Customer Reviews
Fantastic! - By: RUEBEN AMOS RUNACRE, 21 Jul 2007 
This cd deserves more than 5 stars. Forty great tracks from one of the greatest singers of all time. Otis Redding was a great influence on the likes of Paul Rodgers. What a tragedy he died so young.
Why Otis was unique and will never be forgotten - By: Siriam, 17 Jun 2007 If you want to understand why Otis 40 years since he died is still unmatched as a great soul singer, then this excellent compilation of his lifetime recordings (several released after his untimely deathin 1967) will provide the evidence.
The collection is well compiled plus transcribed & the running order over both CDs reflects the man's live shows where the changing of pace from outright rockers (Respect, Security, I can't turn you loose, Satisfaction etc.) to emotionally sung tender ballads where every nuance & pitch is perfect (Try a little tenderness, I've been loving you too long etc) kept the levels high. Steve Cropper's quote that recording with Otis was like going to Churchin that he inspired you is well evidenced here.
While there are no live tracks here, the 40 tracks are an effective cross section of all his different styles & so provide an otstanding introduction & deserve the tile "The very best of" - I could not think of a studio track I would wish had been included. In addition the set has an excellent set of liner notes covering Otis's recording history.
If suitably aroused by listening to what is contained here, consider looking for the solo albums (especially "Otis Blue") & the DVD "Otis Remembered" which captures him livein performance at Moneterey &in the UK during the Stax/Volt Revue Tour.
The best Otis collection - By: Spider Monkey, 01 Jun 2006 This album is the best introduction to Otis you'll find. He sings with such soul it is almost painful at times, yet when he pulls out all the stops & brings the tempo up, you can't help but smile. Songs like 'I've Been Loving You' & 'Change Gonna Come' are sung with such emotion that you fully understand where the phrase soul music came from. This is a great collection showcasing that voice & his amazing song writing. Unsurpassed & essential for any music collection.
wow. - By: Gillian R, 04 Jul 2005 I have always been quite a hard core Indie fan. I cam across my first Otis Redding song 'Try a Little Tenderness' when I was watching the 80s Teen Flick, Pretty In Pink. Even as a cover version, Otis' voice, improvisation & musical feel struck me to hear one of the most emotional, moving & captivating songs I had heardin a long time. It caught my emotions exactly at that moment & now remains a song that is very precious to me.
I would like to say thank you to Otis Redding for opening my eyes to different varieties of amazing music, & for creating this incredible album. As someone said before, it is a shame we lost him at such a young age as he had such a unique talent, but i am thankful his music remains to keep his memory forever
Otis Redding's legacy lives on in this album.... - By: , 29 Nov 2003 Rhino's The Very Best of Otis Redding is a wonderful 16-track "Greatest Hits" compilation of soul music by the late singer. Not only was Redding a great singer, but he was also an accomplished songwriter; 10 of the tracks on this album were written or co-written by Redding (including "Respect," which was famously covered by the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin). One can't listen to this "Very Best of..." collection & wonder what soul music could have been had Redding survived the airplane crash that silenced him on Dec. 10, 1967.
No wonder, then, that a generation of rock & rollers embraced his music after his death. Most of them (myself included) had not heard of him before his death. As The Very Best of Otis Redding shows, he left a rich legacy that is surprising for such a young man.
Like most of the great singers of the genre, Redding sang his songs with such heartfelt emotion feelings that he drew the listener into feeling he or she was actuallyin Redding's heart & soul.
I was only 13 when I first heard Redding's posthumous No. 1 hit, (Sittin' On) The Dock of The Bay. When I read the liner notes of this CD, I was saddened by the fact that he never got to realize how big a hit that song became. (Three months after his premature death, (Sittin' on) The Dock of The Bay climbed to become No. 1 song on the charts.
While I enjoy the entire album, my three favorite songs on this CD are (Sittin' On) The Dock of The Bay, That's How Strong My Love Is, & I've Got Dreams to Remember.
If you want a good soulful music CD by one of the greats of the genre, The Very of Otis Redding is definitely worth your money & your time.
Betty June Moore
