#448 Otis Redding, ‘Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul' (1966)

Previously #254

Never a more fitting opening track for an album; ‘Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song).’ The last studio album to be released in Otis Redding’s lifetime makes for a very sad song. One of the greatest vocalists of the past 100 years, Otis Redding would pass away just 14 months after this record was released at the young age of 26 years old (same age as Gram Parsons was, for those keeping count). This album’s got my soul than a shoe store (I’m sorry, I tried to stop myself, I just couldn’t).

Featuring one of my favourite songs and vocal performances of all time, ‘Try A Little Tenderness,’ a song out of Tin Pan Alley in the 1930s, the song was originally a hit for Ted Lewis and shortly afterwards, Bing Crosby. But those two weren’t the influences. Otis Redding was influenced by Aretha Franklin and Sam Cooke’s versions. He rearranged it with the help of Isaac Hayes (multi-talented musician, singer of the ‘Theme From Shaft, and yes, Chef from South Park). 

First half of the album is filled with covers, including a very soulful version of The Beatles’ ‘Day Tripper.’ Second half is originals mostly written by Redding. There’s an all-star lineup of musicians on this album including Booker T. Jones, Donald “Duck” Dunn, Steve Cropper and the aforementioned Isaac Hayes, but the real star is Otis Redding’s voice, a voice well beyond his 26 years.

#rs500albums