Otis Redding's third album presents his unfettered talent, clear direction and emboldened confidence. Half the songs show a musical reach extending beyond Redding. Over a quarter of the album pays homage to his idol, Sam Cooke.
Cooke's classics "A Change is Gonna Come," "Shake," and "Wonderful World," Redding's essentials "Respect" and "I've Been Loving You Too Long," and covers like "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," "My Girl," and "You Don't Miss Your Water" make up the impressive tracklist of Otis Blue. On "Rock Me Baby," Redding and Steve Cropper deliver a standout collaboration with Wayne Jackson, Gene "Bowlegs" Miller, Andrew Love and Floyd Newman's horns providing gritty, rich texture.
