The Albums of 1965: Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul

Release Date: September 15, 1965

Produced by Jim Stewart, Steve Cropper

Side One: Ole Man Trouble; Respect; Change Gonna Come; Down in the Valley; I've Been Loving You Too Long

Side Two: Shake; My Girl; Wonderful World; Rock Me Baby; Satisfaction; You Don't Miss Your Water

Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul has become recognized as one of the great soul albums of the 1960s. Backed by the Stax Records house band Booker T and the MG's, the album features outstanding covers, including songs by Sam Cooke, who was tragically killed the year before.

"Ole Man Trouble" opens the album with an invocation inner peace. Aretha Franklin made "Respect" an immortal classic, but Redding's version offers a more frenetic plea. "Change Gonna Come" was the first of the Cooke covers, mournful and gospel infused, uneasy and stirring in delivery. "Down in the Valley" is uplifting, about willing one self to survive. "I've Been Loving You Too Long" is a remarkable vocal by Redding to close side one.

"Shake"offers a more muscular sound, a cover "My Girl" by The Temptations has a more adventurous production. "Wonderful World" is a more intense version of the Cooke's classic hit, "Rock Me Baby" is a soulful rocker. "I Can't Get Satisfaction" builds brilliantly upon the Stones classic. The closer, "You Don't Miss Your Water" ends the album on an uneasy note.

A record that breathes life that will provide endless inspiration on repeated listens, Otis Blue is an immortal classic.