Otis Redding – The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads

This appears to be a mono pressing in a stereo jacket and labels. The matrix/runout is identical to the similar mono release. Anyone have any info on this? Sounds like a mono to me. That being said, this is a great pressing with full, warm bass. Labels are ATCO sixth version placing this pressing sometime after 1982, I’m unsure on how long ATCO used this version.

Okay, so it's the dreaded '4 Men with Beards' label but it says on the back that it was manufactured by Rhino Records, and I am quite pleased with my copy. It's flat, centred, no pops or crackles. Nice thickness in the cardboard tip-on jacket, good colour reproduction in the artwork, and the audio seems to be just as I remember my original copy was back in the day. Having said that, Stax/Volt never struck me as the highest of fidelity at the best of times. The rough-around-the-edges aspect was part of their charm. So, yeah... this will do fine.

I have to say this is really poor. The vinyl pressing is one of the noisiest ive ever heard for starters. The MOV edition from a few yrs ago is silent. Then theres the mastering. Clear but thin and lacking body. Again the MOV triumphs having so much more meat on the nones despite its wonkyish stereo presentation. Fold the MOV to mono and its GAME SET AND MATCH in the older reissues favour.

Awesome, thank you Rhino!
This is a mono cut by Ian Sefchick, and boy does Otis scream, beg and shout in this presentation!
Polyline is a nice touch, GZ has done this monster album justice.

Could someone provide the dead wax info? Is it just a repress of the 2017 previous version from Rhino?

This is being reissued for SYEOR 2023 in mono on blue wax. Exclusively at Indie record stores so go support your local store with this release! Release date is 6 January 2023.

Don't expect much from the single jacket packaging which is minimal on thin cardboard but the inner sleeve is nice. The record itself will knock your brains back! Heavyweight vinyl, nice retro fonts and a spectacular sound. The music just pops and is so alive. Definitely AAA sounding. Absolutely phenomenal pressing.

Does anyone know if this was cut from the original master tapes?

Really dynamic and warm sounding. Otis sounds fantastic. One of his best!

Nice quiet pressing in full phenomenal mono sound. Otis sounds oh so good on these reissues. Vocals a little hot in some parts but it in no way ruins the quality of the music. Horns are warm and bright, bass is lively, over all I would say this is quite a stellar reissue. Seems to be pressed decent enough, comes in poly lined sleeve, $20 for some solid Otis is a real steal son, get it!