Product Description

Compiled in the wake of Otis Redding's premature death, THEDOCK OF THE BAY is a suitable testimony to a gigantic performer. The melancholic title track suggested a new musical blueprint, and elements of the previously unissued "Open The Door" show a similarly muted perspective. Tracks culled from OTIS BLUE and THE SOUL ALBUM sit beside the playful "Tramp",which represents the singer's brief partnership with Carla Thomas. The remaining material is drawn from various sources, including flip-sides and compilations and, taken as a whole, the album provides a precis of Redding's past, as well asintimating what was so sadly lost.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #102800 in Music
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .19 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
Shortly after his breakthrough appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival, Otis Redding began talking of making a record that would be to soul music what Sgt. Pepper's was to rock. Sadly, "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" was the only song he recorded for this project before his untimely death and so The Dock of the Bay wound up being a mixed bag of non-LP singles and previously unreleased material. Of course, Redding was such an amazing singer that even a ragtag collection of his stuff is worth checking out and this album certainly has its fair share of high points, including "Tramp", a sassy duet with Carla Thomas; the funky "Don't Mess with Cupid"; and the unbelievably poignant "Ole Man Trouble". --Dan Epstein

Customer Reviews

A little respect
Released shortly after his death, this album was the first of several posthumous Otis Redding releases. The fabulous title track reached number one on both the pop and R&B charts, introducing Otis' talent and emotive energy to a much wider (and whiter) audience. Inspired by the Beatles' adventurous songwriting, and his positive experience at the Monterey Pop Festival, he wrote "The Dock of the Bay" while relaxing in Sausalito. He recorded it on December 7, 1967, three days before the airplane crash that would take his life and four members of his touring band, The Bar-Kays. The song was unlike anything he had released thus far, and showed the promising artistic direction he was headed in. Guitarist, co-writer, and friend Steve Cropper compiled this tribute album around it, gathering together some of his past singles, along with the unreleased ballad "Open The Door." There are plenty of great songs, such as the magnificent "Let Me Come On Home," "Don't Mess With Cupid," and his classic duet with Carla Thomas, "Tramp." The funky "Huckle-Buck" is from the Stax "Stay In School" record, and two fine cuts from earlier albums close out the set. As always, the backing musicians on all of the tracks are the fantastic Stax players of Booker T. & The MG's and the Mar-Keys. This disc is a testament to Otis Redding's mastery of his craft, and makes for a decent primer on his sound. It was soon followed by "The Immortal Otis Redding," an excellent collection of unreleased studio recordings.