Post Tagged with: "Otis Redding"

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Steve Cropper on the Black Crowes’ cover of ‘Hard to Handle’ : ‘They threw it off time by half a beat’

Steve Cropper offers his take on the Black Crowes’ 1990 hit version of an Otis Redding classic, and reveals a special connection with the band.

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Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay” emerged out of crushing grief: ‘I can’t go in that studio’

Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay,” released 47 years ago this month, was a labor of love for his friend and musical companion Steve Cropper.

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Otis Redding never heard this memorable part of ‘Dock of the Bay’: ‘I was the only one in the room’

Steve Cropper talks about the signature element, finished after Otis Redding’s tragic death, that made ‘Dock of the Bay’ complete.

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Otis Redding tried something new with ‘Dock of the Bay,’ even if someone else got credit

Steve Cropper talks about a memorable moment of improvisation by Otis Redding, and debunks a myth that’s surrounded it ever since.

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‘I just said immediately — this is it’: Steve Cropper knew he had a hit with this Otis Redding favorite

And it’s not like Cropper hasn’t had a slew of them, from Wilson Pickett to Otis Redding.

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‘What are we going to do?’: Steve Cropper remembers Otis Redding’s final recording sessions

As important, and as emotional, as “(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay” has always been to Otis Redding’s legacy, there has long been a misconception about it You May Also Like: Otis Redding never heard this memorable part of ‘Dock of the Bay’: ‘I was the only one inRead More

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‘Pretty raw, and pretty fresh’: On the first-take genius of Stax stars like Otis Redding

The wonder, in listening to ageless sides from Stax Records stars like Otis Redding, was how often they came from one-take performances. Too, these songs were typically written just days, or even hours, beforehand. You May Also Like: Otis Redding tried something new with ‘Dock of the Bay,’ even ifRead More

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‘That changed every member of that band’s life’: Steve Cropper to return to site of stirring Stax success

When Steve Cropper performs another round of European dates with the Animals in the fall, he will be returning to the site of some of Stax Records’ biggest — and, for some, most surprising — successes in the late 1960s. An explosive revue featuring Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, CarlaRead More

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Robbie Robertson wanted Otis Redding to cover a key Bob Dylan song

Bob Dylan, at Robbie Robertson’s urging, handed one of his most famous songs off to Otis Redding in the hopes that he would do his own Stax-ified version of it. Things didn’t quite work out that way, however. You May Also Like: Otis Redding never heard this memorable part ofRead More

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‘Everything else was sort of insignificant’: After Otis Redding sang ‘Try a Little Tenderness,’ it became his

There had been, to be sure, other versions of “Try a Little Tenderness,” beginning with the Ray Noble Orchestra in 1932. Aretha Franklin had an early-1960s hit with it, too. But none is quite so revered as Otis Redding’s take. You May Also Like: Otis Redding tried something new withRead More