The new Stax release, Lonely & Blue: The Deepest Soul Of Otis Redding, is a collection that focuses on the heartbreaking, yearning ballads that Redding sang in singular fashion. Producer David Gorman in explaining the concept behind this release stated “I tried to find the saddest most potently heartbreaking songs he ever sang, with no regard for chart position or notoriety. There are a few hits on the album, but they’re there because they fit the mood, not because we wanted to include the hits.”
It is packaged as if was originally released on Stax during Redding’s lifetime, and mixes some of his most famous ballads of love and heart break. This includes the hits I’ve Been Loving You Too Long, These Arms of Mine, and My Lover’s Prayer, along with lesser known gems Gone Again, Open the Door, Waste of Time, and Everybody Makes a Mistake, along with alternate takes of Open the Door and I’ve Got Dreams To Remember. This latter performance has somewhat darker lyrics than the issued recording.
Throughout Redding is heard with the Stax great studio band including Booker T & the MGs with Steve Cropper being especially superb on the cover of Send Me Some Lovin'. Throughout the Memphis Horns or the Bar-Kays add their signature riffs. As the album closes with his cover of Clyde McPhatter’s My Lover’s Prayer, one is reminded how Otis Redding took familiar songs and made them his own. This terrific ‘new’ Redding release displays just how fresh and contemporary Otis Redding still sounds over 45 years after his tragic early passing. Yes, I highly recommend this.
I received a review copy from a publicist. Here is Otis performing I’ve Been Loving You Too Long.
First in my List of Outstanding Jazz and Blues Recordings of 2010. I start with Vintage Blues Recordings which includes not simply reissues but also releases primarily consisting of older material.
Junior Wells & the Aces Live in Boston 1966 (Delmark). The release of a sixties club performance by Junior Wells with the Aces (Louis and Dave Myers as well as drummer Fred Below) captures Wells in top form and displays the manner Wells interacted with his primarily white college audience was not far removed from how he interacted with the folks at Pepper’s Lounge. Albert King / Stevie Ray Vaughan: In Session (Stax). While the music has been available from the legendary encounter on CD, this combined deluxe DVD and CD includes much unissued video by the two. Tremendous meeting of two legends.
Little Smokey Smothers & Elvin Bishop Chicago Blues Buddies (Brown Derby). Compiled as a fundraiser for Smokey, who recently passed away, I wrote “a solid retrospective of a wonderful partnership with the release of the first-rate 1993 Chicago Blues Festival performances particularly welcome as are the tracks that Alligator and Black Magic graciously lent to this project … .”
Otis ReddingLive on the Sunset Strip (Stax) The classic live recordings which include the full sets of a legendary performance. “Over four decades later, Otis Redding’s music remains as gripping as when he performed on the Whiskey’s stage. Obviously those having the earlier reissues may not need this, but others who love “Sweet Soul Music,” will want this.”
Luther Allison Songs From the Road (Ruf) CD and DVD of previously unissued performances by one of the greatest live blues performers ever. “What a joy to listen and watch previously unissued performances by Luther Allison after all these years. It doesn’t get much better than this release which is quite reasonably priced and should be available from itunes or amazon and better retailers.”
Sista Monica Soul Blues & Ballads (Mo Muscle Records). A terrific retrospective for which I wrote, ‘There is a generous amount of music here with thirteen outstanding performances for about 70 minutes by one of the blues and R&B world’s finest singers here. I add that she could have selected from her earlier recordings, a dozen different performances and had as compelling a recording. She is just that dynamic and soulful. For those lacking anything by the Sista, here is a good place to start.”
Freddie King Texas Flyer (Bear Family). This is the second Bear Family box sets that has also tyhe commercially issued recordings by the legendary blues singer and guitarist. This set also has the live recordings he did for RSO and much previously unissued live performances. Between the two sets on Bear Family (The 7CD Taking Care of Business is the earlier one) one has about 15 hours of guitar blues of the highest level and one can reevaluate some of the stuff that one might have dismissed four decades ago. Special note should be made of the hard cover book with Bill Dahl's biographical and musical notes and pianist Dave Maxwell's recollections of working with King. The book also has some incredible photographs and full discographical information.
Little Willie John Mister Little Willie John + Talk To Me (HooDoo Records) Two early albums by the great rhythm and blues singer who died way too soon with a number of his classic songs including Fever, Talk to Me, Home at Last, All Around the World, and Drive Me Home. Christine Kittrell, Call Her Name:Complete Recordings 51-65 (Bear Family). Nashville was once known as much for its Rhythm and Blues scene as hillbilly music, and the queen of that scene was Christine Kittrell. Bear Family has compiled all of her recordings from 1951 to 1965 (many produced by legendary songwriter-producer Ted Jarrett) that shows a terrific singer that had some mostly regional success but was the equal of some of her better known contemporaries. On one selection, a John Coltrane rips out a sax solo that stands out.
Big Walter Horton Blues Harmonia Giant (JSP) 3-CD box that reissues this important harmonica masters early recordings for a variety of labels along with some of his choice accompaniments and a bonus CD of a live 70's performance with his primary disciple, Carey Bell. I blogged extensively on this reissue.
Bob Corritore Harmonica Blues (Delta Groove). Harmonica player Bob Corritore has championed traditionally styled Chicago blues for decades. This Delta Groove release showcases his considerable skills on the harmonica with a number of blues legends, a number of whom are no longer with us including Robert Lockwood, Nappy Brown and Koko taylor as well as Eddie Shaw, Louisiana Red, Big Pete Pearson and others. There is enough older material to place this in the Vintage category as opposed to a straight new release.
Its been over forty years since Otis Redding perished in a tragic plane crash. One of the stars of the R&B circuit, Redding was starting to become a major cross-over artist at the time of his death. He had toured Europe and was a major sensation at the Monterey Pop Festival. The future was looking bright when tragedy struck with a plane crash after a Cleveland, ohio appearance. After his death, besides the release of his biggest recording, “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay,” Atlantic issued “In Person At the Whiskey Au Go Go,” which presented ten performances from a 1966 stint at the famed Hollywood Club (Taj Mahal and the Rising Sons were the opening act). Another dish of Otis from this engagement appeared on LP and then CD. Now Concord has issued a double CD of the last three sets from Otis’ Whiskey appearance, “Live on the Sunset Strip” (Stax). Liner notes by Ashley Kahn provide the context for Otis and his band (that included Katie Webster on keyboards).
With respect to Otis Redding, the music is terrific. What can I say. There are any number of staples of his repertoire from “These Arms of Mine,” I’ve Been Loving You Too Long,” the Stones’ “Satisfaction,” “I Can’t Turn You Loose,” “Respect,” and “Mr. Pitiful.” Some of these songs are heard in several renditions like “Satisfaction,” and “Chained & Bound,” and with his strong band, he tears things up. I presume that much of this was issued on the prior two live recordings, but there are some previously unissued tracks, and this reissue presents the compelling performances in the order in was heard by the audience. Over four decades later, Otis Redding’s music remains as gripping as when he performed on the Whiskey’s stage. Obviously those having the earlier reissues may not need this, but others who love “Sweet Soul Music,” will want this.
This was received from the publicity person handling this release.
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