The Definitive 1000 Songs Of All Time 1955 to 2005: Number 623

Number 623

Otis Redding

"The Dock Of A Bay"

(1968)

Genre:Soul

Now, i am probably gonna get a bit of poo bah here, but am i the only one who thinks this song is, yanno, um boring? Hey, its an ok song and yeah, it has a certain feel and is beloved by millions. Its just when i hear it, it doesn't stir up any feeling and certainly does not stir up any passion ... unlike say, The Platters "Smoke Gets in My Eyes" or Jimmy Cliff 's"Many Rivers To Cross" or even Marvin Gaye 's"Lets Get It On" hell even Sam Cooke 's "You Send Me"

Still, this is a "Definitive" list and my feelings of the song does not stop it entering at Number 623 (And honestly, thats probably a good thing) not to mention Otis Redding was a wonderful singer.

09-09-41 to 10.12.67

It was never supposed to be like this: "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay" was supposed to mark a beginning of a new phase in Otis Redding's career, not an ending. Producer/guitarist Steve Cropper had a difficult task to perform in pulling together this album, the first of several posthumous releases issued by Stax/Volt in the wake of Otis Redding's death. What could have been a cash-in effort or a grim memorial album instead became a vivid, exciting presentation of some key aspects of the talent that was lost when Redding died. Dock of the Bay is, indeed, a mixed bag of singles and B-sides going back to July of 1965, one hit duet with Carla Thomas, and a pair of previously unissued tracks from 1966 and 1967, respectively.

There's little cohesion, stylistic or otherwise, in the songs, especially when the title track is taken into consideration -- nothing else here resembles it, for the obvious reason that Redding never had a chance to follow it up. Despite the mix-and-match nature of the album, however, this is an impossible record not to love. Cropper chose his tracks well, selecting some of the strongest and most unusual among the late singer's orphaned songs: "I Love You More Than Words Can Say" is one of Redding's most passionate performances; "Let Me Come on Home" presents an ebullient Otis Redding accompanied by some sharp playing; and "Don't Mess With Cupid" begins with a gorgeous guitar flourish and blooms into an intense, pounding, soaring showcase for singer and band alike. No one could complain about the album then, and it still holds more than three decades later. Reissued on CD by the Atco label through Rhino Records in excellent sound. ~ Bruce Eder

Side Note:"(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" was recorded only three days prior to Redding's death. It was released the next month and became his first #1 single and first million-seller. The fact that "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" ultimately became Redding's greatest commercial success was unexpected, not only because its release came after his death, but also because the song is actually a significant stylistic departure from the bulk of his other work

For Jimmy Cliff see Number 983

What does Rolling Stone think about Otis Redding?

When Steve Winwood first heard the single after which this album is named, he said "Is it a Dylan song? Eric Burdon? Sounds like Otis." Stevie's credentials are excellent, and his answer is very revealing. "Dock of the Bay" does sound very much like something that Dylan could have written. Both he and Otis were headed in the same direction.

As it is, it is Otis' last single (Stax-Volt thinks they have enough good unreleased tapes to make another album) and the only indication left of where Otis was going to take us. It is possible to thing that the tremendous emotional impact of this song — and that would be the indication of its soul — is in part due to his death, but the song itself, a distillation of all that's best in soul ballads, stands as one of Otis' very best recordings. "Dock of the Bay" indicated a real change in Otis' ballad style; he refined down to two beautiful lines the techniques of tension against melancholy that he used in "Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa" and "Try a Little Tenderness."

Dock of the Bay is one of the finest collections of Otis' recordings: the others are History of Otis Redding which contains all of his big hits; and Dictionary of Soul ("Complete and Unbelievable").

Dock of the Bay is one of the essential LP's for Redding fans. It is an excellent collection, obviously put together with both love and respect for what Otis Redding did and who he was. In many ways, this is the history of Otis Redding. "Tramp," his duet with Carla Thomas, really brings it home. Carla says "You know what Otis? You're country; you straight from the Georgia woods." And Otis says "That's good." It sure is. (RS 9) April 27 1968

For Steve Winwood see Number 622

For Bob Dylan see Number 929 & Number 841

Rolling Stone Top 500 Songs ranked this song at Number 28 and the Album ranked at Number 161

(Must be a bitch being "loved" by Rolling Stone after your dead... ack!)

This song has a crowbarred rating of 71.5 out of 108 pts

Otis Redding - Sitting On The Dock
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