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sTAR IIIII H REe Satisfaction guaranteed GLENN Ui w Et u Glenn Hughes recalls his fascination

From page 44 of Classic Rock Magazine July 2008

Cover of July 2008 issue.

with an R&B legend: The Voice Of Rock on The Voice Of Soul.

OTIS REDDING

Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul Collector's Edition

Rhino

Everyone knows that I grew up listening to soul music; name me any kid from the Midlands in the mid-60s who didn't. I was a mod and used to hang out at coffee bars and discotheques before they were called discos.

Although I was still at school, it was around this point and time that I became a musician, and I was fascinated by one singer: Otis Redding. The way he lived within his songs unearthed something in me. When listening to this masterpiece all the good and pure things of my youth come flooding back. It's the way Otis sings and the way he punctuates inbetween lines.

Believe me, all great artists have heroes. Otis Blue, along with Stevie Wonder's Music Of My Mind and Innervisions, Marvin Gaye's What's Going On and Curtis Mayfield's Superfly were my official handbooks. It was a very sad day on December 10, 1967 when the world lost an amazing man and soul singer.

lam fixated with American soul music. It is what it is. So let's have a look at Otis Blue... Collector's Edition track by track.

Old Man Trouble sets the scene and lays down the perfect foundation. This is the real deal. I hear a lot of Black Crowes here.

Respect brings it all back to me, playing in cover bands. It must be one of the most covered soul songs ever.

Change Is Gonna Come: a young man with maybe a prophecy to behold. Who knew what was going to happen in Memphis a few years later?

Down In The Valley was also recorded by Lee Dorsey. They're both brilliant.

I've Been Loving You Too Long. For me there is no soul ballad that is more recognisable from this period. This is a great testament of a young man who is on his knees pleading.

Shake. A massive club track. A very, very simple song that still sounds great today.

My Girl. If you haven't fallen in love with Otis by no this should do it for you. This is why I became a singer in the first place.

Wonderful World's horns speak to me. There is no other horn section in the world like this: simple, sexy and southern.

Rock Me Baby. Yes! The greatest version of this song ever recorded. Upon listening to it again today I realise what an amazing tone Otis had.

Satisfaction. Damn! This track is super-funky. Has anybody ever recorded a Stones song this well? I doubt it.

You Don't Miss Your Water. The album closer is the weakest track. But I ain't complaining.

It is great to have the additional bonus material on this album; it is lovely to hear I Am Depending On You, a forgotten gem. The Live At The Whisky a Go Go section is recorded well. A standout track from that would be Satisfaction. This version just does it for me. The Live In Europe portion is not as well recorded but it has a great audience vibe. The standout track here for me would be Shake.

Anyone who is a fan of rock should go out and get this album.

Glenn Hughes

• Glenn Hughes's soul-Mfused First Underground Nuclear Kitchen album (reviewed on page 72) is released on May 11 on Frontiers Records.