The Soul Album

Otis Redding | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: March 31, 1966
• Label: Rhino Atco
• Copyright: 1966 Atlantic Recording Corporation for the United States and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the United States.
• Genres: Pop/Oldies, Pop/Pop Rock, R&B/Soul
• ASIN: B001230PIG
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Untoppable soul, August 17, 2000

By 

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soul Album (Audio CD)

This is a small-frills reissue that includes no bonus tracks or alternate takes. What it does include is nice *mono* remastering by ace Bill Inglot, taken from the original master tapes. It also includes a nice reproduction of the original album front and back (the latter in almost life size). The interior of the CD booklet gives release info (label, date, chart info) as well as a list of the musical support.

Musically, Redding proves himself over and over to be perhaps the greatest soul singer of all time (though Ray Charles during his Atlantic period might give him a run for the money). The eleven tracks on this disc (about 32 minutes) find Redding reaching to the depths of his emotions for vocals that no one else could ever rival. Everything his vocal chords touch becomes *his*. Covers of hits that are unforgettable in their original version (e.g., Sam Cooke's "Chain Gang", Wilson Pickett's "634-5789") become something entirely different when Redding turns his attentions to them.

The band (including Booker T., Isaac Hayes, Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Al Jackson Jr., Sammy Coleman, Wayne Jackson, Bowlegs Miller, Andrew Love, Charles "Packy" Axton and Floyd Newman) provides some really incredible backing. Booker T's organ and Steve Cropper's guitar, in particular, create an incredible atmosphere, punctuated beautifully by the horn section. There is a cohesiveness between Redding's vocals and the musical background that is not evident in lesser soul recordings. There is a sort of empathy between the players and the vocalist that is jazz-like and rare.

From the slower, soulful ballads such as "Just One More Day", the wrenching "Cigarettes and Coffee", and "Good To Me" through the medium paced blues of "Scratch My Back" through upbeat pieces like "It's Growing", Redding never misses a beat. His vocals are a revelation every time you listen to the disc.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Number Four And Holding.., July 15, 2009

By 

R. Webb "minstrel man" (u.s.a.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Soul Album (Audio CD)

Otis Redding never recorded a bad song or much less a bad album, capable of taking on any ol' song at hand and simply turning it golden. THE SOUL ALBUM, 1966, was Redding's fourth and his third, OTIS BLUE, was a mighty tough act to follow, and yet still, THE SOUL ALBUM, holds it's own in the very limited Otis Redding catalog, containing Redding co-written songs, JUST ONE MORE DAY, GOOD TO ME, ANY OLE WAY, the rest of the album consist of covers, Cooke's, CHAIN GANG, Pickett's,634-5789, - co-written by guitarist Steve Cropper, also including, SCRATCH MY BACK and the ballad, CIGARETTES AND COFFEE. The remastered "SOUL ALBUM" is a good solid effort from the man, Otis Redding, be sure to collect all recordings from the genius of soul. Rhino/Atco

5.0 out of 5 stars The Soul Album, December 8, 2009

By 

William Tircuit - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soul Album (Audio CD)

I have this Album in Stereo & the CD is in MONO. The biggest difference in the two the complete unedit version of Just One More Day plays on the CD Mono Version and and the still being worked on Scratch My Back plays on the Mono Version. The Stereo Album has the Finish Takes. Will the Stereo Version of the Soul Album ever be release. Same applies to the Dictionary of Soul. The Stereo Album has the completed takes the Mono CD has alternate takes: Day Tripper & Hawg For You. Maybe one day the Stereo Verisons of The Soul Album & Dictionary Of Soul will be release because the Albums have the finish Takes. But until that happens and it won't because with Otis Redding Rhino will not release anything prior to 1967 in Stereo. But with Sam & Dave Carla Thomas it does not applied.