The King Of Soul (4CD)

The King Of Soul coincides with the 50th anniversary of Redding s debut album, Pain In My Heart, which helped define the sound of Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee. This set features 92 songs and retraces the singer s career from his meteoric rise to his untimely death in a 1967 plane crash.

The songs reveal the breadth of Redding s talent, starting with his gift for songwriting: "I Can t Turn You Loose," "Ole Man Trouble" and "(Sittin On) The Dock of the Bay," his posthumous #1 hit. His reputation as a magnetic and dynamic performer is well served by a selection of live performances recorded in 1966 at the Whisky a Go Go in L.A. ("These Arms of Mine" and "Papa s Got a Brand New Bag") and in 1967 during the legendary Stax/Volt Revue tour of Europe ("Shake" and "Try a Little Tenderness.")

Redding was also an expert interpreter of other artist s work, putting his distinct twist on everything from Solomon Burke s "Down in the Valley" and William Bell s "You Don t Miss Your Water," to the Stones "(I Can t Get No) Satisfaction" and Smokey Robinson s "My Girl." The King Of Soul also spotlights his unforgettable collaborations with singer Carla Thomas like "Lovey Dovey" and "Tramp."