Otis Redding

John Lennon once said if you wanted to give Rock and Roll another name, then you might as well call it Chuck Berry. And if you wanted to call soul music by any other name it might just as well be OTIS REDDING.

Almost all the single releases by Otis were played at the Twisted Wheel (Both locations of the club) OTIS BLUE (LP) tracks were often played and everything that was and a lot that wasn't played at the Wheel was aired at the Blue Note.



The posters above are from the 67' period when Otis and the Stax Show came to Manchester. What a night. The Palace Theatre on the corner of Whitworth Street and Oxford Road had the foyer filled with Manchester Soul Mods and black Stax faces. Otis towered above them all, literally; he was a big bloke!

He was the last act that night Thursday 23 rd of March 1967 following Sam and Dave, how could he we thought? After such a magnificent show from the Dynamic duo. But Otis did surpass them. Dressed in a bright red suit, he made us cry, as he dropped to his knees telling us how he had been loving too long to stop now.he made us sing.. when he gave us respect... he made us clap... when he told us how weary she was in that same old dress... he made us dance when he told us he was Mr Pitiful.. he made everyone join in when he did that sad song Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa. He showed us his soul and then he was gone..


Period Posters / Courtesy of Mel Owen of Manchester

Favourite Otis Tracks at the Wheel/Blue Note:

Let Me Come On Home
I Can't Turn You Loose
Mr Pitiful
RESPECT
TRAMP
That's How Strong My Love Is
I've Been Loving You Too Long
Pain In My Heart
These Arms Of Mine
Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song)
Down In The Valley
Hawg For You
Chained And Bound