Wednesday 12 July 2017

Live In Europe – OTIS REDDING****

Respect/Can’t Turn You Loose/I’ve Been Loving You Too Long/My Girl/Shake/Satisfaction/Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa(Sad Song)/These Arms Of Mine/Day Tripper/Try A Little Tenderness

Soul legend Otis Redding enjoyed far greater commercial success in Europe during his lifetime than he did in his homeland. It is therefore fitting that this live album was recorded during his European concert tour. (US:32 UK:14)

"You aren't going to hear anything new here. What you will hear is an energy level that exceeds the level on his studio recordings, and that's an impressive feat. Sound wise, this may not be the best recording but it's not that bad. One of the few live recordings were you can actually 'feel' the excitement of being at the concert."

"Redding and the band interact with the crowd well, that comes through in the recordings. They're feeding off of each other. The crowd is definitely having a good time, and my guess is it would have been fun to see Otis in concert, but this record is a pale substitute for that."

"At his peak, Otis was considered by many in America to be The King of Soul, and while he had notable chart success and a string of famous performances (1967's Monterey Pop Festival, for example) in his home country, it was Europe where Otis was truly adored. Live In Europe captures the fan-frenzied atmosphere that in turn lifts Otis to the top of his craft."

"Otis Redding’s Live In Europe is one of my favourite live albums. There’s an energy here that is phenomenal. Otis is full of energy. The band is full of energy. And the audience is full of energy. And the interaction between Otis and the audience is wonderful."

"These songs are from a Stax records tour of Europe. Behind Otis are Booker T and The MG's backed by The Memphis Horns. The last cut, Try A Little Tenderness is worth the cost of the album. If this live version doesn't have you clapping and stomping your feet along with the audience, you're dead. This is the very best of Memphis soul music."

"As great as Otis was in the studio, he was even better when he toured with Booker T & The MG's. With a crowd radiating joy, Otis led everyone to another level."

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