#132 Otis Blue by Otis Redding

The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time

2025 Album Rank

132

2011 Album Rank

89

Total Points

465

Year Released

1965

Billboard 200 Chart Peak

75

Weeks at #1

N/A

RIAA Sales Certification

N/A (Fewer than 500,000 copies sold)

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Otis Blue Album Details

Released in September 1965, Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul is often considered Otis Redding's first fully realized masterpiece and a cornerstone of 1960s soul. Recorded in just 24 hours at Stax Studios in Memphis, the album features a mix of original material and covers of soul classics, unified by Redding's intense, aching vocals and the tight, punchy arrangements of Booker T. & the M.G.'s and the Memphis Horns. It perfectly captures Redding's ability to transform any song into his own, whether interpreting the Rolling Stones or Sam Cooke.

The album showcases Redding's extraordinary range, from the aching sorrow of I've Been Loving You Too Long to the raw, stomping energy of Respect. His covers of Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come and Shake serve as heartfelt tributes to his fallen friend. Otis Blue helped solidify Redding's reputation as one of the greatest soul singers of his generation, paving the way for his later triumphs, including Dock of the Bay.

Interesting Facts About Otis Blue

• Recorded over the course of a single weekend, Otis Blue features only three Redding originals: Respect, I've Been Loving You Too Long, and Ole Man Trouble.
• The rest of the album pays tribute to Redding's heroes, including three covers of Sam Cooke songs, reflecting Cooke's profound influence on Redding's vocal style and songwriting.
• Respect became a signature song for Redding, but it was later famously reinterpreted and popularized by Aretha Franklin on her album I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You in 1967, transforming it into a feminist anthem.
• The instrumental backing was provided by the legendary Stax house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, along with the Memphis Horns, giving the album its unmistakable Southern soul groove.
• I've Been Loving You Too Long was co-written with Jerry Butler and became one of Redding's most enduring ballads, showcasing his ability to express vulnerability and strength simultaneously.
• Redding's version of The Rolling Stones' Satisfaction reimagined the song with a fierce horn arrangement and soul swagger, earning praise from Mick Jagger himself.
• The intense, driving Shake was recorded as a tribute to Sam Cooke, who had died the previous year. Redding's version is one of the most electrifying performances in his catalog.
• The album's cover features model Dagmar Dreger, adding a subtle sense of glamour to contrast with the rawness of the music inside.
• Though Otis Blue was a significant success on the R&B charts, its influence grew even more in the decades that followed, eventually being recognized as one of the essential soul albums of all time.
• The legacy of Otis Blue can be heard in the works of later soul and rock artists, influencing everyone from Al Green to the Rolling Stones to Bruce Springsteen.

Otis Blue Tracklist

1. Ole Man Trouble
2. Respect - Reached #35 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
3. A Change is Gonna Come
4. Down in the Valley
5. I've Been Loving You Too Long - Reached #21 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
6. Shake
7. My Girl
8. Wonderful World
9. Rock Me Baby
10. Satisfaction - Reached #31 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
11. You Don't Miss Your Water