Live albums have never been among my favorites – with very few exceptions. Certain performers – like, say Nina Simone – have always been captured best in a live setting because of the fluidity of their work, their ability to create ‘on the spot’ and the element of spontaneity that is integral to their art. But that’s rare. Most ‘live’ recordings tend to be heavily rehearsed and worse, subject to studio overdubs if the artist in question doesn’t feel that their performance was up to par.

The late Otis Redding, thankfully, didn’t have to worry too much about such post-production work. In concert, he was dynamo, one of the most energetic soul men of his generation. Evidence abounds on video footage which has been made available through the “Dreams To Remember” DVD on Stax/Concord. Most memorable among the live material that was caught on tape during Redding’s woefully short career (essentially 1962-67) was the performances he gave during the unforgettable Stax/Volt tour of Europe in the spring of 1967, just months before his tragic passing in a fatal plane crash in December of that year.

The Big O was spectacular when he appeared in London and Paris; thankfully the folks at Stax and Atlantic (who distributed the label at the time) had the good sense to record the proceedings at the Finsbury Park Astoria on March 17 and four days later, at the famed Olympia Theatre in Paris. Backed by the entire Stax rhythm section (Booker T. on keyboards,
Steve Cropper on guitar; Duck Dunn on bass and Al Jackson on drums) plus the Mar-Keys (Wayne Jackson, Andrew Love and Joe Arnold), Redding was in his element, strutting his stuff on tunes like “Respect” (only just starting to get a new lease of life via the-then future ‘Queen Of Soul’ Aretha Franklin in ’67), Sam Cooke’s “Shake” and The Temptations’ “My Girl,” surprisingly first British charted hit single. Brits like me loved Otis’ take on homegrown tunes like the Beatles’ “Day Tripper” and a frantic treatment of the Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” both given Redding makeovers.

In Paris on March 21, Redding got the same kind of ‘respect’ from French R&B lovers, then a small but growing constituency. The Olympia audience was treated to some extra stuff from Otis: without the curfew restrictions imposed in London, Redding was able to lay down some unforgettable versions of “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” and “These Arms Of Mine,” true classic soul ballads of the first order.

Needless to say in both cities, it was the Redding-ization of the old pop tune, “Try A Little Tenderness” that proved to be the showstopper and climax of amazing sets from a man who in many ways was a living, walking and breathing definition of soul music. I should know: while I wasn’t at the Finsbury Park show, I did make it to the Fairfield Halls concert in Croydon a few weeks later as Otis transported me and my fellow R&B enthusiasts all the way to Memphis with his hard-hitting emotive show.

Stax/Concord have made available all nineteen performances from those magical March days on one CD for the first time. “Otis Redding Live In London & Paris” isn’t just an important historical document, it’s a very real opportunity to enjoy and appreciate the excitement and brilliance of one of our greatest contemporary music men. Truly, the king of them all, y’all.

David Nathan
A/k/a the British Ambassador Of Soul
Secretary, The Rhythm & Blues Foundation (www.rhythmblues.org)
Owner,
www.soulmusic.com,
www.soulmusicstore.com,
www.soulmusicglobal.com