Latest
Reviews
Otis Redding On DVD
Sunday, December 30, 2007
The legacy of the great Otis Redding is explored on a new DVD. By Brian Wise
DREAMS TO REMEMBER: THE LEGACY OF OTIS REDDING
REELIN’ IN THE YEARS
It is astonishing to think that Otis Redding was a mere 26-years-old when he died in December 1967, not long after his epic groundbreaking performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. If you ever get the chance to visit the Stax Museum in Memphis you will find that his presence pervades the place despite the relative brevity of his career. This year I also got to visit Monterey and sat in the same arena where he performed on the bill with Jimi Hendrix and others. It was an eerie experience.
Who knows what Redding might have done had he lived longer but what he left helped to define soul music. He may not have been technically the best soul singer but what he might have lacked in technique he made up for with feel (something you cannot learn), energy, enthusiasm and charisma. The complete package set him apart like no male singer since Sam Cooke.
This documentary features 16 complete Redding performances filmed in America and Europe. The live shows were incredibly good – the footage from Monterey is spellbinding. Interestingly, we get many of the full versions of these performances where most films of this type cut away half way through the songs. Interspersed between the songs are 40 minutes of interviews including Otis’ wife Zelma (who seems to have studiously preserved his memory without ever exploiting it), Steve Cropper from Booker T. and The Mgs who also wrote for and with Otis, Jim Stewart (founder of Stax Records) and Wayne Jackson (one half of the Memphis Horns).
The DVD contains a jukebox where you can program the performances yourself, bonus interviews with Steve Cropper and Wayne Jackson and an image gallery including a radio interview with Redding.
Running time: 91 mins.
Back to Reviews