The Very Best of Otis Redding, Vol. 1

First Sam Cooke, then Otis Redding - we were robbed of two soul giants in quick succession. Where Sam Cooke was smoother, Otis was like his backwoods brother - rougher, sweatier: he could lift a crowd of of skeptics - like he did at Monterey - and through a stomping, honking, gutsy performance turn them like putty in his big hands.

Otis Redding story is beuatifully covered by Peter Guralnick who tells of the years on the road, working hard for his big break, and supported by his believer, his white friend Walden who knew that Otis had what it took to make it to the top. Theirs is a heroic story. Redding became a legend not so much through his chart history - it was just starting to consolidate into a story - but through his live performances which were as good as anything the great Jackie Wilson or the Godfather James Brown ever achieved. he hat the same sweat, the same conviction.

What would Otis have achieved if he had not lost his life in the plane crash in Wisconsin? My pick is that he would have eclipsed James Brown, easily, and might have spearheaded the direction of soul music which, during a tumultous and sometimes bitter 1968 (reflecting the times) began to lose its way. We were lucky that Otis Redding's light was allowed to shine for as long as it did. 

See also:

• Soul Music
• Atlantic Records
• AL GREEN
• Marvin Gaye