5 Songs To Summarize The Album “The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul”

5 Songs To Summarize The Album “The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul” | I Love Classic Rock Videos

Album cover for Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul - Otis Redding / Youtube

Soul icon Otis Redding’s fifth and final solo album was the culmination of his creative zenith and is undeniably one of the greatest references in soul music. Titled The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul, the catalog was polished from start to finish, and it was clear that while Redding let loose in his natural habitats, the tight sound and coordination from his backing band made sure to boost the sonic quality of each song.

“Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)”

Album opener “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)” starts the record strong with its dominant Southern soul sound. Redding just goes ham with his evocative vocal work, and with the rich horns giving him a sonic backdrop, the song takes off to stratospheric emotions.

“Day Tripper”

Redding’s attempt to convert the Beatles’ pop hit into a soulful rendition was a hugely successful one in “Day Tripper”. George Harrison’s riff is taken over by a horn section that blows it out the water.

“Try A Little Tenderness”

Redding’s indelible mark on the album is definitely “Try A Little Tenderness” with its bottled lightning quality. The singer-songwriter doesn’t leave room for any mistakes with his impeccable delivery and performance, which builds the weight of the track.

“Tennessee Waltz”

Otis Redding goes out of his comfort zone well beyond the reaches of standard rhythm and blues with “Tennessee Waltz”, injecting his own fire into the track and took it to another level.

“My Lover’s Prayer”

“My Lover’s Prayer” latches onto the deepest desires of romance as Redding’s voice burns through layers of insecurity and doubt with the authenticity that frankly, only he could ever pull off.