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 an exact reproduction of King & Queen, a 1967 duet album with Carla Thomas. Everything is taken from the absolute master tapes in knockout stereo. Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fabulous! Album Description
Memphis has produced many great musicians. Sam Phillips' Sun Studio, launched in February 1952, boasted Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Roy Orbison. Beale Street started BB King's career. And then there was Stax/Volt, home to Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Johnnie Taylor and Rufus Thomas. These Stax acts, ably backed by one of the greatest studio bands of all time, otherwise known as Booker T. and the MGs, have left us unmatched rhythm and blues. (Now, I'm not going to get into the argument of which had the greatest studio band, Detroit's Motown, Atlantic's Muscle Shoals, or Stax: I'm just not competent to do so, unfortunately. I'm just going to say that with Booker T and the MGs behind him, Otis Redding has to be on the short list for greatest rhythm and blues singer, greatest Southern soul singer, however you prefer to characterize his music.) "Sitting on The Dock of the Bay," "Knock on Wood," "Try a Little Tenderness," "I'm Coming Home:" the man had range. What he didn't have, on his own, was humor: that's where Carla Thomas, daughter of Rufus, came in. "Tramp" is an exuberant corn-pone-flavored duet: once heard, it lingers in the mind, or at least in mine. It's funny. The rest of this record, first released in 1967, lingers well, too: the covers of several rock and roll masterpieces like "Tell It Like It Is," "It Takes Two,"and "Bring It On Home to Me," are crisp, light-handed, and sure-footed.
People say that the late, great Marvin Gaye never sang better than when he was paired with Tammi Terrell; that's a matter of personal taste, and I wouldn't say the same about Otis Redding and Carla Tucker. I would say they sang superbly together: if you love 1960's Southern soul, you want to get this rare record before it goes out of print.
November 7, 2006I had to write this because I couldn't believe that none of the people that already reviewed it mentioned "Are You Lonely For Me, Baby?" Definately the best song on the album and one of the best Otis ever recorded. The rest kick ass too.
August 5, 2005How can anybody from Georgia - even the South - not think that Carla Thomas & Otis Redding are sui generis. The song "Tramp" with their clever exchange of lyrics, and gold digger/dirt farmer jokes is a hoot. "Otis," says Carla, "you ain't nuthin' but country." Otis replies, "That's right, baby. Yes I is." She complains, "You can't buy me diamonds or minks." And he comes back, "Why, woman, I can buy you anything you want - rat, squirrell, frog, anything!" The romantic songs are as good as it gets, as well.
July 30, 2005Otis Redding & Carla Thomas recorded one album together, but it is an R&B gem. Motown started the duet album trend by pairing Marvin Gaye with Mary Wells, Kim Weston & most famously Tammi Terrell, so this was Stax/Volt's rebuttal. The album is made up of mostly covers, but Mr. Redding & Ms. Thomas attack the songs with a ferocity and verve that makes them sound all there own. Mr. Redding's smooth voice easily mingles with the sass of Ms. Thomas' and this is no better illustrated than on "Tramp" which is pure Southern Soul. They do a tender take on Sam & Dave's "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" and Aaron Neville's "Tell It Like It Is" while ripping it up on Eddie Floyd's "Knock On Wood" & "Lovey Dovey". It is interesting to hear them do the Gaye/Weston song "It Takes Two" as there is always was a rivalry between Motown & Stax/Volt. King & Queen was a boastful title and the two more than live up to the claim.
December 5, 2000A fairly swell collection of duets between Otis and Carla. They fit together like, well, King and Queen. If you like the Stax/Memphis sound and Otis Redding and/or Carla Thomas, you can't go wrong on this one. Their version of Eddie Floyd's "Knock on Wood" is an absolute classic. Great Album. Buy it before it goes out of print!
November 2, 2000More reviews at Amazon.com ...
(7 reviews)
