The Very Best of Otis Redding, Vol. 2
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Description
His life and career cut short by a plane crash on the eve of his greatest commercial triumph ("Dock of the Bay"), Otis Redding's legacy has always seemed clouded by faulty memory, an even more suspect nostalgia, and more than a few troubling misconceptions. This 16-cut collection goes a long way toward putting Redding's talents in better focus. As the star of Stax/Volt's wide-ranging roster of talent, Redding came to epitomize the label's earthy R&B roots and bluesy Southern grit in the face of more polished efforts from Motown and Philly. Indeed, this set's disparate covers (including the Temptations' "My Girl," the Beatles' "Daytripper," and James Brown's "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag") underscore Redding's ability to strip a song to its emotional core, then rebuild it in his own relentless, sweaty image. Two of his groundbreaking duets with Carla Thomas are featured ("Knock on Wood" and "Lovey Dovey"), as well as the funk-drenched "Hard to Handle," all backed to perfection by the labels' house bands, the M.G.'s and Mar-Keys. There were others who sang the blues with more pain, crooned R&B ballads with greater polish, and infused gospel with deeper self-righteousness, but no one combined them all with the emotional fire and naked humanity of Otis Redding. Hear the man testify. --Jerry McCulley
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