Otis Redding

Future soul giant was only 23 years old here - he sounds just fine, rugged, rough voice and all but he depends too much on people who had set the path before him: Rufus Thomas, Ben E.King, Sam Cooke and most of all Little Richard. Its a loving tribute - "Hey Hey Baby", "Lucille" and "Louie Louie" could easily pass as original Little Richard had I not know better. "I Need Your Lovin'" on the other hand could have been early James Brown. In all honesty, album actually sounds fairly generic R&B release of its time (title song could have been anybody) but apparently was highly influential among young UK rock musicians who idolised this particular sound, far more than in homeland where it didn't even make top 100. Beautiful ballad "These Arms of Mine" is the highlight here, it's written by Redding himself and points at his potential as songwriter.

Phew! Is this one of the best 1960s soul albums or what?
Its probably difficult to understand now why exactly artists used to record own hit songs as singles and sing a LOT of covers on studio albums, but just one look at Redding re-imagining songs by Smokey Robinson ("Its growing") or Sam Cooke ("Chain Gang") makes it all worth - no matter where this guy found his inspiration, results were always sweaty, angry, energetic and tortured SOUL and to me epitomises the best of 1960s soul music. The best of all is a truly magical version of old 1920s Bessie Smith blues jewel "Nobody Know You When You're Down And Out" that keeps all the passion of original but brings song to recognisable horn-driven Memphis sound. Redding growls, roars and commands absolute attention thought guys from "Stax" backing band must get recognition for excellent work - when I hear something like "Scratch my back" it truly sounds like some of the best 1960s R&B. Magnificent stuff.

Just in case you were thinking it can't get any better than "Soul album" here comes "Dictionary of Soul" with more gritty horns, guitars and excellent Memphis musicians who were at the peak of white-hot inspiration behind volcanic singer who completely turns other people songs inside out: his version of "Day Tripper" blows British guys out of the window and "Try A Little Tenderness" pulls the same trick like Bessie Smith cover recorded previously (how he came with with all this obscure 1920s and 1930s stuff?) - strange nobody thought about giving him a whole album of these old standards, he would probably bring Midas touch to anything he set his mind to. "Try A Little Tenderness" is such a explosive re-imagining of old song that it could be finale of any brilliant concert even today.

Sure its a gimmick but it works surprisingly well, considering that these two had almost nothing artistically in common (except conveniently recording for the same company) - Irma Thomas was cutesy singer but Redding was of course soul giant and together they actually fly. Wherever he pours his tortured heart in ballads ("Tell it like it is", "When something is wrong with my baby") or shouts in upbeat material ("Tramp", "Lovey Dovey", "It takes two") he actually makes Thomas far more interesting than she was. Since Thomas had previously recorded her "answer" to Sam Cooke's "Bring it on home to me" it seemed just natural that they sing it as a duet here and works wonderfully. Despite my initial reservations, this turned out to be actually very good album.

I am usually suspicious when it comes to posthumous releases, as they tend to be nothing but curiosities and re-mixed unfinished ideas that artists didn't find good enough to release when they were alive - however "Tell the truth" must be exception because its material actually recorded in 1967. (the year of his tragic death) and there is absolutely nothing unfinished or embarrassing here. In fact, everything we always knew and loved about Otis Redding music is here, including spectacular Memphis guys in the background, that familiar passionate growl and Little Richard cover. James Brown's "Out of sight" is perhaps too close to original but still good to hear.If you were listening Otis Redding up to this point, you are probably hooked as I am so it doesn't matter that album was standing on the shelves some time before it saw the light of the day. Guy was genius.