Recorded - November 22 and December 7, 1967
Released - January 8, 1968
#1 for weeks of March 16, 23, 30 and April 6, 1968.
There have been quite a few artists over the years that, despite their massive critical success, only managed to achieve a single #1 hit. Sometimes, in cases like Chuck Berry where his only #1 was the novelty "My Ding-A-Ling", it's a bit of an insult considering the artist's massive influence. On the other hand, Otis Redding's only #1 turned out to not only be one of his finest achievements, but one of the most timeless songs of all time.
Otis Redding was the king of Stax Records during the 1965-1967 time period. Due to his iconic soulful voice and superb instrumentation usually done by the M.G.'s, virtually every song that he released is worth listening to. Otis also wrote, or co-wrote his own material, so songs like "I've Been Loving You Too Long", and "Respect" have additional resonance as they are coming from the heart.
In 1967, Otis appeared at the hip Monterrey Pop Festival, which managed to give him an increase in popularity. It was from this moment on that he wanted to move in a different direction, and change his sound. Composed in the summer, and later finished with help from Steve Cropper, "Dock Of The Bay", was intended to be the beginning of phase two of Otis' career.
Otis never sounded finer than he does on "Dock". His performance is laid back, but absolutely brimming with emotion. You can really hear the mixed emotions in his voice, from the joys of relaxing in San Francisco, to the pain of wanting to move on from Stax. Too many cover versions aim for an over the top performance, which totally ruins the laid back feel that makes the song work so well.
To add to this near-spiritual vocal performance is an equally righteous music track. Steve Cropper's lead guitar performance in this song ranks among his finest work. The horns add an extra element of emotion, and are never overpowering or out of place. All of these elements peak during the song's bridge, where Otis lets his anguish out - "Looks like nothing's gonna change".
It's important to note that "Dock Of The Bay" is an unfinished recording. The whistling at the end, which unintentionally fit the mood of the song perfectly, was intended as a temporary part. Otis planned to finish the song on a later date. Tragically, a mere three days after the December 7th session for the song, Otis, five of his bandmates, and the pilot of the plane they were flying in, were killed when the plane crashed in Lake Monona, Wisconsin.
"Dock Of The Bay" was thus a posthumous release. In fact, it ended up being the first posthumous number one on the pop charts. Who knows where Otis Redding's new music phase would have led him. Who knows even if "Dock Of The Bay" would have been a hit on the charts had he been alive for its release. Well, chart success as usual means next to nothing when it comes to longevity, and "Dock Of The Bay" hasn't aged a bit.
Final Verdict - Dock Of The Bay" still sounds just as wonderful back then as it did today. The lyrics are incredibly heartfelt and deep, the music sounds full of soul, and Otis' voice never sounded finer. A well deserved hit, especially considering the massive influence Otis has had on so many musicians and singers over the years.
Coming Up Next - "Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro.
Until Next Time, I'm Dr. Rock, and any time spent listening to Otis Redding, is time well spent -
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