Customer Reviews

Live in Europe

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The LP's original liner notes read, "You should've been there, but since you weren't, you'll have the opportunity to hear, literally see and definitely feel this one man band of soul." Indeed, Otis Redding's legend lies deeply in intense live performances like these recorded on the "Hit the Road Stax" European tour.

With a crowd before him whose adoration he could feel and return, (and an Austin Powers soundalike who spells Otis' name to start the show), with Booker T. & the MGs with the Mar-Key horns at their rockin' soul best behind him, Otis tears through hits and cover songs with ferocity unusual even for him. "Respect" and "Can't Turn You Loose" become full throated rave ups, and the smoother soul of "Shake" and "My Girl" translate into hard Stax soul (with memorable horn lines Otis loved singing against). But he saves the most incredible performances for the disc's second half, stoking "Satisfaction" and "Day Tripper" with intensity (again, especially in the horn lines) Keith Richards' and George Harrison's guitars could only estimate.

Hear Otis leading the crowd on "Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa (Sad Song)" then leading them up the soul ladder of his hit "Try A Little Tenderness." You sense great joy, then the sobering realization that no one -- Otis (who passed away the year this was released), the crowd, Memphis soul itself - would ever play or hear soul this right again. That fact alone makes this concert recording one to savor (and append with more tracks, and remaster) and essential for all classic R&B fans.

"Live in Europe" by Otis Redding is one of the 4 or 5 greatest live albums that I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. I bought the CD last year, and have enjoyed it immensely ever since. Interesting that Redding covers both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. All of the songs here are superb. The audience participation here contributes greatly to the mood and atmosphere, and Redding knows exactly how to interact with the audience. This is exactly what a live album should be. This disc comes highly recommended.

I would actually give this four and a half stars. One reason is the sound quality. There is alot of audience noise and sometimes the vocals seem distant. Other then that, Otis Redding Live in Europe is a great album. It is not quite as good as In Person At The Whisky A Go Go, but it is still really good. The setlist is great. Respect kicks the album off great with one of the best versions of the song ever. This recording of Can't Turn You Loose is not as good as the one on Whisky, but it is good. This is followed by a very inspired version of I've been Loving You Too Long. The cover here of My Girl is probably even better then the version on Otis Blue, which is saying alot. Shake is done great and a very good version of satisfaction, but nowhere near as good as the one on Whisky. Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa is one of the highlights of the album, with alot of audience participation, which could be considered good or bad. I think that it still sounds really good. These Arms of Mine is another highlight. It's followed by a good version of Day Tripper that is drastically different then the Beatles version. The album closes with Try A Little Tenderness, which is the best song on the album. Overall this is a great album, but I would reccomend buying In Person At The Whisky A Go Go over this album.

There is not a better live recording than "Otis Redding - Live in Europe" this album is an absolute must for the serious soul music fan. More famous horn rifts come from this one album than any other I know. If "Try a little tenderness " doesn't bring a chill to you... you do not understand soul...

I Have seen Footage of Otis Redding Live and Hearing this Disc was a Extra Treat.His Voice is on Fire thru out this Performance.He Holds Nothing back here.He Puts his Heart&Soul all Here.Respect is tight.These Arms Of Mine He Blows Like Nobodys Business.He was A SOULFUL GENIUS.one of the Greatest Live Albums Ever!

There is NOT...........a better version than "Try A Little Tenderness" on this CD. Nor a more perfect example of what 60's soul music artists could pack into 3-4 minute songs.....even when they sang them live. The crowd is driven to insanity by a real singer, backed by a tight soul band and music that made them come alive. Ahhhhh.......that WAS......the 60's!!

This is a good album. Otis gives a fine performance, and the crowd is way into it. Personally though, I feel the mixing of this recording borders on terrible. Otis' vocals take a back seat to the horn section, which is up far too loud. The drums are also a bummer, as they are practically inaudible. This is an album worth having, but not one worthy of being in the top 25 albums of all-time as Rolling Stone billed it.

This is a great album. I have the original which I purchased in the 60's. As someone else pointed out the best cut on the album is "Try a Little Tenderness" BUT THE VERSION IN AMAZON'S SAMPLE IS NOT THE VERSION THAT WAS ON THE ORIGINAL RELEASE! This is important because that version is musical dynamite and because it had Sam & Dave coming on stage to join Otis in closing the song, bringing the house down (you can hear an already near-hysterical crowd go crazy when they come out to join him). Find that version in other re-releases: it is out there and it is electrifying.

Even 40 years later, you still wonder what Otis Redding might have accomplished if that plane hadn't messed up! Otis was the Muddy Waters of soul music - the absolute king who took everything he wanted and made it better. If you ever get the chance, tour the Stax Museum in Memphis, stand in that studio, listen to the recording session, and imagine you've found the secret to time travel. When I was there, several of us old guys had tears in our eyes imagining we had found our grail.

As great as Otis was in that studio, he was even better when he toured with Booker T & the MGs. With a crowd radiating joy, Otis led everyone to another level. On this CD, he doesn't just recreate some of the finest songs ever recorded, he makes them defining moments. I don't duplicate too many live and studio recordings of the same song on my iPod (there is a limit to how many songs you can put on that thing!), but all of these are on their with their studio partners.

You can actually feel his soul listening to this CD.
Much better than the Whisky a Go Go recordings that I also bought , and they are good too .