Otis Redding

Live! in London and Paris (Stax)

Otis Redding didn’t do anything nice ‘n’ easy. Live, the Georgian was double-time or bust, dropping blasts of soul power out front of his dynamic backing band, Booker T. & the MGs. This lot, two full-length concerts on one CD, originally from 1967’s Live in Europe and Ace Records’ 100 Volts series, finds the too-early departed powerhouse at the peak of his prowess. No song is safe. The Stones’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” powers behind the young Mar-Keys’ horn wails, while the Beatles’ “Day Tripper” gets tossed around like a rag doll. Even Redding’s signature ballad, “These Arms of Mine,” induces a little more James Brown than its studio cut. Aside from three additional originals included on the Parisian B-side, both sets run identical. Fortunately, there’s plenty of heat in the double takes to “Shake” any unwanted redundancy.

***.5

This article appears in December 19 • 2008.

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