The Immortal Otis Redding

Released posthumously after Redding's untimely death in a plane accident in December of 1967, Immortal followed on the heels of singer's huge crossover success "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay." This album captures Redding's pure soul, from the trademark scats of "dum-dum de-de-de-dum-dum" on "The Happy Song" to the bittersweet ballad "I've Got Dreams To Remember." The rest of the album hints at a hybrid version of soul and folk that Redding had been experimenting with before he died (especially "Thousand Miles Away," "Think About It," and "Champagne and Wine"). However, if you're searching for the deep soul side of Redding, that's here, too: Check out "Hard To Handle" and "A Fool For You." Displaying all the grit, power, and grease of one of the great soul singers ever, Immortal fully lives up to its title.