Otis Redding - Live in Europe

Otis Redding's studio recordings remain some of soul's greatest moments, yet it was primarily his live performances that made Redding's reputation so stunning in the years prior to his death. In fact, at the time of his death, Redding had recently stolen the show at 1967's legendary Monterey Pop Festival. This live document was released only a month after that California performance in July of '67--and it's an even better set than the one that made him famous here in the States. In fact, it's a tossup between this and In Person at the Whisky a Go Go (released posthumously), in regards to capturing the soul great onstage in all his glory. But as much as the California hippies seemed to love Redding at the Whisky and at Monterey Pop, the Europeans simply adored him. That may be what gives this performance the slight edge as Redding runs through a standard set, spotlighting both some of his biggest hits as well as covers of tunes made famous by the Beatles, the Stones, the Temptations, the Isley Brothers, and Sam Cooke. Critic Sid Griffin suggested that this "is simply one of the few albums to give James Brown's breathtaking Live at the Apollo a run for its money"--and, really, you can't do any better than that. --Bill Holdship Amazon.com essential recording

Something's missing!

This is a great album. I have the original which I purchased in the 60's. As someone else pointed out the best cut on the album is "Try a Little Tenderness" BUT THE VERSION IN AMAZON'S SAMPLE IS NOT THE VERSION THAT WAS ON THE ORIGINAL RELEASE! This is important because that version is musical dynamite and because it had Sam & Dave coming on stage to join Otis in closing the song, bringing the house down (you can hear an already near-hysterical crowd go crazy when they come out to join him). Find that version in other re-releases: it is out there and it is electrifying. November 17, 2008

Mr. Peabody needs his own track

The only flaw on this album is the intro where the MC has the crowd spell out O-T-I-S R-E-D-D-I-N-G at its beginning. I wish the record makers put this on its own track because I definitely skip it every time I play the album. I'm nitpicking here, but the woman who yelled "Good to Me" 10,000 times - when OR asked for requests (or didn't) - should've been either sedated or moved away from the mike, too.

Long live Otis! November 13, 2008

Why he was the best

Otis Redding was completing a highly successful Europian tour. This album is the finale. Otis was the number one recording artist in England at the conclusion of this tour. He had replaced the the Beatles!! This is the best R&B album ever recorded. June 13, 2008

Still Miss Him!

Even 40 years later, you still wonder what Otis Redding might have accomplished if that plane hadn't messed up! Otis was the Muddy Waters of soul music - the absolute king who took everything he wanted and made it better. If you ever get the chance, tour the Stax Museum in Memphis, stand in that studio, listen to the recording session, and imagine you've found the secret to time travel. When I was there, several of us old guys had tears in our eyes imagining we had found our grail.

As great as Otis was in that studio, he was even better when he toured with Booker T & the MGs. With a crowd radiating joy, Otis led everyone to another level. On this CD, he doesn't just recreate some of the finest songs ever recorded, he makes them defining moments. I don't duplicate too many live and studio recordings of the same song on my iPod (there is a limit to how many songs you can put on that thing!), but all of these are on their with their studio partners. June 4, 2008

Force of Nature

Was there anything like listening to Otis in person? No matter how many times I hear these familiar cuts, its goosebumps. One of the better live recordings (some say the best of Otis') the audience is in his pocket. I wore out Otis and Jimi Hendrix at Monterey, this is a perfect replacement. April 6, 2008

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