….This previous week or so there have been fairly a couple of dates of significance for soul music lovers the world over. December 10 marked the 52nd anniversary of the tragic airplane crash that noticed the passing of the legendary OTIS REDDING, unquestionably one of many style’s true pioneers. Otis was very a lot part of my journey as a youngster in London first being launched to what was then referred to as R&B. Along with his achingly emotive type, the Georgia-born singer/songwriter had began to have an effect within the U.S. with early hits like “These Arms Of Mine,” “Ache In My Coronary heart” and “I’ve Been Loving You Too Lengthy,” (his first ‘crossover’ single in 1965 adopted shortly thereafter by his unique of “Respect”); my very own private recollections centre a lot round his model of The Temptations’ “My Lady.” The Motown group had a large U.S. hit with the Smokey Robinson-penned observe however within the U.Okay., it fizzled on the charts after per week prompting Atlantic Information to launch Otis’ extra acoustic cowl as a single. It turned one of the common information in Britain in December 1965: on the time, I used to be working to earn Saturday pocket cash at a small document store in N.W. London referred to as Musicland (which specialised within the import of latest singles from Jamaica, catering to the younger immigrant inhabitants – identified a long time later as a part of the ‘Windrush’ era – who had come to Britain the ‘50s and early ‘60s) and would usually suggest it our common clients keen to listen to the most recent U.S. R&B releases.
Otis’ albums for Volt Information had been filled with soulful treasures: “Otis Blue” (from whence “My Lady” had come) included his surging, horn-driven model of “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” which to many people Brit R&B purists sounded prefer it had been written ‘for’ Otis Mick Jagger & Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones) and 1966’s “The Soul Album,” which contained “Simply One Extra Day,” “Good To Me” and one in all my very own private favourites, “Cigarettes And Espresso” (co-written by fellow soul man Jerry Butler, who had additionally co-penned “I’ve Been Loving You Too Lengthy”.) Most memorable was the important thing lower from Otis’ fifth album (“Full & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul”), his rendition of the ‘30s track “Attempt A Little Tenderness” (coated by one, Aretha Franklin in 1962, 5 years earlier than her breakthrough together with her unforgettable model of Redding’s “Respect”) and it went on to turn out to be the ultimate track within the set throughout Otis’ efficiency because the headliner of the famed Stax/Volt Revue’s spring 1967 European tour.
Nonetheless etched on my reminiscence banks is seeing Otis on the Fairfield Halls in Croydon (simply outdoors London) closing the present (which additionally included Sam & Dave, Eddie Floyd, Booker T & The MGs and The Mar-Keys and particular visitor Arthur Conley) together with his well-known ‘gotta-gotta-gotta’ chorus on ‘Attempt A Little Tenderness,” the gang unwilling to let him depart the stage!
That might be the primary and solely time I’d see Otis Redding stay. Earlier than the yr’s finish, age 26, he was gone. The “Day by day Mirror” newspaper in Britain reported it on December 11, with Otis “voted the world’s prime male singer this yr” feared lifeless within the airplane crash over Lake Monona, Madison, Wisconsin. Like so many different soul music followers in every single place, I used to be shocked. Within the aftermath, “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” would turn out to be Otis’ largest international anthem; posthumous albums equivalent to “The Immortal Otis Redding” offered reminders of his singular and distinctive artistry. For me, “I’ve Bought Desires To Bear in mind” and “I Love You Extra Than Phrases Can Say” stay my private Redding favourites and whereas it might be over fifty years since he left, Otis Redding’s musical legacy is timeless… Look out for information on a latest podcast I did for ‘My Traditional Soul’ on Mr. Redding and his music..
…On the planet of timelessness…the enduring DIONNE WARWICK celebrated her 79th birthday on December 12. Those that know just a bit bit about my very own journey as a fan, then music journalist, then creator, then reissue producer and liner notes author will know what number of occasions I’ve talked about that it was Dionne’s music that sparked a chord inside me again in 1964 which led to actually the life I’ve lived since! “Stroll On By” stays my No. 1 recording of all time. As a faithful member of her British fan membership in 1965, I learn each article or interview on the New Jersey native I might discover and it was inside one such piece that she talked about one, Nina Simone as one in all her personal favourites of the day. Dionne ‘led’ me to Nina (for whom I began the primary British fan membership in ’65) and Nina – in our first well-known change at London’s Heathrow airport once I went to fulfill her, then-husband-manager Andy and four-year-old daughter Lisa – requested me if I’d heard of Aretha Franklin (for whom she was filled with reward, ‘accusing’ Britain’s Dusty Springfield of attempting to repeat mentioned Miss Franklin’s type!).
I’ve most likely written tons of of hundreds (if not thousands and thousands) of phrases about Dionne and her music. I might by no means have imagined – in my wildest goals -that some fifty-five years after I used to be placing pics of Dionne on the partitions of my room in London – I’d not solely get to interview her but additionally get to know her…and nonetheless be in contact on a private foundation. I might actually write volumes about Dionne’s artistry and her distinctive place in common tradition. As a substitute, I’ll say merely, ‘thanks’ for the years of pleasure listening to and loving numerous recordings and seeing memorable performances in Thailand, Argentina, Italy, all through the usand the U.Okay. (with Dionne’s farewell British tour booked for the autumn of 2020). In the meantime, take a look at my Spotify playlist for only a few of the treasured Warwick gems that also carry me a lot pleasure…together with a really stunning duet between Dionne & The Spinners, “Simply As Lengthy As We Have Love” (the B-side of “Then Got here You”) that I’ve ‘rediscovered’…
….On the tour entrance, U.Okay. soul music followers will probably be delighted to be taught that tickets at the moment are on sale for the ‘Soul Explosion’ present at The Barbican in London on Sunday, April 12, 2020 with SoulMusic Corridor of Fame inductees BRENDA RUSSELL, REGINA BELLE and ANGELA WINBUSH. It’s a one-of-a-kind alternative to see three of probably the most superb feminine performances of our time on one invoice…may even immediate a few of their U.S. followers to ‘get right here’!
…On the horizon, some superb SoulMusic Information reissues together with field units on THE METERS, DIONNE WARWICK, SISTER SLEDGE, DAVID SANBORN and extra…together with excellent digital releases by way of SMR/Platinum Storage Recordings together with music from LENNY WILLIAMS..
As all the time, keep soulful and have a beautiful vacation season…
With respect and appreciation….
David N
The British Ambassador Of Soul
Founder, www.soulmusic.com