell any of this shit? Come on Otis. Good song. Here is the soul. Hell yeah. A change has indeed come. Arrived in a big fashion. YUP. The piano and drums are ripping. This one is good, and yes, I HAVE been sad. Otis would’ve LOVED relatable memes. POV when you see uhh POV that face when uhhhh me when I listen to music #ad Listen. This song doesn’t have much except his voice. His voice is good but it doesn’t stir me like some others have. Pass. You shake it like a bowl of soup. - Otis Redding, 1965. This song is kind of fun, but a little to roller rink and by no means earth shattering - Me, 2024. Otis wins as far as quotes go, but as far as being a talentless boob reviewing music? I have that puppy firmly in the bag. Very popular song. Wanted to hate it. The melodies are wonderful, the concept is nice. The horns blew out my eardrums. Luddite’s revenge in destroying my oppressive headphones. Still good. And my damaged eardrums will certainly the next 12 Bowie albums go down easier. He doesn’t know much about biology, or French. Same brother, same. Although why is this a weird ode to a student. Has the vibe of a 20 year old talking to a 14 year old outside the lunch hall. Do kids have lunch halls? Or is it just the TikTok gymnasium brought to you by Vape Pods. This is an excerpt from my new webstrip “Dunch: The man who hates everything that’s different and new-fangled, yet only has a vague understanding of any of it.” Anticipating huge Facebook shares despite large competition in that genre. More good soul. Excellent track with over the top lyrics, but hey, they work here. Repeats a little heavily towards the end, but overall decent. Did he write every song? A classic made famous by the Rolling Stones obviously. I mean Otis isn’t struggling for notoriety out here but still. Don’t tell me what I miss. Come on man. After all we’ve been through. You tell me I don’t miss my water. I miss that sweet water every day. I’m incredibly dehydrated. This isn’t a metaphor. This is a good reminder for me. Hmmmmmmmmm. Well. This album is good. Does it move me in any particular direction? Not really. Did I hurt my potential enjoyment by listening to Etta James before this? Possibly. We had fun today. And we learned a lot. Mostly that Otis Redding is pretty good. Not great, but good. Sorry. 3 HIGHLIGHTS: A Change is Gonna Come, Down in the Valley, My Girl, (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction

What a voice. Not a thing wrong with this Fav Songs: Change Gonna Come, My Girl, Rock Me Baby

His voice really was something. Loved the idea of an album of very popular songs at the time. Satisfaction was quite a pleasant surprise

Wonderful surprise.

A phenomenon talent at the top of his game. Great from start to finish.

4.8

Soul personified.

I don’t have much to say about this album. Otis Redding has a great voice, but this album of covers didn’t do much for me. Nothing wrong with it, I wouldn’t be upset to hear it again, but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it either.

Great voice, great album. Highly recommended

Felt every word

i liked I've been loving you too long , my girl, Wonderful World.

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.

real good

El soul es hipnótico

godinesh

Cracking voice, some cracking songs, but as usual I’ll be capping my score because it’s mostly covers of already famous tunes (several of which can probably be found elsewhere on the 1001 list anyway). For balance though I will give some acknowledgement to Otis’s songwriting chops. In addition to co-writing the peerless (Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay, the three tracks he wrote for this album are all decent (did I know he wrote Respect? Probably, once, but I’d definitely forgotten).

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=

A group of songs that don't really make you wonder why you know other versions better. This is unfortunately even the case for Respect, an original to this album.

A pleasant enough run through of some classic songs - not sure it's essential though

RESPECT BY ARETHRA FRANKLIN IS A COVER?!

Clear delineation between the two halves. First half great voice and songs show some signs of life but it's all a little slow for me. 2nd half mich more me but no definitive versions of any song

OTIS!

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

This sparked joy.

Best album! So, entertaining and love Otis. Love to sing along to all the songs on this album.

Great voice but rules are rules and you can't just do covers.

Amazing

Otis Blue is a solid soul album, but it is definitely a product of its time. Half the album is just covers of other popular songs. What's wild, is that those covers are basically the best part of the album (although he apparently did write Respect, which was a surprise). Best Songs: My Girl, Satisfaction Worst Songs: Down in the Valley, Rock Me Baby

I really enjoyed this album. Not very long but filled with beautiful soul. Otis nails it perfectly. I really liked it, and recommend it to anyone who wants to experience a perfect soul and blues album. 3/5

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.

Correcto

It was good, good but not the quintessential versions of some of the songs. I enjoyed it though!

Possibly the quintessential soul album. Even with being roughly 50% covers this albums simple yet effective delivery makes you want more.

Cool album. Nice and chill.

A lot of pleasant songs

Stone cold, drop dead classic. One of the greatest singers and one of the best albums. I mean, this guy wrote 'Respect' but also covered Smokey, Roling Stones and Sam Cooke with panache all to himself.

ламповый джаз 4/10

Timeless classic

**Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul** is Otis Redding's third studio album, released in 1965. It’s considered one of the most iconic albums in the soul genre and is a landmark in Redding's career. The album showcases his dynamic voice and ability to translate deep emotions into music. In this review, we'll dive into the lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, and weigh its pros and cons. ### 1. Lyrics The lyrical content of **Otis Blue** reflects the raw, heartfelt nature of 1960s soul music. Many songs focus on love, longing, heartbreak, and resilience, presented with an honesty and directness that are key to soul music's appeal. Redding's approach to the lyrics combines personal vulnerability with a commanding delivery. For example, in "I've Been Loving You Too Long," he captures the agony of a relationship at risk of falling apart. The lyrics, "My love is growing stronger as you become a habit to me," convey a desperate clinging to love, and Redding’s vocal delivery brings an urgency to the emotional weight of the words. Another standout is "Respect," which was later famously covered by Aretha Franklin. Redding's original version, though not as overtly empowering as Franklin's rendition, carries a certain grittiness. The lyrics' demand for respect is as much about the complexities of romantic relationships as it is about self-worth. Redding uses repetition to emphasize the message, reinforcing the emotional power of the word "respect" each time it’s delivered. Some lyrics are straightforward and raw, like in "Shake," where Redding emphasizes the joyous side of life. The words here are minimalistic, using simple calls for dance and movement, which aligns with the carefree rhythm and serves as an effective counterpoint to the more melancholy tracks. However, in certain moments, the album’s lyrical content does lean on clichés of the genre, occasionally sacrificing depth for emotional immediacy. This can make some tracks feel less nuanced in their exploration of themes compared to others. ### 2. Music The musical arrangements on **Otis Blue** are a perfect blend of R&B, soul, and a touch of gospel. Backed by the legendary Stax house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, the instrumentation is tight and expressive, providing a solid foundation for Redding's powerful voice. The album's music is characterized by its rhythmically dynamic grooves, punchy brass sections, and soulful guitar lines, which create a classic Southern soul sound. Songs like "Ole Man Trouble" feature a slower, bluesy progression with a prominent bass line that complements Redding’s expressive vocals. The arrangement allows space for his voice to carry the emotional depth of the lyrics, with the horns providing a somber yet stirring backdrop. In contrast, "Satisfaction" (Redding’s cover of the Rolling Stones classic) transforms the rock original into a full-blown soul anthem. He strips down the song to its essentials and builds it back up with brass-heavy orchestration, a driving rhythm section, and gritty vocal delivery. This ability to take a well-known song and reinvent it with his unique style demonstrates Redding’s musicality. "Change Gonna Come," a cover of Sam Cooke's classic, is another highlight, where the blend of orchestral strings and horns adds a poignant beauty to Redding's soulful interpretation. The production layers his voice over a lush instrumental background, making it a transcendent listening experience. However, at times the album’s musical style doesn’t vary significantly from track to track, making some songs blend into each other, especially for listeners who aren’t deeply familiar with the nuances of 1960s soul music. While this consistency can be seen as a strength in delivering a cohesive sound, it could also be viewed as a limitation in terms of musical diversity. ### 3. Production The album was recorded in a 24-hour session at Stax Studios in Memphis, which contributes to its raw, live feel. Produced by Jim Stewart, **Otis Blue** maintains a balance between polished sound and rawness that allows the emotion to remain front and center. The production leans heavily on capturing Redding's live energy, resulting in a sound that feels immediate and authentic. The decision to record the album quickly adds to the spontaneity and passion found throughout the tracks. There is minimal studio trickery, which was a typical production style for Stax Records, favoring a more organic approach. The simplicity in production shines through in the clarity of the instruments and the upfront placement of Redding's vocals in the mix. The band’s rhythm section remains tight and in sync, and the punchy horn arrangements provide an energetic boost, particularly in tracks like "Shake" and "Satisfaction." However, the fast recording process and relatively simple production techniques mean that some tracks lack the sonic depth found in other soul records from the same era. There are moments where the sound feels somewhat constrained, and the overall tonal palette doesn’t quite push the boundaries of what the genre was capable of at the time. While this straightforwardness works in favor of capturing a live feel, it might limit the album’s appeal for those seeking more intricate production qualities. ### 4. Themes The themes explored in **Otis Blue** primarily revolve around love, loss, and the pursuit of happiness, which are core to soul music. Each track presents a different facet of these universal experiences, whether it's longing in "I've Been Loving You Too Long," jubilance in "Shake," or a yearning for respect and understanding in "Respect." The album also delves into social commentary, albeit subtly. For instance, "A Change Is Gonna Come" reflects the hope and struggle of the civil rights movement of the time. While Redding’s version doesn’t carry the same explicit social weight as Sam Cooke’s original, his soulful interpretation still resonates with a sense of shared struggle and hope for progress. The themes of perseverance in the face of adversity emerge as a subtle yet powerful undercurrent throughout the album. Moreover, the inclusion of covers on **Otis Blue** reveals a theme of paying homage to Redding’s influences, from Sam Cooke to the Rolling Stones. This demonstrates his range as a vocalist, able to reinterpret rock, blues, and soul in his unique style. The diversity of these selections gives insight into the interwoven nature of genres during that period, particularly how soul music was a melting pot of different styles. ### 5. Influence **Otis Blue** is often cited as one of the greatest soul albums of all time and played a significant role in solidifying Otis Redding's legacy. Its impact extends beyond the genre, influencing musicians across rock, pop, and R&B. The album’s success helped bring Southern soul music to a broader audience, bridging cultural and racial divides through its raw emotion and universal themes. The album inspired countless artists, from contemporaries like Aretha Franklin, who famously covered "Respect," to later musicians such as Bruce Springsteen and Janis Joplin, who admired Redding's ability to convey deep emotion. Redding's impassioned style became a benchmark for soul and blues singers, setting a high standard for emotional expressiveness in popular music. The covers on the album, especially "Satisfaction," showed how soul could reinterpret and even rival rock music in intensity. This helped pave the way for a greater crossover between genres, with soul artists becoming recognized not only within their own field but also influencing the rock and pop scenes. ### Pros and Cons **Pros:** - **Emotional Depth:** The album is characterized by its raw emotional power. Redding's voice carries the weight of each song's theme with authenticity, which has made it timeless. - **Strong Musical Arrangements:** The backing band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, provides solid support, with tight rhythm sections and brass arrangements that elevate the songs. - **Variety of Covers and Originals:** The mixture of original tracks and covers allows Redding to showcase his range while paying tribute to his influences. - **Influential Impact:** The album’s influence on soul music and beyond is undeniable, setting a standard for emotive singing and powerful vocal performances. - **Live Energy:** The production captures the feel of a live performance, making the album dynamic and immersive. **Cons:** - **Lack of Musical Diversity:** While the album is cohesive, some tracks sound similar, with little variation in tempo and style. This may lead to a less engaging experience for some listeners. - **Production Limitations:** The fast recording process and straightforward production style mean that some songs lack sonic depth, which could have enhanced the album’s emotional impact. - **Reliance on Covers:** Nearly half the album consists of cover songs, which, while well-executed, means there is less original material to showcase Redding’s songwriting abilities. ### Conclusion **Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul** stands as a seminal album in soul music history, representing the peak of Otis Redding's artistry. Its blend of emotional depth, powerful vocal performances, and tight musical arrangements contribute to its status as a classic. While the album has a few limitations in terms of musical variety and production depth, these do not significantly detract from its overall impact. The album’s influence extends far beyond its time, continuing to inspire musicians across genres. It serves not only as a testament to Redding's immense talent but also as a cornerstone of the soul genre, embodying the spirit and emotional resonance that defines the best of 1960s music.

This is elite. It is such a tragedy that Otis Redding died so young. He was so incredibly talented. This album is practically flawless. “Ole Man Trouble” and “You Don’t Miss Your Water” were done so beautifully that it almost brought me to tears. Not only is his voice at its best here, he has some of the best musicians playing on these tracks. I don’t always love covers, but he elevates and innovates so many of them that I can’t help but like them. Just an absolutely incredible album top to bottom.

Incredible.

Great album. A few really good versions of other classics from the era.

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

Solid album. It's not what I usually listen to so I appreciate having my mind expanded. The number of covers make me feel like it might be lacking in originality or progressiveness but it was very listenable.

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.

I wanted to like this album more than I did. It was good, don't get me wrong, but it more often than not made me want to listen to other versions of many of the covers that Otis sang. Good but didn't stick out in my mind as great. At least it was bite sized compared to the last 2 albums.

3/5

Love, soulful

Glorious! Love the classics, but the deep cuts are the reason to listen

I can't thank my mother enough for introducing me to Otis Redding and other Soul/Blues/Motown artists at such a young age. My mother even named our cockatiel Otis; great bird. Otis Redding has been such a staple in my life and he continues to be. This record carries so much weight in the gravity of the songs he sings and how he puts his own touch on each of these classics. His voice presents such pain, but also such hope. He can bring me to tears with his rendition of Sam Cooke's "Change Gonna Come" and bring me to my feet with "Shake." His voice is unmistakable, his passion is impenetrable, his legend is forever. Another one taken from this world too soon, but he will never be forgotten.

The high trumpets at the end of a change is gonna come made me change If you're doing mostly covers, at least make them your own like this. Looking at you beatles.

Music to fall asleep to. But I'm not a fan of sleeping with music on, it seeps inside the dream and mutes every character scaring me into thinking I'm losing hearing

can't even remember caring about a song but at least it was forgettable

Overlong for an album, but an easy listen.

Ok I think I'm missing something. How is that considered one of the greatest albums of all time? For starters it's almost entirely an album of covers, which should exclude it from the list nevermind the conversation of greatest of all time. It was fairly mid, some covers worked well some didn't. I'd say 3* average music wise, moving down to 2 for lack of original songs.

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,

Liked the album well enough but not the best soul/blues we've had. Aretha Franklin remains supreme and that's extra relevant here given she coved Otis' song and made it better. EVEN FUNNIER is Otis singing I can't get no satisfaction: Redding claimed that he did not know the lyrics of the song. "I use a lot of words different than the Stones' version," he noted. "That's because I made them up." Of that session, Steve Cropper said, "...if you ever listened to the record you can hardly understand the lyrics, right? I set down to a record player and copied down what I thought the lyrics were and I handed Otis a piece of paper and before we got through with the cut, he threw the paper on the floor and that was it." Fucking boss. Overall not bad. 3/5.

One way that God likes to tell musicians that he really likes their music is to have them die in a plane crash. No skips at all, the vocal performance here is insane. I got goosebumps when My Girl came on, how can I give this anything except a 5?

Great sound, not my preferred genre

Pretty nice, but the fact that only 2 songs are original takes away from it a bit.

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.

good

Otis my king, this ight

i guess you say what can make me feel this way my girl

This album is over 2 hours. I didn’t even get through half of it, but I’ve heard better from Otis Redding and way better in Soul

It's a good album. Lots of soul brother.

I’m biased because Redding is one of my favorite singers of all time. What a record, what a voice. It’s a shame he died so young. Heartfelt, steady; great covers and originals.

Where's the harmonica? Just joking, guys :D Gentle waves breaking on a distant shore. A luxurious quilt to wrap oneself in and feel its warmth and depth - not too hot, not too cold. I rather enjoyed this.

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

What an amazing listen! I apologise for submit my review late, I did it yesterday and totally forgot to hit submit this morning. Every song was so rich and tuneful. Otis really does have one of the most iconic voices. I found that he recorded Dock of the bay just 3 days before tragically passing in a plane crash. So sad but meaningful that he got to record his magnum opus just before going. Although that track didn’t make this album, A Change is Gonna Come, Down In The Valley, My Girl, and his far superior version of Can’t Get No Satisfaction all more than made up for its absence. This one brought light to my Thursday morning, and for that it deserves the highest praise :)

Just makes you feel good! He has a great voice, really soulful. I think Paulo Nutini must have been a fan, this reminded me of him. Strong 3 but didn’t quite grab me enough to warrant a 4, it’s just nice relaxing music.

Duh.

Amazing album and music. Great voice

Legend

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.

Otis Redding fucks bro

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.

Ole Man Trouble - 5/10 at first I was transported to King of the Hill. It's okay but I wouldn't listen to it again. Respect - 6/10 this one teleports me to family feud LOL A Change is Gonna Come - 6.5/10 Oh this one I like. so many emotions when he started singing. love the piano's in the back as well. Down in the Valley - 6/10 this one is a little groovy! And funky! but the lil guitar moment was good. I've Been Loving You Too Long - 6/10 oh the piano is lovely here. okayyyy vocals!! Maybe i just like these slower paced songs more. This kinda giving Recess by Melanie Martinez. It's that old timey piano in the back. Shake - 6.5/10 okay this one makes me wanna dance and do the lil side move while swinging my arms. rn im stuck on 6.5 or 7 My Girl - 8/10 A CLASSIC BABY SHES THE BEST ONE FOR A REASON missing the harms and adlibs though Wonderful World - 7/10 this one is so cute Rock Me Baby - 5/10 she was okay just very repetitive (I can't get no) Satisfaction - 6/10 this is giving surfer and summer. i like. You don't Miss your Water - 6/10 oh the guitar and piano are married in the beginning. Overall: 6.18/10

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

Average.

Celkem bavilo. 6/10

Damn, Otis! What an absolutely smooth voice, but he wielded forcefulness, too. He wasn't afraid to abuse his voice, which allowed him to dabble in funk and R&B. The way he held his notes when singing a soulful song? I tell ya, that voice was made to sing the blues and soul music. Redding did exactly what I love with covers: he made them his own. His version of these songs may not be the most well known, yet he makes them different and--dare I say it--funky. I've never heard "Satisfaction" with horns! I didn't think any other version of "A Change Is Gonna Come" could compete with Sam Cooke's, but somehow there's more emotions, more sorrow, more vulnerability. Redding covers several Cooke songs, which must have been purposeful with Cooke's death months prior the album's release. "Shake" is SO fun--and with those trumpets? And Redding covers Cooke's "Wonderful World" and, with a slower tempo, somehow out-souls the King of Soul! I'm not sure I knew that "Respect" was originally Redding's! I enjoyed hearing the original, but this song is more impactful coming from a Black woman. He can't compete with Aretha, not that he'd try.

Yes, this is mostly a covers album, but Otis Redding does such a fantastic job of doing his own spin and making these songs his own. Every song is beautifully and masterfully sung in a way that only he could do. And most of these are well-known songs too; he wasn't covering obscure songs, he was covering songs that were already iconic. And yet, he manages to still stand out with his renditions. It's kind of funny that this album of mostly covers would have the Otis original, "Respect" on it, which he would definitely not go on to be known for, and would instead be completely eclipsed as this became a huge hit being covered by Aretha Franklin.

Amazing voice

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

What a glee-inducing trip this album was. Glad to have been introduced to it!

Soul stirring

3.5

A mighty tool (Redding’s voice) used for less worthy material (frivolous lyrics), not too different than the case of Nina Simone and Wild Is The Wind (which I got not too long ago), though in both cases the material is nonetheless elevated by the artists.

What a voice. Such feeling he puts into every song. Really brings each song to life. Superb

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

Now we’re talkin’. Top to bottom this is killer, didn’t skip a single track. Five stars ⭐️

I'm not really sure how much to say about this one. It's Otis Redding so it's great. But as great as it is, I just don't connect with this music much. Or maybe it's not that I don't connect with it, it might be that it just sounds so dated to me. Not just this album but the whole soul and early R&B genres in general. I think this kind of music, though great for the time, just doesn't play as well anymore. I don't know. It's a great album but would I ever seek it out again? Probably not. 3/5

A wonderful listen

The woman on the cover of this album is not Otis Redding.

I'm vibing to this a lot more than I thought I would. I'm not really a big endorser of cover albums, especially on a list like this, but this does feel special and stands out significantly. Shiiiiiiiiiit, and the album gets better as it goes on. The middle songs are crazy good. I don't love that this is a cover album, but this may be one of the best blues cover albums ever? I'm not actually qualified enough to comment on that, but I really enjoyed this from beginning to end. Favorite Song(s): Down in the Valley, Shake, Wonderful World

Not my cup of tea, but a great voice.

I can pretty easily understand why this album is on the list. Every now and then, I listen to an old soul album and realize just how often these songs get covered. I would never have known about the person who originally wrote them. This seems to be the case here. Every other song on this album was one I was very familiar with, but didn't know that Otis sang it. It's good songwriting, but maybe I'm used to all the covers to really listen to these, or maybe I would only listen to this if I wanted something that sounded lower-fidelity.

It's fine. I'm not a huge fan of soul music, but Otis Redding has a really good voice and every song was listenable. That's about all I can say.

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.

Otis Redding (gone far too soon) has a beautiful soulful voice, but some of these songs just aren’t distinct enough from the originals to make an impact. “My Girl,” for example, is missing something without those harmonies.

Idk why but I never allowed myself to think that covers were a thing before I started listening to music. I know, stupid but here we are. This album is 5 stars to me not only because it’s Otis Redding & his phenomenal voice but also because how cool it is to think what someone who was in his 20s in 1965 was inspired by. You get a sense of the person and what music at the time resonated with them. Really cool stuff when you think about it.

Just when you think this list is complete BS and you want to Chuck the whole thing it gives you Loretta Lynn and Otis Redding in back to back days!! Being from the Macon GA area I am very familiar with Redding and smooth Soul sounds. An absolute delight to listen to, especially original versions of songs made famous by other acts.

So many of the classics, but no one does it better than Otis with his beautiful soulful voice. Loved this album.

love love love ! thanku

It’s a rather lovely selection of soul covers, with a few Redding originals too. It doesn’t do anything else, though. A nice soul album, a product of its time, takes you back to the era, et cetera, et cetera. With its longest song at just over 4 minutes, and most of the others below 2 minutes, it really does epitomise the word ‘album’ itself, a collection of soul numbers from the era of singles.

The vibe: You just set foot into a dark and smoky Georgia dive bar on a busy Saturday night

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!

Nostalgic

I was looking forward to this one. I feel like soul and r’n’b is “proper” music that I don’t know enough about. But I was left a bit confused as to what was original songs (the original “Respect” is on here) and what is covers (everything else?) and not the “classic” version. And a few songs didn’t grab me at all. Having said all that, it has the song that is sampled on “I squeeze gats” (shake) so that’s pretty good. I dunno 3.5stars?

Incredible biased review on this one. Love it!

Classic voice though this album felt like a bunch of tracks had been slapped together

Classic album

Love his voice. The ballads are my favorite

I like all the souls records lately. Otis is such a legend and so many classics in here. 10/5

He’s incredible. favorite is I’ve been loving you too long

Great listen

A very good album of mostly covers. A pleasant listen with a few great tracks. 3.5.

Good collection of covers

Soul R&B. Very Good.

When Otis Redding was asked to record a duets album with Carla Thomas, he said “Well, hey, you from Memphis, you from Tennessee, you can hang". The man knew what was up. If you haven’t watched the documentary “Stax: Soulsville USA”, I would highly recommend it. The talent gathered in that particular place at that particular time is mind-boggling. From Wikipedia: Except for one track, Otis Blue was recorded in the span of 24 hours from July 9 to 10, 1965, at the Stax recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee. As with Redding's previous records, he was backed by the Stax house band Booker T. & the M.G.'s, a horn section featuring members of the Mar-Keys and the Memphis Horns, and pianist Isaac Hayes Insane. Not only the personnel, but also to have knocked almost all of these songs out in 24 hours. I think the covers of “My Girl” and “Wonderful World” suffer by comparison to the originals, but if that is the worst thing you can say about an album then you are clearly discussing one of the greatest collections of songs in the history of pop/soul/R&B. This album is a masterpiece.

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

One of the defining albums of ’60s soul! Otis, with the backing band from Stax again. Booker T, Donald Dunn, Isaac Hayes, Steve Cropper; a literal who’s who of the genre. This is musical perfection.

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.

Not being a style I listen to often at all, I find this refreshing. Deep emotions and catchy melodies. 3 stars

Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul is Redding's third album, and regarded as his best work. This collection of songs have all become soul/R&B classics. Redding's incredible voice makes this collection of songs - eight of eleven of which are covers - memorable renditions. Otis Blue includes some of Redding's best known songs, like "I've Been Loving You Too Long" and "Respect," (a Redding song made more famous by Aretha Franklin's cover).

The longer I listen to this album, the more I hate it.

Really nice, just vibes all the way through

5 stars

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

That voice! There's nothing more soulful than when Otis sings. The backing band was also legendary including Cropper, Booker T., Isaac Hayes and Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass. This album will be on heavy rotation on my player. Liked Songs Added: - Respect - Wonderful World - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

I was excited seeing an Otis Redding album but was surprised that it seemed to be all covers. His voice is one of the best and the instrumentals are solid throughout. Worth being on the list and hearing for sure but honestly thought I'd like it more than I did.

When I saw Otis Redding pop up I was expecting more. A bunch of covers and not really my favorite versions of these songs. Still some good energy but doesn't vary enough.

I really like Redding's singing here. The songs are a bit bland. The original tracks are the best. Another album I discovered this year. All thanks to this list. 3 stars for "Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul".

This leaves me a bit cold and I am trying to put my finger on why. It all sounds a bit samey? By the numbers and lacking in passion somehow. Anyhow, this is not quite what I thought it would be

Agradable

Otis Redding has been tied with Björk as my all-time favorite singer for a long time. No matter how many times I’ve listened to their songs, they still give me chills. While I’m grateful to have seen Björk live a few times, going back in time to see Otis perform would be the ultimate fantasy. He wasn’t just a phenomenal performer; he was also an incredible songwriter. From Otis Blue, tracks like "Ole Man Trouble," "Respect," and "I’ve Been Loving You Too Long" showcase his songwriting prowess, and they’re all standout hits. Otis’s vocal delivery is masterful—always controlled yet seemingly on the verge of losing that control, with a dynamic range that allows him to be both powerful and tender. My favorite song of his is "I’ve Got Dreams to Remember," but from this album, "I’ve Been Loving You Too Long" stands out. The way Otis conveys heartache feels like he can reach into your core and pull those emotions out. Redding’s band is exceptional, providing a solid foundation that allows Otis to explore the songs fully. As a fellow guitar player, I’ve been deeply influenced by Steve Cropper’s guitar work. Overall, Otis Redding’s work deserves nothing less than a 5, and that’s exactly what I’m giving him.

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.

Today I learned that Otis Redding wrote and originally sang "Respect." For an album with so many covers, nothing feels out of place. I couldn't imagine anyone could sing "Change Gonna Come" as well as Sam Cooke, but Otis really made it his own. Each of these slow songs have that "Dock of the Bay" laid back with a paper fan in the heat of summer sippin' lemonade feel. With a soulful voice both gritty and longing, Otis Redding knows how to use his voice to fulfill every emotion he wants.

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.

Otis Redding is great. I only have a limited knowledge of his music. His voice sounds good on this album but I'll need to listen to some other non-cover songs of his to get more of an idea as to what he does. Some of the songs on this album. I have too strong and association with other artists on. My favorites were Down In the Valley and Shake.

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.

Soul

-I’ve gotten a lot more interested in soul music lately. This is really solid, although the production and sound is understandably a bit dated. the Satisfaction cover is legitimately amazing and so catchy -Favorites are Down In The Valley, Shake, and I Can’t Get No (Satisfaction)

Should've called it Otis Blueing

A soulful and timeless voice. Not really much I would choose to listen to again, but I decently enjoyed it while it was on

classic.

It's fine. Good, not great. Not really much to note but an above average soul/blues album. Exactly as the top commenter notes, it's too one dimensional to score any higher. 6/10 (3/5)

Me encanta.

Good listening to some classics, but pretty tame. It is quite foundational, though.

Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul (often referred to simply as Otis Blue) is the third studio album by Otis Redding, originally released in 1965. Soul legend Sam Cooke died several months before this album was made. The world was in need of some new energy in soul music, and they were about to get one. Although this album is mostly covers, Redding just does them so well. It certainly helped that the Stax records house band at the time was Booker T and the MGs! The songs can range from party tracks to songs that make you think about your ex. This ended up being a huge crossover hit for Redding, and the song "Respect" would later become even more famous from Aretha Franklin's cover. This record marked a great start to a way-too-short career.

Nice soul album. Good covers.

I was really looking forward to this album... I like Otis Redding and this is supposedly his best album (I must admit I had never listen to a full Redding album before). I still like Otis Redding but this album is only a 3 for me. The reasons are that I find it hart to give a very high score for a (mostly) cover album. Redding only wrote three of the songs. And for the music, he could count on the Stax session musicians (which are amazing), it's not "his" band. Also, the songs sound great, but a bit same-ish.

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

How many different versions of the same songs can we fit in one album? It's kind of interesting listening to Otis Redding covering all of these classic songs, but he doesn't do any of them better than the original...

10/10

A fun listen, couple of noteworthy songs, but got boring.

harvey specter fahrstuhlmusik ein paar classics dabei gut zum rauchen und aus dem fenster gucken und dabei die schwere der welt fühlen banger vor allem ganz am anfang und am ende

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.

He sure does

I loved this album, cool to hear how it influenced some of the modern soul artists I listen to like Leon Bridges and Bruno Major. 9/10, or since it's 5 stars that's 4.5/5 so ill round up to 5 stars

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!

Even though this album is only 30 minutes long, making it all the way through it seemed hard. It gave the feeling of being one 30 minute long song... Then about halfway through, it became significantly better. Plus, I can't complain about Redding's singing.

Amazing album

Never heard this before, and want to re-listen!

Aside from My Girl every song sounds the same

Otis Redding can do in wrong. Loved every minute of this soulful ride.

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

Woah this album is awesome. I love his voice and the horns. Definitely adding this to my regular rotation.

This man is the real sole man

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

This sounds great, and Otis has an amazing voice. I can't give high marks to an album that is mostly covers though.

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

Ballads droned on a bit. Preferred the upbeat stuff

New to me. Rock creeping in, nicely. I'm loving the way the covers are both familiar and ground-changing. The horns alone are enough to love this album.

Bit of a dodgy cover! His voice is beautiful but I can only take a handful of songs at a time. They have more impact in isolation.

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.

Just perfect

Classic soul. Love it.

This album made my ears smile.

This album made me realize i don’t like trumpets very much.

This one didn’t impress me as much as I’d hoped but the strength of a couple of tracks (Change Is Gonna Come esp) really bouy the weaker entries (Satisfaction cover)