Classic Pop Icons

Otis Redding’s biggest hit “Dock of the Bay” is Song of the Week on Classic Pop Icons. “Dock of the Bay” was released on single in January 1968, backed with “Sweet Lorene.” Otis had tragically died on December 10, 1967 in a plane crash outside Madison, Wisconsin. This was the first posthumous release. The song also appeared on the album of the same name, which was released in February 1968.

The song was inspired by Otis’ trip to San Fransisco to play the Fillmore, during which time he stayed at a boathouse.

“Dock of the Bay” won Grammy Awards for Best R&B Song and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

Otis Redding – “Dock of the Bay”

Authorship

“Dock of the Bay” was written by Otis Redding and Steve Cropper. The first lyrics were written in August 1967 and Otis continued to work on the song until completing it with Steve Cropper in the studio in November 1967.

Recording date/location

“Dock of the Bay” was recorded on November 22, 1967 at Stax Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, with overdubs made at the same studio on December 8.

Musicians

Otis Redding was backed by the Stax house band, Booker T. and the MGs, on “Dock of the Bay.” These were:

• Booker T. Jones – keyboards
• Steve Cropper – guitar
• Donald “Duck” Dunn – bass
• Al Jackson, Jr – drums.

The Memphis Horns also appeared on the record:

• Wayne Jackson – trumpet
• Andrew Love – tenor sax
• Joe Arnold – tenor sax.

Steve Cropper produced “Dock of the Bay.”

Chart performance

In early March of 1968, “Dock of the Bay” became the first posthumous number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It had already topped the R&B chart. The song reached number three in the UK.

The album “Dock of the Bay” peaked at number four on the Billboard albums chart and hit number one in the UK.

Covers

There have been many covers of “Dock of the Bay” since the release of Otis’ recording, with several in 1968 alone.

Here’s two strong covers.

Aaron Neville – “Dock of the Bay”

Aaron Neville recorded “Dock of the Bay” for his great 2006 album Bring It on Home: The Soul Classics.

Neville’s modern arrangement, combined with Stax-influenced horns works very well.

The Staple Singers – “Dock of the Bay”

The Staple Singers version of “Dock of the Bay” was recorded a year after Otis’ in the same studio and also backed by Booker T. and the MGs. It appeared on the album “Soul Folk in Action.”

There will be a new Song of the Week on December 20.

Otis Redding’s “Dock of the Bay” appears on his album “The Dock of the Bay”, first released in 1968 and on several compilations, including the 2-CD set from 2006 “Otis Redding – The Definitive Soul Collection.”

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Otis Redding – The Dock of the Bay (CD)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now
Otis Redding – The Definitive Soul Collection (2 CDs)	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now