The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul : Complete & Unbelievable

Otis Redding

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 11, 1991)
• Original Release Date: October 1966
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000002JO2
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #23,834 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #33 in	Music > R&B > Soul > Memphis Soul
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

With its somewhat grandiose title, the legendary Otis Redding's fifth album maintained much of the same formula that had been used on his previous recordings for the Stax subsidiary label Volt, combining some fine Redding-penned originals with the stylized vocalist's interpretations of others' material. While Redding always lent his own special raw, gospel-edged stamp to everything from the Beatles' perky "Day Tripper" to a slowed-down, unparalleled reading of the pop standard "Tennessee Waltz," it was on his own songs--such gems as "Fa- Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)" (his 15th R&B hit single), the plaintive "Ton of Joy," and the bluesy "Hawg for You"--that Redding was at his soulful best. That said, nothing quite compares to how he turned another pop classic, "Try a Little Tenderness" into an emotive opus that became a showstopper wherever he appeared during his tragically short-lived four years as a hit-making recording artist. As an example of the horn-driven Memphis sound, Dictionary of Soul is an excellent reference, and Redding is in peak form as a true American original, whether he's giving '50s hit man Chuck Willis's "You're Still My Baby" a workover or breezing through his own almost-joyful "She Put the Hurt on Me." For the benefit of those with limited "knowledge" of Redding's specialized vocal vocabulary, the original album included some sidesplitting definitions of terms such as "gotta-gotta" ("not able to do without it") and "ou" ("ouchless excitement"), and they are reproduced in full on this reissue of what is easily one of Redding's finest recordings. --David Nathan

Product Description

Nobody burrowed more deeply into a song than Otis Redding -- hands down, the most emotive, soulful singer the '60s ever produced. Redding's impassioned, sweat-soaked delivery kept him straddling both pop and soul charts until his untimely death in 1967. Here is a high-definition vinyl exact reproduction of Dictionary of Soul from 1966. Everything is taken from the absolute master tapes in knockout mono. Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fabulous! --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definition of Soul, May 9, 2000

By	Michael Sean (Seattle, WA - US) - See all my reviews

As Otis Redding's individual albums go, this disc is one of the best, second only to the excellent "Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul." Over half of the tracks are Redding originals, including the funky "I'm Sick Y'All" and "Sweet Lorene," the wonderful "Ton of Joy," and "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)," which Otis said was inspired by the theme from the TV game show, "The $64,000 Question." The usual handful of cover tunes are exceptional as well, such as the memorable renditions of "Try A Little Tenderness" and "Tennessee Waltz." The Beatles' "Day Tripper" gets completely reworked in an energetic Memphis treatment, complete with the punchy horns of the Mar-Keys. Guitarist Steve Cropper and the rest of Booker T. & the Mg's add their signature sound behind Otis' voice, crafting a classic soul record. The original liner notes, featuring a humorous glossary of his unique singing phrases, are fortunately reproduced in the CD booklet. For those curious about where to begin among the numerous releases in his catalog, this album is an aptly named example of Otis Redding and crew in fine form. Recommended.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Singing " Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa"., September 9, 2004

By	Johnny Heering "trivia buff" (Bethel, CT United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Otis Redding was one of the greatest soul singers of all time. He could rock like Little Richard, and then turn around and sing a ballad like Sam Cooke. This was his fifth album, from 1966. It contains a mixture of some classic hits like "Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa" and "Try a Little Tenderness", and fine lesser known songs like "Hawg For You". But what really showcases Otis's unique talent is the cover songs here. He could take a country song like "Tennessee Waltz", a standard like "Try a Little Tenderness", a Beatles song like "Day Tripper" and and old R&B song like "You're Still My Baby" and when he got through with them they sounded like Otis Redding songs. Fans of classic sould should dig this album.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Otis' best, August 14, 1999

By A Customer

This album is truly "complete and unbelievable". Otis Redding was our greatest soul singer, and this is his finest album. The boxed sets and collections are fine, but you don't get the feeling that comes out of a complete Otis Redding album. Buy them all, but start here.