Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul

I think my main (only?) exposure is sitting on the dock on the bay which is of course a fucking delight! I’ll always struggle with rating an album of mostly covers, but sir has a VOICE, the songs are all perfect, and this is excellent. And then the songs he did write, jfc! Floored, really. Also just learned of “the album era” (1960s through mid-2000s). V glad I experienced at least some of that before I started stealing music for mix CDs and we all destroyed the music industry (💔). And actually, better understanding that history also helps me appreciate an album of cover songs, whereas maybe everything was a bit disparate. Who knows. Aretha had like 5 million albums before Respect, right? Also wait is this title a play on his name? Nothing better than a last name pun (my MO; won’t dox myself here) Am I really about to five star an album of covers? Yes probably. This is magic.

First listen. I love it. I love Otis.

Otis rules

Got damn this slaps

Wether you like the style or not - high quality music anyway

Banger after banger after banger!

2026.10.23.

A perfect soul record, a perfect pop record. Astonishingly beautiful voice.

this guy may have invented music

This is a wonderful Memphis soul album. Otis Reddings voice, Booker T and the MGs providing th music with a little bit of Issac Hayes magic. A mixture of covers and originals, and to be honest I’m not sure in some cases which are which. Respect hits different from the Aretha version with a male voice in a way that’s slightly more uncomfortable context wise but musically it’s fantastic. The Satisfaction cover is great. Then in middle the sublime My Girl, Wonderful World and Rock Me Baby. The strongest album I’ve had so far on my 1001 journey - perhaps a slightly stingy 4/5 from me

banger

The guy has an amazing voice and there is some good stuff on here but I prefer the originals or other version more in most cases. Still worth a listen.

Lowkey slapped

Otis has one of the best soul/blues voices ever . Brilliant enough to make staid over covered songs sound fresh and vibrant ( my girl, wonderful world , etc) The 80s did a disservice to those classics but this makes me appreciate them again.

Solid otis redding album. Not the best of his work but still serviceable.

This truly is a high watermark for 60's soul. Otis' original version of Respect, A Change Is Gonna Come, I've Been Loving You Too Long alongside some fun covers makes this a gem.

It's Otis.. it's brilliant..it's 5

7.5 out of 10. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this. And Otis's voice is one of the greatest I've ever heard.

My girl

Maravilla! Clásico básico N:9

GOD what an album. Impeccable. 5 stars.

simplesmente o PROFESSOR otis redding dando aulas nesse pqp

NÚ, que pedrada!!! belíssimas versões em blues/r&b, com o vozerão cabuloso do otis. tem muita energia aqui, parece mto que o pessoal se divertiu fazendo. coisa boa!!

spent a while going crazy trying to figure out which song the riff in down in the valley was sampling (i was positive it was in dirty dancing and had to go through the soundtrack to realize it was love is strange)

Å steike! Dette er så bra! Udiskutabel toppkarakter! Utropstegn! 10/10

Jeg lurte en stund på om jeg skulle gå for 4/5, som jeg registrerte på RYM for omtrent 20 år siden. Var det ikke noen litt seige ballader her også som kunne gi grunnlag for trekk? Og så kom "My Girl" på og alt annet enn 5/5 til Otis blir jo bare for dumt. For en mann.

Otis Redding - Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul Rå, ekte og umiddelbar. Der det store idolet til Otis, Sam Cooke, hadde ei fløyelsmjuk, klokkeklar stemme, var uttrykket langt råare då Otis Redding spelte inn dei fantastiske platene sine. Og “Otis Blue” er ei av dei beste i den (alt for korte) rekka. Lyden av Otis er 50/50 energi/sårheit og sjølv om han var desidert best på sistnemnte (“I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”) var dei energiske utblåsningane meir enn verdt det óg (“Respect, ”…Satisfaction"). Det er noko med den rufsete, nydelege stemma hans mot desse Stax-kompa som berre gjer det heilt for meg. Eg vil både grine og danse. 9/10

Truly one of the goats

oooohhhh this valid

Uabalabadubdub!!! Tooooooop. Me flipa basto

Great covers by a great vocalist. It’s very good; I could listen to Redding all day. But I’m not sure it’s his best effort. A 4.

A soul primer.

Kellemes volt. Eluldogelnek a Judit kavezojaban.

Dzsenerik dzesszblúz

6/10, kellemes háttérzene

Semmilyen, eseménytelen album :( emiatt lehetne 3-as is, mert rossznak se lehet mondani, de valahogy skálázni kell, és az azért nem rossz, ha egy zene kivált valamit.

don't know much about the algebra now 6/10 Fav: Wonderful World, Satisfaction

It’s good, but it’s just a good voice singing classic good songs.

Very good soul album. Combo of his songs and famous soul standards. I learned that he used the Stax house guys Steve Cropper & Duck Dunn from the MG's and Blues Brothers as his band. Really liked learning that and made sense from playing stuff like "Respect." The fact he didn't write everything is the only thing holding this back.

Amazing! Soul provoking!

Beautiful classic

Great recordings of some timeless classics. I will always give the Motown sound its flowers.

My Girl is an all time favorite. Interesting to learn that Respect was an Otis original, but his version of Satisfaction was a cover of the Stones.

You can immediately tell that Otis is a hell of a singer. This one contains versions of songs that I know well., and love. The rendition to the already amazing change gonna come and my girl light the songs in a new fashion. For me it's really a transformative album as for others. Musicly it's not very interesting to dig in except from Otis' voice. So, a 3 plus feels right here.

I'm usually sceptic of albums full of standards and covers, and this was no exception. Proving my point is the fact that the very best songs here are Redding's own. Funnily enough, 'Respect' is now remembered as the Aretha Franklin feminist hymn, even though it's originally a Redding song that's as patriarchal as a soul hit can get. History is funny this way, right. The covers are not at all bad, by the way, but for me most of them are missing this special personal touch that the other songs have. Regardless, this version of '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' is probably even better than the Stones' original with Redding's improvisation and blabbering of the lyrics he didn't know when recording the song. Thinking about it, maybe I just don't know the other covers all that well to appreciate this version.

Muy bueno, muy movido para mi gusto. My girl es himno, y I can't get no satisfaction es re conocida.

Some great covers. Excellent album.

Maybe come back to another day, decent but not my thing today

Enjoyment: 9/10 Replayability: 8/10 Cohesion: 9/10 Flow/Pacing: 8/10 Artistic Merit: 9/10 Weighted Average: 8.65/10 Review: This album is a treasure! There's more iconic blues hits packed together than I expected - and all in a span of only 32 minutes! I never knew that Otis originated Respect, but I concede Aretha's cover is still superior. But his cover of (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction was an enjoyable surprise that works very well with his more blues-y tone. All in all, a treat. Liked Song(s): Respect, Shake, My Girl, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction Disliked Song(s): (None) Recommend? Yes Heard Before? Partly

In this album, Otis Redding performs mostly covers and a couple of original songs (like ""Old Man Trouble", which I liked). The songs are indeed soulful, and Redding sings passionately. The instantly recognizable covers include "My Girl" and "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", both excellently done. "Respect", a song better known more for Aretha Franklin's performance than Redding's, is also included.The backing band enhanced the whole experience, making for an enjoyable listen. I'll note that I don't seek out this genre of music nor do I listen to it regularly, but when the generator assigns it to me, I usually have a good time with it.

reminder - analyse the chords of all the songs, it will help with aural

Every track a soul classic. On first listen, I was thinking I preferred the better known versions of tracks like Respect, Satisfaction and My Girl but Otis's interpretations are fantastic, no weak songs

I actually didn’t realize he did RESPECT originally which alone gives this album a lot of gravitas. Wonderful versions of so many songs, I even thought “A Change is Gonna Come” was right up there with Sam Cooke which I would have considered sacrilege. A few misses but overall an amazing album.

Good soul album and a great voice.

Ok, liked the hits, good sound.

pretty one note, but these are classics

Not the biggest fan overall. The ballads were better, but the audio hiss of the recordings started to bother me after a while.

There's no other album like this one. Top notch.

What's the point in listening to mostly covers that are not as good as the originals? Felt similar to Kanye "sampling".

Fantastic covers that are so full of life and vibrant that they feel like originals. Great album.

that satisfaction cover is gas

Individually many good songs, great musical quality, yet hard to finish as an album

Banger

I know it's covers, old standards etc. but I don't know how you couldn't give it 5 stars. The voice, the instrumentation, the production, all tip top.

Wasn't wowed

It was okay

It’s fine

Source of some very well-known songs.

Otis Redding plus big hitters; what's not to love

LOVED. Big fan of the blues genre and blues/soul focused take on these cover songs. An album that I will visit, that felt nice to listen to. I think there's a level of emotion that Otis Redding expresses in his voice that feels so authentic which makes these already familiar songs feel new Favorites: I Can't Get No satisfaction, Down in the Valley, Respect

A beauty

MMMMMMMMMMMMM!!! YES. Otis Redding’s 1965 album “Otis Blue,” often referred to as his best album, containing such hits as the original rendition of “Respect,” later brought to a higher plane of fame by Aretha Franklin on her 1967 album I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You, and renditions of such hits as The Temptation’s “My Girl,” Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come,” “Shake,” and “Wonderful World,” as well as the Rolling Stones’ “Satisfaction.” Otis Redding has a simply beautiful voice; let that be made completely clear. Deep, warm, and SOOOO soulful. I’ve seldom heard a voice more soulful than this, and Redding uses it well on songs like the aforementioned “Respect,” wielding it and weaving it through the song’s horns and drums. Speaking of which, this album is wonderfully arranged. Love the drumming, love love love the horns, especially on the version of “Change Gonna Come.” I love how much more lush “Wonderful World” is, compared to the relatively sparse version recorded by Sam Cooke. I also love the original songs on this. “You Don’t Miss Your Water” is great, “Down In The Valley” is incredible, and the crown jewel of originals is “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” an outstanding, rousing, wonderful song with an excellent performance. All around this is a great album, which any fan of soul should listen to ASAP. 8.7/10 DOES IT BELONG ON THE LIST: YES REASON: Quality and significance

some nice blues from Otis blue. Not really something I'm really into but still ok. Would maybe listen again but would not purchase. No really bad songs just seems kind of dated with any hugely interesting songs. probably a solid 2 stars. it does have my girl on it which is a real plus, maybe this bumps it up to 3 stars??? also has wonderful world and I can't get no satisfaction, these 3 definitely bump it up to 3 stars. pretty short album only 32 min

Its a fun album. But I feel like I really need to close my eyes and place myself in a 90s bar sipping on whiskey or gulping a beer to get into my feels with this one. My dad, I feel like, would love this album. It's definitely a classic soul/blues piece that would resonate with most lovers of that genre. I personally do mess with it. But again, putting myself in some instances of thinking make this album better.

아 여성 보컬인 줄 알았는데. 할배노래방이었잖아!

Don't get much more soulful than Otis. Loving you too long is fantastic.

sitzt an der bay...c

Bien

Nothing I dislike about this album Very good sounding bluesey vibes These versions of these songs are also very good I really like Otis’s voice Love the renditions of my girl and a change is gonna come 3/5 Favorites: my girl, a change is gonna come, I’ve been loving you too long

What can be said if Otis that hasn't already been said? Otis crashed a plane into a Wisconsin lake cuz he was packing too much cargo if you know what i mean.

Enjoyed

This is an amazing collection actually. I wish Otis hadn’t died so tragically. 5 Boolean: True

I'm gonna level with y'all, I had three IPAs early this afternoon and I was hungover by 6 PM. I shouldn't have been trying to listen to anything in that condition, so this is probably better than it felt as I listened.

Classic sound. I had no idea he died so young in a plane crash.

not bad.

An excellent soul album. Though there is definitely some soul behind it, I felt his soul could have been a bit more creative so that there is more replay value. Rounding down from 4.5/5.

Great album!

Not bad.

After yesterday’s soulless “White Boy Blues” in the Slowhand style, Otis Redding is just what I need: blues with plenty of authenticity and soul. However, I’m once again having trouble classifying this album, *Otis Blue*, as world-class, because in a direct comparison, his versions of songs like “Respect” (an Otis composition that really became famous thanks to Aretha) or the Stones cover “Satisfaction” fall slightly short in terms of timing. On the other hand, this album is such an icon in so many ways that anything other than a 5/5 rating would somehow be inappropriate. I’m giving it that rating simply with the understanding that it’s more of a very good 4.5.

I’m familiar with Otis Redding’s music and his story but I’ve never sat down to listen to an album of his before. What an amazing singer, taken from us too soon. A great listening experience, and a perfect Sunday soul album 🥰

Chef from South Park is in this

Good but surely a covers albums can’t count?? (Unless Otis just has the most insane catalog of singles I’ve ever seen)

I had no idea Otis Redding was the original writer of Respect. I also did not know he did a rendition of Change Gonna Come by Sam Cooke, My Girl by The Temptations or Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones. Unfortunately, in the case of this album, I enjoy all of those other versions more than these Otis Redding ones.

Definitely an album id be proud to own on vinyl

I laugh at Otis a little when he adds those little baroque flourishes (cf. e.g. his take on this album on “A Change Is Gonna Come” v. Sam Cooke’s), but this is still smooth-ass comfort music by a silver-plated diapason of a voice.

Mid 60s soul music is not necessarily a good stomping ground if you are on the search for a classic album, but Otis Redding is an exception. His albums are remarkably strong to have been recorded when singles were still key. Ray Charles and Sam Cooke may have managed to pull off the feat of a solid soul full length before Otis, but he turned it into a habit. Otis Blue is often seen as the finest example and it’s not hard to see why. It is simply dripping with emotion, power and sustains the feeling across the entire album. The intensity of Otis’ delivery is what sets him apart from the pack. Although many of these songs have been made more famous by other artists, it’s often difficult when listening to an Otis reading and not think of it as definitive.

I received a Marvin Gaye record today and decided to keep the soul vibe going to catch up on this previously missed album. This may have been a mistake because even though Redding has an outstanding voice, his reworking of standards can’t match Gaye’s more original and emotionally powerful take on soul. All the same, this is undeniably a good soul album.

No thanks, I just don’t vibe with old music like this at all

It was cool to get a history lesson and learn about songs that I thought were originals, but were actually covers (like "respect," "my girl," etc.) dad mentioned the band backing Redding was Booker T and the MG's, and I recall that their album was very good but just slightly lacking in impact, so Redding's soulful singing is the perfect complement. I enjoyed the accents from the horn section, no matter how infrequent, and it made me think that music recording infrastructure used to be more (limited by technology, but) robust in that full bands were receiving salary while backing the pop singers, even if they didn't play a whole lot like in the case of the horns. Great stuff

This is one that I'm very glad to see pop up. I guess you could say that Otis Redding is one of the many excellent musical voices I grew up with (or, if you're a grammarian, you might say, with whom I grew up, lol). This album, though, is not familiar, although many -- I guess most -- of the songs are (in one version or another). My parents did have several later Redding albums (from '67 & '68), so from those and from the radio, Redding was a very familiar (& beloved) voice, from a young age, though always accompanied by a tinge of sadness, due to his tragic death in a plane crash near Madison, Wisconsin, in December 1967. Wikipedia explains (no surprise here) that early influences on Redding including singing gospel music, and listening to Little Richard and Sam Cooke. This is an excellent album from beginning to end, and I give it 5 stars. An outstanding testament to Redding's talent as a singer. A final note: the core of the backing band were the 4 members of Booker T & the MGs (who we heard here on their own, not long ago, and who were the house band for Stax Records in Memphis).