Showing posts with label Redding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Redding. Show all posts

Thursday, December 23, 2010

CSOTD Bonus Edition: Otis Redding - White Christmas



The second post at the beginning of CSOTD was a live version of I Can't Turn You Loose by Otis Redding.

I said on that blog that someone wanted me to define cool, I would first point them to Miles Davis. But, the close second would be that Otis Redding performance.

Otis remains, for me, one of the Titans Of Cool. And that performance set the standard of this blog. I confess, I've been struggling to live up to that level of cool ever since that post.

So, therefore, it's fitting that we end the year as we started this blog, with the epic soul of Otis Redding.

I mean, who else could turn this stale, staid Irving Berlin tune into over flowing river of cool?

Only Otis, baby, only Otis.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Tuesday, August 10, 2010: Otis Redding - I Can't Turn You Loose



Performed live in 1966 on the British TV show "Ready, Steady, Go".

If someone wanted me to define cool, I would first point them to Miles Davis.
But, the close second would be this Otis Redding performance. Cool is everywhere, from Otis himself, his voice, his huge stage presence, that suit, his backing band on scaffolding (very cool), go go dancers (sexy cool), the whole British audience trying desperately to keep time (funny cool), cool saturates this performance.

Seriously, If THIS does not get your toes tapping, your spirit lifted and your frown turned upside down, then you have no soul, no character, and you are not worth knowing.

That is all.