1000 Day Album Challenge (#21) Otis Redding: The Best of Otis Redding (1972) [21.01.24]

my love is growing stronger, as you become a habit to me…

this was my introduction to Otis Redding. I obviously knew (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay before buying this. I was likely at least aware of I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now) and Try A Little Tenderness, but that’s probably it.

Otis quickly became my favorite male soul singer. I had yet to dive in with Al Green so other than maybe Marvin Gaye there probably wasn’t much competition in my musical landscape of the time.

it was Otis’ cover of Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come that drew me in. the plaintive horns that open the song bring me back every time. it was the version with which I first fell in love. I didn’t know (or at least know well) the original at the time.

as the years passed I would buy most of Otis’ studio albums so I know his oeuvre quite well. scanning the track list (https://www.discogs.com/release/2572308-Otis-Redding-The-Best-Of-Otis-Redding) for this compilation the only essential tunes I notice that are missing are Chained and Bound, Mr. Pitiful and Hard to Handle (later covered by the Black Crowes). I would rate this as an excellent introduction to Otis Redding’s music.

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