The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul : Complete & Unbelievable

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

The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul : Complete & Unbelievable,Otis Redding,Atlantic / Wea,Deep Soul,Memphis Soul,Oldies,Pop,R&B,Soul,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Southern Soul,United States of America

Average customer rating:

Otis Smokes!
that ain't no hogwash.
Singing " Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa".
A Soul Classic
The Definition of Soul

The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul : Complete & Unbelievable
Otis Redding
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

Southern Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

Memphis Soul | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 R&B | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul
The Dock of the Bay
The Soul Album
The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads
In Person at the Whisky a Go Go

ASIN: B000002JO2
Release Date: 1991-06-11

Tracks:

Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)
I'm Sick Y'All
Tennessee Waltz
Sweet Lorene
Try A Little Tenderness
Day Tripper
My Lover's Prayer
She Put The Hurt On Me
Ton Of Joy
You're Still My Baby
Hawg For You
Love Have Mercy

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

Customer Reviews:

Otis Smokes!.......2006-07-15

Otis Redding is smokin' hot with his wonderful retinue of songs! If you are looking for burning soul with horns,flourishes and classy crooning then this is the one for you!
My favorite, Try A Little Tenderness squeezes out every possible high note there is, Sad Song is a great gut bustin' fa fa fa fa fa fabulous venue for the master of soul. Buy it and you won't regret one single instant.

that ain't no hogwash........2005-02-20

i don't want to spoil anyone's listening experience but if you've never heard the first song on this album before then turn your stereo up really loud before you do 'cause the first words out of his mouth are so funny you will laugh.

Singing " Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa"........2004-09-10

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.

A Soul Classic.......2003-12-24

This was my 2nd Otis CD, after "Otis Blue", and it is a great companion to that great record. I love the Memphis horn sound; much of the greatness of these recordings is the backing of Booker T and MGs. I really find these CDs to be fun, just fun to listen to, tap your feet to, sing along with. Otis has loads of personality and a distinctive voice. Good stuff.

The Definition of Soul.......2000-05-09

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.

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