Customer Reviews

Remember Me

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Fantasy issued this wonderful collection aptly titled, Remember Me. This is not just an album for listeners who are already fans of Redding. Truth be told, almost anything the man recorded is worth checking out. The album's selling point is that it's full of outtakes and alternate versions of classic songs by Memphis's other king. There are legendary stories of Otis walking into Stax Records, smiling ear to ear, the McLemore Avenue studio buzzing with a new found energy. This album is certainly also a delight for fans of Otis. You get to be right there along for the ride for takes one and two of "The Dock Of the Bay". Take one will take you off guard as Steve Cropper's earnest guitar starts a strummin' and Otis lets out some tongue and cheek "caws", which would apparently give Cropper the idea to later overdub the familiar ocean sounds. This song was recorded just days before Otis passed. After take one, we hear engineer, Ron Capone, yell out, "Well, he won't make it as a whistler." The most compelling outtake on here however, is "Try a Little Tenderness". Bassist, Duck Dunn said if Al Jackson ever created one, it was this one. Jackson's metronome like timing creates tension and then the MGs just explode. The only word for it is orgasmic. The fact that these guys did this on take one is just mind blowing. Cropper plays beautifully on this as well as on "I'm Coming Home", a great Redding original that boasts one of the most infectious hooks you'll ever hear, with the help of Duck Dunn and has Steve Cropper playing his cooler than the other side of the pillow arpeggios. Other highlights include a late night jam of "Respect" and a killer alternate version of "Open the Door". The king of soul. Staxman, too, Rob Bowman contributes liner notes on this well thought out and thoroughly enjoyable set.

Otis Redding passed away way to early..
we have way to little of his fabulous voice to listen to.

This particular cd has some of the best cuts ever..
prooves that not always the best cut is released,some of these i swear should make #1 if released today...

Twenty two more unreleased tracks from the legendary Otis Redding. This collection is another great addition if you own all the soulful singer's recordings. What's amazing is the long string of recordings Redding left behind in his catalog, these are all mostly good songs, hit songs, great songs, and sixteen are Redding originals, some are recorded early in his short career, "Send Me Some Lovin'", "There Goes My Baby", would fit perfectly on the Redding debut, PAIN IN MY HEART, and other notable songs, "The Boston Monkey", "Trick Or Treat", would blend in well with, OTIS BLUE, or DICTIONARY OF SOUL... most every Otis Redding album contains at least one Sam Cooke song - "Cupid", is included here, in Redding's own style and a distinctive shuffle beat. "(sittin on) The Dock Of The Bay" needs no introduction, featuring two demos recorded in stereo, half of the twenty two tracks on here are in stereo, the audio throughout is outstanding. If you dig the big "O" Redding, this is good listening and essential. "Remember Me", 1992 release from STAX/VOLT.