Back in 2017, Rhino released Otis Redding's Definitive Studio Album Collection, bringing together vinyl editions of seven studio albums spanning 1964's Pain in My Heart through 1968's posthumous The Dock of the Bay.  On June 9, the label will continue the Redding story in a new 6-LP box.  Otis Forever: The Albums and Singles (1968-1970) begins with the album that closed the prior box - The Dock of the Bay, this time in stereo rather than mono - and continues with his remaining three posthumous albums released through 1970 as well as two LPs of bonus single sides.  Limited to just 1,000 units, the set will be offered exclusively through Rhino.com.

When Redding tragically perished in a plane crash in December 1967 alongside four members of The Bar-Kays - guitarist Jimmy King, saxophonist Phalon Jones, organist Ronnie Caldwell, and drummer Carl Cunningham - as well as pilot Richard Fraser and the band's valet Matthew Kelly, he'd left behind several albums' worth of music.  Most notable was "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," sadly to become his first Pop and R&B chart-topper.  The now-classic song written by Redding and Stax veteran guitarist Steve Cropper anchored Otis' first posthumous LP which also went to No. 1 on the U.S. R&B chart as well as on the U.K. Albums Chart.  The Dock of the Bay featured four previously unissued tracks as well as single sides and album cuts.  The title track earned the singer-songwriter posthumous Grammy Awards for Best R&B song and Best R&B Male Vocal Performance.

Atlantic was, of course, eager for more product from Redding, so The Dock of the Bay was followed roughly four months later by The Immortal Otis Redding, relying largely upon songs recorded in a prolific three-week period leading up to Redding's untimely death.  The LP rose to No. 3 on the R&B survey.  One year later, in June 1969, Atlantic issued Love Man (again tapping 1967 sessions) which earned another top 10 R&B berth.  Otis' final posthumous release of this period, July 1970's Tell the Truth, fared less well, barely cracking the U.S. Billboard 200 and the top 30 of the R&B chart.  It, too, drew on the seemingly indefatigable Redding's trove of unreleased 1967 recordings.

The four stereo LPs are joined by The Singles 1968-1970, a double album exclusive to the box.  It's housed in a gatefold sleeve and contains 24 sides on 2 LPs.  Mono mixes have been utilized for every track.

Each LP in the box is pressed on a different color of vinyl: The Dock of the Bay (yellow), The Immortal Otis Redding (silver), Love Man (green), Tell the Truth (blue), and The Singles 1968-1970 (yellow). The set will also be available as a 6-LP black vinyl retail exclusive, with details TBD.

Otis Forever: The Albums and Singles (1968-1970) arrives on June 9 from Rhino.  You'll find the pre-order links and track listing below.

Otis Redding, Otis Forever: The Albums and Singles (1968-1970) (Rhino, 2023)

The Dock of the Bay (Volt S 419, 1968)

Side One

1. "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay"
2. "I Love You More Than Words Can Say"
3. "Let Me Come On Home"
4. "Open The Door"
5. "Don't Mess With Cupid"

Side Two

1. "The Glory Of Love"
2. "I'm Coming Home"
3. "Tramp" - Otis Redding & Carla Thomas
4. "The Huckle-Buck"
5. "Nobody Knows You (When You're Down And Out)"
6. "Ole Man Trouble"

The Immortal Otis Redding (Atco SD 33-252, 1968)

Side One

1. "I've Got Dreams To Remember"
2. "You Made A Man Out Of Me"
3. "Nobody's Fault But Mine"
4. "Hard To Handle"
5. "Thousand Miles Away"
6. "The Happy Song (Dum-Dum-De-De-De-Dum-Dum)"

Side Two

1. "Think About It"
2. "A Waste Of Time"
3. "Champagne And Wine"
4. "Fool For You"
5. "Amen"

Love Man (Atco SD 33-289, 1969)

Side One

1. "I'm A Changed Man"
2. "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher"
3. "That's A Good Idea"
4. "I'll Let Nothing Separate Us"
5. "Direct Me"
6. "Love Man"

Side Two

1. "Groovin' Time"
2. "Your Feeling Is Mine"
3. "Got To Get Myself Together"
4. "Free Me"
5. "A Lover's Question"
6. "Look At That Girl"

Tell The Truth (Atco SD 33-333, 1970)

Side One

1. "Demonstration"
2. "Tell The Truth"
3. "Out Of Sight"
4. "Give Away None Of My Love"
5. "Wholesale Love"
6. "I Got The Will"

Side Two

1. "Johnny's Heartbreak"
2. "Snatch A Little Piece"
3. "Slippin' And Slidin'"
4. "The Match Game"
5. "A Little Time"
6. "Swingin' On A String"

The Singles: 1968-1970

Side One

1. "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" (Volt 45-157, 1968)
2. "Sweet Lorene" (Volt 45-157, 1968)
3. "The Happy Song (Dum-Dum)" (Volt 45-163, 1968)
4. "Open The Door" (Volt 45-163, 1968)
5. "Hard To Handle" (Atco 45-6592, 1968)
6. "Amen" (Atco 45-6592, 1968)

Side Two

1. "I've Got Dreams to Remember" (Atco 45-6612, 1968)
2. "Nobody's Fault But Mine" (Atco 45-6612, 1968)
3. "White Christmas" (Atco 45-6631, 1968)
4. "Merry Christmas, Baby" (Atco 45-6631, 1968)
5. "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" (Atco 45-6636, 1968)
6. "Direct Me" (Atco 45-6636, 1968)

Side Three

1. "A Lover's Question" (Atco 45-6654, 1969)
2. "You Made a Man Out of Me" (Atco 45-6654, 1969)
3. "Love Man" (Atco 45-6677, 1969)
4. "Can't Turn You Loose" (Atco 45-6677, 1969)
5. "Free Me" (Atco 45-6700, 1969)
6. "(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher & Higher" (Atco 45-6700, 1969)

Side Four

1. "Look At That Girl" (Atco 45-6723, 1969)
2. "That's A Good Idea" (Atco 45-6723, 1969)
3. "Demonstration" (Atco 45-6742, 1970)
4. "Johnny's Heartbreak" (Atco 45-6742, 1970)
5. "Give Away None of My Love" (Atco 45-6766, 1970)
6. "Snatch a Little Piece" (Atco 45-6766, 1970)