Otis Redding: The Immortal Otis Redding
Original Release: 1968 ATCO Records
Reissue: 2020 ATCO/Vinyl Me. Please
The Immortal Otis Redding was released posthumously in 1968, the year following his untimely death. It includes 11 songs recorded over three weeks, concluding just days prior to his death in a plane crash. With the exception of "The Happy Song," the selections were never previously released. The 10 previously unreleased songs were recorded throughout the year and comprise some of the last recordings made by Otis Redding. Many view The Immortal Otis Redding to be his best album, as it showcases the warmth of his voice and tenderness in his singing.
Track listing
1. I've Got Dreams to Remember
2. You Made a Man Out of Me
3. Nobody's Fault But Mine
4. Hard to Handle
5. Thousand Miles Away
6. The Happy Song (Dum-Dum-De-De-De-Dum-Dum)
7. Think About It
8. A Waste of Time
9. Champagne and Wine
10. A Fool for You
11. Amen
Music club Vinyl Me, Please (VMP) reissued The Immortal Otis Redding as a part of their Classics Series in 2020. Cut from original tapes by Ryan Smith at Sterling Sound, the record was packaged in a tip-on sleeve with a red obi strip and pressed on 180g black audiophile vinyl at Quality Record Pressing (QRP). The album includes exclusive listening notes written by Andrew Winistorfer.
Given that many of Otis Redding's songs were not well recorded, the album released by VMP is quiet and generally quite dynamic. Clear, punchy, and present throughout, the release presents Redding's voice in a manner that exceeds most other previous versions of this record. Give credit where credit is due. Ryan K. Smith and QRP put for the another great effort on this reissue. If you're an Otis Redding fan, a fan of the genre or simply have an appreciation for great music, this release comes highly recommend. 💰
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NOTE: VMP released The Immortal Otis Redding again in 2022 with a black obi strip. That version was pressed by GZ Media and not QRP.