OTIS REDDING SINGS SOUL BALLADS–V. RARE 1965 MONO LP

	£		31
	$		41

The Great OTIS REDDING Sings Soul Ballads – VERY RARE 1ST PRESS 1965 MONO LP

Extremely rare early Otis Redding Mono LP

Atlantic Label

Front Cover also states VOLT RECORDS

MADE IN ENGLAND BY THE DECCA RECORD CO. LTD

UNDER LICENSE FROM ATLANTIC RECORDING  CORP.

1965

ATL 5029

“The connoisseur of records will find in these sides by Otis Redding many instances of how rich and varied American music has become.  Perhaps the most significant aspect of Redding’s quality, however, is his dramatic way of fusing into one the elements of blues, gospel and pop music.  This makes a wonderful tapestry indeed, for the resultant performance contains the excitement of the so-called “church sound”.

Also implicit in the Redding technique is the soulful blues quality.  Couple these elements with what are basically fine songs – that is, fine secular songs – and the finished product is a compelling one indeed.

The material on Side One amply illustrates these points.  The opener quickly establishes the gospel flavour and this is maintained throughout most of the album.  Aficionados will delight in the singing quality of the horns and the evidences of early blues and jazz techniques.  An example of the latter is on band three, Side One, titled Woman, Lover, a Friend, wherein the horns answer the vocal phrases.

Bands five and six on Side One carry through the satisfying gospel chord progressions in Nothing Can Change This Love and It’s Too Late.

There are other noteworthy elements.  Some subtle changes of pace and beat, for instance, are achieved in a number of arrangements wherin the rhythm section makes use of what used to be called a “rhumba blues” feeling.  This will be noted in band four on Side One, titled Your One And Only Man.  A similar quality pervades certain performances on Side Two, including Home In Your Heart, the fourth band, and Mr. Pitiful, the final band.

In general, the production values of this album are marked by an almost classic purity.  Note, in this connection, the lyrical piano style in the arrangement of the opening band on Side Two, For Your Precious Love.  Like the horns in other numbers, it fairly sings.

An examination of the song credits indicates an interesting fact: Redding is the writer of a good many of the songs contained in this package.  Others are by the late Sam Cooke and various talents, who, like Otis, understood the technique of fusing the elements of blues, church and pop music.

It is, of course, no secret to Redding’s fans that he already has had a considerable career as a hit-maker.  For the benefit of those who are not too familiar with his artistry, we may point out that such sides as That’s How Strong My Love Is, Chained And Bound and Come To Me were all spotlighted in the trade papers and came through as smash single hits.  Earlier hits were These Arms Of Mine and Pain In My Heart.

Our artist was born in Dawson, GA., in 1941.  He moved to Macon while still a boy.  One of his early inspirations was Little Richard.

After winning a number of amateur programmes, Otis became a member of the band of Johnny Jenkins and The Pinetoppers.  While with Jenkins’ group, he recorded These Arms Of Mine – which became a hit and set his sights on a recording career.

Redding, in addition to singing and writing, plays guitar, bass, drums, piano and organ.  This knowledge of instruments stands him in good stead when the musical backgrounds are being worked out for his vocals.”

PAUL ACKERMAN

Billboard

A VOLT RECORDING

ATLANTIC

The Track List is as follows

SIDE ONE

                                                                                                      1.    THAT’S HOW STRONG MY LOVE IS

                                                                                                      (By Jamison;

                                                                                                      2.    CHAINED AND BOUND

                                                                                                      (By Redding;

                                                                                                      3.    WOMAN, LOVER, A FRIEND

                                                                                                      (By Wyche;

                                                                                                      4.    YOUR ONE AND ONLY MAN

                                                                                                      (By Redding;

                                                                                                      5.    NOTHING CAN CHANGE THIS LOVE

                                                                                                      (By Cooke;

                                                                                                      6.    IT’S TOO LATE

                                                                                                      (By Willis;

SIDE TWO

                                                                                                     1.    FOR YOUR PRECIOUS LOVE

                                                                                                     (By Brooke & Butler;

                                                                                                     2.    I WANT TO THANK YOU

                                                                                                     (By Redding;

                                                                                                     3.    COME TO ME

                                                                                                     (By Walden & Redding;

                                                                                                     4.    HOME IN YOUR HEART

                                                                                                     (By Scott & Blackwell;

                                                                                                     5.    KEEP YOUR ARMS AROUND ME

                                                                                                     (By McClinton;

                                                                                                     6.    MR. PITIFUL

                                                                                                     (By Cropper & Redding;

The LP is in Very Good Condition with just a few slight surface marks

It plays very well

The Sleeve is in very good condition

It has been kept in a plastic cover since it was originally purchased

There is a label stuck on the back of the cover “THE DISC SHOP” and 32/2 W pencilled on top left hand side

The inner sleeve for the LP is the original

This album has been treasured and it shows

It belonged to my late husband (Gus Yeadon of Elastic Band/Love Affair/Zzebra fame) and I can see the influence it had on him and his playing.  Having gigged with him for many years, we included some of Otis Redding’s material in our repertoire, including, of course, Mr. Pitiful.

As I am going through his collection I am finding gems - so there are certainly more to come!!

EVERY RECORD IS PLAYED AND FULLY CHECKED BEFORE LISTING