Love Songs (CD - 1998)

Personnel includes: Otis Redding (vocals); Steve Cropper (guitar); Booker T. Jones (piano, organ); Donald "Duck" Dunn (bass); Al Jackson Jr. (drums); Isaac Hayes, David Porter.

Producers: Steve Cropper, Jim Stewart.

Compilation producers: David Nathan, David McLees.

Digitally remastered by Bill Inglot & Dan Hersch.

Personnel: Otis Redding (vocals).

Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot.

Liner Note Author: David Nathan.

Recording information: Nj.

Sixteen of Redding's more romantically inclined performances, largely taken from minor hit singles and album tracks, although "Try a Little Tenderness," "I've Been Loving You Too Long," "That's How Strong My Love Is," and "Pain In My Heart" are all among his most popular (and best) outings. If Redding had not had such a large and varied output and this actually represented his best material, it would certainly deserve four stars, or perhaps even more. It isn't a best-of, of course, which is why it only receives an average rating, although the music is fine. Certainly it's a good disc (and well annotated by David Nathan), with songs like "My Girl" and "I Love You More Than Words Can Say" that will be unfamiliar to many, but it's hard to imagine who needs it. The committed Otis Redding fan probably has it all, and the Otis Redding dilettante will want a greatest-hits package instead, especially considering that this lacks such essential items as "Dock of the Bay" and "Respect." ~ Richie Unterberger

Admittedly, the concept is a tad arbitrary, if not misleading. Yes, these are all romantically themed songs, but there are just as many up-tempo songs as slow ballads, and Otis's own hits are interspersed with cover versions (some obscure) of other R&B artists' hits, including songs by Jerry Butler ("For Your Precious Love"), Clyde McPhatter ("A Lover's Question"), the Temptations ("My Girl"), and Jackie Wilson ("Higher and Higher"). There's not a note here that isn't soulful to the max, and even if you've heard some of these songs a zillion times, they still sound fresh when recontextualized. minimize