[JoshK]

I recently watched the movie Definitely Maybe. In the movie there is the song, Cigarettes and Coffee by Otis Redding.  The song is real bluesy.  I loved it!

So where does one begin if they are completely unacquainted with Otis Redding?  I don't know if that one song is representative of his style.  I really dig the blues but don't usually like R&B or jazz so much.  I may learn to like more of that if his music moves me in that direction, but I'd like to step into from the style of the song mentioned above.

Thoughts and direction appreciated.

[Goosepond]

Hi Josh,

I'm not even familiar with that song or any of his blues stuff.

However when I was a teenager in the 60's, I loved his hits like:

Mr. Pitiful
These Arms of Mine
Pain in my Heart
I've Been Loving You Too Long

And of course Dock of the Bay which I believe was released after he was killed in a plane Crash.

Gene

[ZLS]

    Otis Redding was a "Soul" Singer who sometimes edged into R&B.  He was not a Blues Singer, though he was and is an undeniably great singer. 
    There are many best of's; I would probably suggest The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads. 

    You may want to check out Johnny Adams.  He was a New Orleans singer who leaned more toward the Blues.  Two Albums to check would be;

Johnny Adams Sings Doc Pomus-The Real Me
Johnny Adams; One Foot In The Blues

   

[IronLion]

I got a great 4 CD box set from Amazon more or less this time of year last year when they were doing their 50% off box sets promotion.  It includes a live CD and is a very good box set, maybe Amazon will do that sale again this year with the economy so bad... 

[Len_Dreyer]

Hi Josh,

Allmusic.com is a great resource. Per their database, this is the album that Cigarettes and Coffee first appeared on. His early stuff was recorded with Stax/Volt in Memphis.



Happy hunting. He's great.

[JoshK]

Cigarettes and Coffee

It might be soul, but it still sounds quite bluesy (vocals at least). 

[JoshK]

So I was listening to a bunch of his tunes on youtube.  Guess I knew a lot of more of his songs than I thought I did.  Even some that I hadn't heard his (original) version, like Satisfaction, Hard to Handle, etc, etc.

So I determined I like what I think are his soul songs and don't care all that much for the more R&B ones (no surprise). 

[low.pfile]

So I was listening to a bunch of his tunes on youtube.  Guess I knew a lot of more of his songs than I thought I did.  Even some that I hadn't heard his (original) version, like Satisfaction, Hard to Handle, etc, etc.

So I determined I like what I think are his soul songs and don't care all that much for the more R&B ones (no surprise). 

The thing is the albums are mixed....hard to get an album of one style. I am listening to "The Otis Redding Dictionary Of Soul: Complete & Unbelievable"  The track "Hawg for You" seems to be what you would like. Soul. Good Album.

[soundbitten1]

Check out some of his live albums . He was great on stage .

[griller]

I'll second Cigs and Coffee, a great album!

[Hicks]

Check out some of his live albums . He was great on stage .

Agreed, his live albums are my favorites.