Recorded in 1965 when ‘soul’, as opposed to R&B, Motown and gospel, was starting to develop its own identity, The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads set an early reference point for this new style of music. And, while his next album – Otis Blue – was more polished, more commercial and more successful, this often overlooked record is in many ways much more satisfying. Redding’s singing is quite stunning, with heart-rending deliveries that make you believe that he means what he says and the back up from Booker T, Steve Cropper and the Stax ‘house band’ is consistently creative and incisive.