Question about Otis Redding

I'm just getting into Otis Redding and soul and R&B and more into Steve Cropper's stuff (I have his With a Little Help From My Friends album but to ME it is a little meh), namely his work with the Booker T and the Mg's and I'm wondering, are there any specific albums that Otis put out with just Steve Cropper on guitar or is it all mixed and matched?

Do you guys know the other guitarist(s) that played with him and the albums that they possibly only played on?

Oh and do you guys have any other recommendations for this kind genre (I'm already sort of familiar with Redding, Booker T and the MG's, the Royale 5's, Cornell Dupree, John Lee Hooker, James Brown, Ray Charles)?

Thanks in advance.

Johnny Jenkins played guitar on several of his early albums (cropper is also them). The live lps had other bands besides BT and MGs + horns. Check out Otis discography on wikipedia they define alot of the musicians on the different LPs (mostly BT and MGs + horns). Johnny Jenkins made atleast 4 albums which I like all of them. His first one (on Capricorn records) had Duane Allman and others from the ABB. Second had Jack Pearson on it.

see if you can locate a copy of the entire Montery Pop set...it is AWESOME! If the band is cookin' it's the MG's with Duck and Steve Cropper. As far as I know Steve and Booker were the house band and pretty much played all of Otis's songs..Steve wrote Sitting on the Dock, Otis's last song before the plane crash. Another tragedy losing Otis for sure...

This is what you want!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1rOdliQuIpw/T0aDSd8KvxI/AAAAAAAACzI/N_O-itD5Bx0/s1600/Stax_Volt_Revue_Live_in_Norway_1967_dvd_soul_Otis_ Redding_Sam_Dave_Booker_T_The_MGs_Arthur_Conley_Ed die_Floyd_The_Mar_Keys_psychedelic_rocknroll.jpg

Here's a clip from the show:

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I'd say there's a very good chance you'd like anything on Daptone Records, especially Sharon Jones. I only say that because when I thought I had heard all the Stax artists I was looking for something new and Daptone fit the bill... the artists there aren't always in the same league as Stax but they are awesome in their own different way.

And if it's funk you are looking for I could make a huge list starting with The Meters and going into groups influenced by The Meters...

Hey Dan,

There might be better, more comprehensive sets available, but this would probably be a good place to start

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KP62UM/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000KCXBXG&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=162KYPY118S8QK0AAB6Z

This set gets tons of play at mi casa


(sorry, can't really help with the other questions)

Hey Dan,

There might be better, more comprehensive sets available, but this would probably be a good place to start

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KP62UM/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000KCXBXG&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=162KYPY118S8QK0AAB6Z

This set gets tons of play at mi casa


(sorry, can't really help with the other questions)


That is a great collection.

This one rivals Otis, in my opinion. Per Stax norm, Booker T and the guys are the band, as well. A must-have:

http://www.dustygroove.com/images/products/f/floyd_eddie_knockonwo_101b.jpg

Thanks guys will check out your recommendations. So I guess all Otis Redding records are good regardless of the Steve Cropper's involvement and that I should just buy them all! :D

Keep the suggestions and info coming!

Dictionary of Soul, Blue, and Dock of the Bay are indispensable albums

Southern soul was more of a song-driven rather than album-driven genre, so nice compilations are a good place to start!

This album has all the essential Redding-tracks, and Cropper plays on most of them as far as I know.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JjpA9KRpL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/Definitive-Soul-Otis-Redding/dp/tracks/B000FO0AOC/ref=dp_tracks_all_2#disc_2

You should get a general Stax-collection as well, the one that "mal paso" recommended is REALLY good!

But don't forget that Southern soul is not all about Stax! Check out music recorded at the rival American Studios in Memphis, and The Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals as well! Reggie Young and Bobby Womack are two great session guitar players from this era, check out their playing on this classic: (Recorded at American Studios, I think)
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I can really recommend the compilations from the British reissue-label KENT. They came out with a fantastic box a few years back called "Take Me To The River: A Southern Soul Story 1961-1977", where they try to sum up the whole genre. The music on that record is fantastic, even though they maybe focused a little bit too much on the ballads. The record comes with a nice booklet with info about the artists and the records.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DRac7jzML._SL500_AA300_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/Take-Me-The-River-1961-1977/dp/B001E7ONZQ/ref=pd_bxgy_m_img_b

They have recently come out with a sequel that just focus on music from The Fame Studio. I have not heard it yet, but the track selections looks great. A lot of classics.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51pWzaOEK0L._SL500_AA300_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/The-Fame-Studios-Story-1961-73/dp/B005LOIEM6/ref=pd_bxgy_m_img_b

They have also put out a one-CD compilation with soul from American Studios:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DNIITFMbL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/Memphis-Boys-Story-American-Studios/dp/B006WAF3ZO/ref=pd_sim_m_7

Most of this music where originally put out out by Atlantic Records, so a nice Atlantic-compilation is a must! Maybe this one?
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51PvZ4l6T1L._SL500_AA280_.jpg
http://www.amazon.com/Only-In-America-Atlantic-Classics/dp/B00260PHVO/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1338456506&sr=1-3

To finish of this post, I must push for my favourite Southern soul-artist: Artetha Franklin. Everything that she recorded for Atlantic Records in the late 60's and early 70's is amazing; the songs, the arrangements, the musicians and the performances. I especially love her records "I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You", "Lady Soul", "Aretha Now" and "Spirit in the Dark". Great guitar playing on all of them! Listen to the fluid soul guitar on this one. Don't know who's playing. Is it Womack on this one as well?
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Great post 1986...I think it's Cornell Dupree on Aretha's Oh No, Not My Baby just because it sounds like him. I poked around a little and here's two more who think so.

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2011/Aug/Forgotten_Heroes_Cornell_Dupree.aspx?Page=5

http://www.discogs.com/Aretha-Franklin-Dont-Play-That-Song/release/2234297

Great post 1986...I think it's Cornell Dupree on Aretha's Oh No, Not My Baby just because it sounds like him. I poked around a little and here's two more who think so.

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2011/Aug/Forgotten_Heroes_Cornell_Dupree.aspx?Page=5

http://www.discogs.com/Aretha-Franklin-Dont-Play-That-Song/release/2234297

ya it's hard to say, considering 8 different guitar players are credited on album...
buzz feiten, cornell dupree were my first 2 guess...

love these old sessions with so many great players. I have always wanted to know what songs womack played on as well, especially with sam cooke.

love these old sessions with so many great players. I have always wanted to know what songs womack played on as well, especially with sam cooke.

I'm sure Tjarko (olewichita) would know, but he's taking a break right now (I believe). But I don't think he'd mind if you emailed him though. Nicest guy you could think of!

It's that funky-clean thing Cornell did so well. And yeah, tj's all over this. But i think he's busy playing-and that's a good thing.

I'm just getting into Otis Redding and soul and R&B and more into Steve Cropper's stuff (I have his With a Little Help From My Friends album but to ME it is a little meh), namely his work with the Booker T and the Mg's and I'm wondering, are there any specific albums that Otis put out with just Steve Cropper on guitar or is it all mixed and matched?

Do you guys know the other guitarist(s) that played with him and the albums that they possibly only played on?

Oh and do you guys have any other recommendations for this kind genre (I'm already sort of familiar with Redding, Booker T and the MG's, the Royale 5's, Cornell Dupree, John Lee Hooker, James Brown, Ray Charles)?

Thanks in advance.

http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2011/08/25/cliftons-corner-volume-two-new-funk-soul-favorites/

Aquarium Drunkard is a great site. Lots of great soul/blues/funk/rock mp3's there. Old stuff, new stuff. All free. Can't go wrong there.

Also give Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears a listen.

Southern soul was more of a song-driven rather than album-driven genre, so nice compilations are a good place to start!

This album has all the essential Redding-tracks, and Cropper plays on most of them as far as I know.

http://www.amazon.com/Definitive-Soul-Otis-Redding/dp/tracks/B000FO0AOC/ref=dp_tracks_all_2#disc_2 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000FO0AOC/ref=nosim/telecasterdis-20)

You should get a general Stax-collection as well, the one that "mal paso" recommended is REALLY good!

But don't forget that Southern soul is not all about Stax! Check out music recorded at the rival American Studios in Memphis, and The Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals as well! Reggie Young and Bobby Womack are two great session guitar players from this era, check out their playing on this classic: (Recorded at American Studios, I think)
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yft6HvfBb8U">YouTube Link</a>

I can really recommend the compilations from the British reissue-label KENT. They came out with a fantastic box a few years back called "Take Me To The River: A Southern Soul Story 1961-1977", where they try to sum up the whole genre. The music on that record is fantastic, even though they maybe focused a little bit too much on the ballads. The record comes with a nice booklet with info about the artists and the records.

http://www.amazon.com/Take-Me-The-River-1961-1977/dp/B001E7ONZQ/ref=pd_bxgy_m_img_b (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001E7ONZQ/ref=nosim/telecasterdis-20)

They have recently come out with a sequel that just focus on music from The Fame Studio. I have not heard it yet, but the track selections looks great. A lot of classics.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Fame-Studios-Story-1961-73/dp/B005LOIEM6/ref=pd_bxgy_m_img_b (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B005LOIEM6/ref=nosim/telecasterdis-20)

They have also put out a one-CD compilation with soul from American Studios:

http://www.amazon.com/Memphis-Boys-Story-American-Studios/dp/B006WAF3ZO/ref=pd_sim_m_7 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B006WAF3ZO/ref=nosim/telecasterdis-20)

Most of this music where originally put out out by Atlantic Records, so a nice Atlantic-compilation is a must! Maybe this one?

http://www.amazon.com/Only-In-America-Atlantic-Classics/dp/B00260PHVO/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1338456506&sr=1-3 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00260PHVO/ref=nosim/telecasterdis-20)

To finish of this post, I must push for my favourite Southern soul-artist: Artetha Franklin. Everything that she recorded for Atlantic Records in the late 60's and early 70's is amazing; the songs, the arrangements, the musicians and the performances. I especially love her records "I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You", "Lady Soul", "Aretha Now" and "Spirit in the Dark". Great guitar playing on all of them! Listen to the fluid soul guitar on this one. Don't know who's playing. Is it Womack on this one as well?
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPQwdWn2jyI">YouTube Link</a>

Yes THANK YOU!

I have become familiar with Bobby Womack, Pop Staples, and Curtis Mayfield recently.

While I was diving deeper into this genre I was getting pretty frustrated on the fact that the session guitarists used were inconsistent and that some of the singles that an artist did, didn't feature a guitarist at all!

But you cleared it up for me when you mentioned that soul was song driven and the compilations you've listed are exactly what I'm looking for in soul music.

I will definitely check out Artetha Franklin cause her work seems to be a honey hole!

Oh and I'm starting realize that some of Bobby Womack's work doesn't feature him on guitar. Can you guys lead me to some of the albums he did that feature his (and Reggie's) playing mostly?

Here's some early Cropper stuff, definitely the tweed Harvard on this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Memphis-Sound-Mar-Keys/dp/B000002ISP/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1338609774&sr=1-1

Blow a buck on the MP3 of Grab This Thing if you don't get the whole album. One of the great guitar solos of all time IMO.

The Bar-Kays went down on the same plane as Otis. Check out Soul Finger. http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Finger-Version-2006-Remastered/dp/B0012F6RAY/ref=dm_att_trk2

Oh and I'm starting realize that some of Bobby Womack's work doesn't feature him on guitar. Can you guys lead me to some of the albums he did that feature his (and Reggie's) playing mostly?

I like The Womack Live (thanks tj!) Released in 1970 (recorded in 1967?) it shows Bobby in fine form in a small venue. I remember he plays some good guitar-even has a little duel with his guitar player that night. And Percy Mayfield sings on one cut.

Marrying Sam Cooke's widow three months after Sam's death really hurt Bobby's career. But he survived by writing great songs for other people such as It's All Over Now for the Stones, Lookin' For A Love recorded by the J. Giles Band, I'm In Love-Wilson Pickett and Breezin', first recorded by Bobby and Hungarian guitarist Gabor Szabo before being cut by George Benson. Szabo's album High Contrast is all instrumental with him and Bobby trading licks so that one deserves consideration.

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The first time I heard "Oh No Not My Baby" was by Rod Stewart probably shortly after he went solo but I'm not sure. We're talkin' '75-'76. I like Aretha's version more but RS could pick a good song to cover.

Oh and I'm starting realize that some of Bobby Womack's work doesn't feature him on guitar. Can you guys lead me to some of the albums he did that feature his (and Reggie's) playing mostly?
Check out his two first solo albums; "Fly me to the moon" and "My Prescription". I actually don't know if it's him or Young playing on them (probably both), but great guitar parts (and songs) none the less!
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He went on doing a lot of great music in the 70's - I especially like the songs Harry Hippie and the Across 110th Street.

And yeah, Pop Staples and Curtis Mayfield are great R&B players!

EDIT: Here you can read a little about Bobby's session work at American Sound: http://redkelly.blogspot.cz/2007/12/bobby-womack-dont-look-back-liberty.html

Oh and I'm starting realize that some of Bobby Womack's work doesn't feature him on guitar. Can you guys lead me to some of the albums he did that feature his (and Reggie's) playing mostly?

Fly Me to the Moon (1968) is Bobby and Reggie at their best together.

Understanding(1972) features both Bobby himself, Reggie Young, Jimmy Johnson amnd Tippy Armstrong on guitars.

Roads Of Life (1979) features Bobby and Cecil Womack, Jimmy Johnson, Reggie Young, Howie McDonald and Larry Byrom on guitars.

Womagic (1986) features both Bobby and Reggie.

The Last Soul Man (1987) also features both of them - so does Understanding (2007).

And as already mentioned in an earlier post: I'm in Love by Wilson Picket is Bobby and Reggie in top shape.

These are all some really good stuff. Thank you guys for sharing.

What really drew me to this stuff at first was Stevie Ray Vaughan's Lenny and Rivera Paradise way back then. I guess most Hendrix things too. It's the stuff I kind of connect with the most in terms of guitar playing (except twang bang country of course :wink:) cause it's real soulful in a way and now thanks to you guys, I've found a whole genre that features this type of guitar playing!

If you enjoy Memphis Soul here's another guy you may want to check out.

http://prestonshannon.com/home-nosound.html

These are all some really good stuff. Thank you guys for sharing.

What really drew me to this stuff at first was Stevie Ray Vaughan's Lenny and Rivera Paradise way back then. I guess most Hendrix things too. It's the stuff I kind of connect with the most in terms of guitar playing (except twang bang country of course :wink:) cause it's real soulful in a way and now thanks to you guys, I've found a whole genre that features this type of guitar playing!

Danieljay, you're ahead of the game with these kind of R&B stylings imo. I started playing at 15 and it took me 15 more years to find them. Finding a part and groovin' on it-like a horn section would-adds so much to many midtempo and slow songs. You'll use this stuff over and over-cause it really is all about the song.

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Wicked Pickett is a beast! One of my favorites, thanks for posting those clips!





Slightly off topic, I picked up the 1st Meters album the other day, and it is fantastic! Chock full of killer grooves.

This is the BEST music that was ever made by man, in my opinion. And man, do I have opinions on this stuff...

Rufus Thomas was the first big Stax star. Not a traditionally great voice, but good music all the same. Funky party music.

Booker T and the MG's were, as a band, the best and tightest that ever existed. (RIP, Donald Dunn.) Their LP's are awesome, any of them. Listen to McLemore Avenue if you want something that will make you smile.

Then you have Sam and Dave, not on Stax but played with Stax musicians. Good songs, many written by Isaac Hayes. Classic singles later covered by many a rock band.

I love Eddie Floyd and Wilson picket for the rougher stuff, more raw. Mr. Pickett wasn't the singer Otis was, but he had a lot of feel and passion in his voice. Same for Mr. Floyd.

The Staples Singers were on Stax as well, an excellent gospel band and funky as hell. Wait, can gospel bands do that?

Now, Otis was the man. That dude COULD sing the proverbial phone ook and make it sound like art. I truly don't think the world has seen a singing talent like his before or since. I'd start with Dictionary of Soul or Otis Blue If I were you.

There are a lot more obscure artists in the Stax/southern soul stable: William Bell, Don Covay (good guitar player too).

Oh crap, totally forgot Percy Sledge. He was the absolute saddest man to ever sing a song ever, or at least he sounded like it. Warm and Tender Love is a great album. LOVE his stuff.

If you get a chance try and locate the documentary on the Funk Brothers. It shows up on cable every so often. Bar-Kays can still be found playing around Memphis. I went to the Spring Concert on the River last year and actually talked with them a bit while they were selling CD's. Also give Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose a listen to.

If you get a chance try and locate the documentary on the Funk Brothers. It shows up on cable every so often. Also give Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose a listen to.

Is that the documentary called Standing in the Shadows of Motown? Joan Osbourne kills on What Becomes of the Broken Hearted. I'm gonna have to buy that one. And thanks telleutellme-i haven't thought about Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose in quite some time. R&B didn't stop in the 60's thank goodness. A few more come to mind.

Ain't No Woman Like the One I got.

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I'll Be Around

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