Otis Redding - The Definitive Collection - The Dock Of The Bay (1992)

Otis Redding was one of the most powerful and influential artists to
emerge from the Southern Soul music community in the '60s. A bold,
physically imposing performer whose rough but expressive voice was
equally capable of communicating joy, confidence, or heartache,
Redding brought a passion and gravity to his vocals that was matched
by few of his peers.

He was also a gifted songwriter with a keen understanding of the
creative possibilities of the recording process. Redding was born in
1941, and he hit the road in 1958 to sing with an R&B combo, Johnny
Jenkins & the Pinetoppers. In 1962, Redding traveled to Memphis,
Tennessee with Jenkins when the latter scheduled a recording session
for Stax Records. When Jenkins wrapped up early, Redding cut a song
of his own, "These Arms of Mine," in 40 minutes; Stax released it as
a single in May 1963, and the song became a major R&B hit and a
modest success on the Pop charts.

Over the next four years, Redding would cut a handful of soul
classics: "Mr. Pitiful," "That's How Strong My Love Is," "I've Been
Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)," "Respect," "Tramp" (a duet with
Carla Thomas), and "Shake." In 1967, Redding seemed poised for a
major breakthrough with a legendary set at the 1967 Monterey Pop
Festival that solidified his status with hip rock & roll fans.

Sadly, Redding would not live to see his greatest triumph: his most
ambitious single, "(Sittin' on The) Dock of the Bay," was released
little over a month after his death in a place crash, becoming his
first number one Pop hit and his signature tune. Redding would
become a bigger star in death than in life, and his recordings would
be regularly re-released and repackaged in the years to come, as his
legend and his influence lived on into the 21st century.