Otis Redding - Dreams To Remember: The Otis Redding Anthology

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Music reviews of Dreams To Remember: The Otis Redding Anthology

Music Review: Gritty soul n' thangs from the ONE, the ONLY Otis Redding...
Rating: 5 Stars

I'm serious, you ain't never heard a voice with more pure, gritty, unbrideled SOUL than that of Otis Redding. He sang his songs with an honesty and truth that can't be falsified, and that contemporary performers need to really take note of, if they expect to really, TRULY move people. I went through a really bad break-up this past year, an' Otis' voice was one of the only things that soothed and comforted me enough to allow me to sleep peacefully at night. Another difference is that no matter what it was with Otis, whether it was a pop radio hit or not, there was always meaning and feeling behind it. Listen to the ballads more than anything. 'Pain in My Heart', 'I've Been Loving You too Long (to Stop Now)', 'You Don't Miss Your Water' and 'Cigarettes and Coffee' and any of the mournful and heart-broken ballads, are jus' the stuff of genius and pure artistry. 'Mr. Pitiful', 'Down in the Valley', 'Let Me Come on Home' and 'I Love You More than Words Can Say' and all the rest are jus' everything that you want out of ol' Otis. The spirited and down-tempo 'My Lover's Prayer' is jus' one of the CLASSICS of our time, as is 'Just One More Day', a really powerful number 'bout letting go an' dealin' with the stress of love, life an' e'ything else this cruel world bestows on us. He does a brave and inspiring version of Sam Cooke's 'Change Gonna Come' that will move you an' give you chills, especially when he sings "It's been too hard livin', an' I'm afraid to die, I don't know whas' up there beyond the clouds..." Also present here is his raucous and pounding original version of 'Respect'. Aretha Franklin may have made it famous with her anthemic reading of it, but it was already a classic, y'all.

But my personal favorite number is the deeply moving 'I've Got Dreams to Remember' in which he lays on the heartache thick, sounding on the verge of tears and an emotional breakdown, as a female vocal group coos in sweetly sympathetic response. My eyes welled up with tears one night when I played this for my now ex-girlfriend to try to show how much pain I was in over her (It didn't work how I thought it would, but it's a sad memory for me to hold on to). And of course I couldn't leave without mentioning Otis' biggest hit '(Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay', the simple, somewhat lonely lament that has become something of his calling card. His lonesome whistling at the end gives much weight to the lyrics and atmosphere.

You'd do yourself well to look at the photos an' read the booklet while listening to this music, 'cause it will allow you to envision the man and his time period while also giving you a plethora of history an' information 'bout Otis from his discovery working in Johnny Jenkins' band to his first days as a songwriter through his fame, and his historic performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, the recording of which is presented here on the 2nd disc in its entirety. Shame how the story had to end with Redding's death in a plane crash, yet another incredible talent that perished having given the world only a sliver of his life's potential. But lucky for us, the music is still here, and his influence is apparent in all the subsequent soul singers that have emerged since then. His guttural delivery and passion was one of a kind. To put it together in one statement, this man is amazing and the songs he has written and performed are nothing short of pure soulful art. If you are a fan of soul, R&B, rock or any black-originated music, don't hesitate to add something from Otis' legacy to your collection. In the short amount of time I've listened to him, he has fast become one of my all-time favorite singers. That should be enough to convince you right there.

Description of Dreams To Remember: The Otis Redding Anthology

Classic Rock CDs

• Music > Styles
• Pop
• R&B