I am currently rehearsing with a great bunch of people for a production of Calendar Girls. (Network Theatre Waterloo, June 11th to 15th some tickets still available). As part of the process the director has asked us for our music choices to be played during the interval, but as if chosen by our character in the play.
I had no problem with the choice, immediately thinking of "My Girl" the Otis Redding version, as I play John the Husband whose death prompts the ladies of the WI to make the calendar in the first place.
Having come up with the song I have now reconnected with one of my all time favourite albums of the 1960's Otis Redding's "Otis Blue" In my opinion Otis Redding more than deserved the title King of Soul and this album shows while. From the pure raw energy on "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" to the emotional outpouring on "I've Been Loving You Too Long" and the aforementioned "My Girl".
In this digital age I have now been able to download the MP3 version which gives me the original recording (Remastered) in Mono, various remastered versions of live performances and additional singles. All of this sounds really good, BUT.... you still can't beat the original vinyl versions of these songs belting out the real feeling of the original recording studio sounds of the 60's.
Thinking back to those time I am reminded that we did NOT have the internet or mobile phones. We got our news from "Newspapers" and information was sent through something called "The Post". The music information came from 2 publications "The New Musical Express" Which I believe is still around, and "Melody Maker". Can you imagine having to wait a whole week to get information about your favourite band's next album or gig.
Linking back to Soul, I also signed up to the "Atlantic and Stax Appreciation Society" these being the 2 main labels who released soul music both here and the states. Artist like Otis Redding, Carla Thomas, Aretha Franklin, and Wilson Picket. Here I had to wait a whole month for updates, but they did come with signed photographs.
Do I have any of these now.... of course not.
