“Try a Little Tenderness”

May 31, 2024 • 12:45 pm

Here’s the last video of the day, as well as the last live performance of Otis Redding, who died with his band in a plane crash the day after this video was recorded on December 9, 1967.  He was only 26. This song, along with “Dock of the Bay”, are Redding’s best recordings, but “Dock of the Bay” was largely written by him, while this song, “Try a Little Tenderness“, recorded on the Stax label, was actually written by three white men in 1932. And it was recorded by, among others, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.  (Redding’s released recording, from 1966, is here.)

NPR’s “Fresh Air” did a documentary on Stax Records that’s still up, and well worth listening to (it’s only 46 minutes long and has tons of music, including some good stuff from Booker T., who, with the M.G.s, backed Redding on the recorded version of “Tenderness”.). Since Redding recorded for Stax, I revisited this song and found this live version.  If you listen to the recordings by Crosby or Sinatra, you’ll see that Redding’s soul version is infinitely better. The difference between the performance below and the earlier versions shows you the very essence of soul music.

And you can also get an inkling of Redding’s talent—talent cut off way too early.

(“Dock of the Bay,” by the way, was released posthumously, and became the first Top 100 pop single to top the charts after the performer’s death.)

Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, comrades, here’s Otis Redding, giving James Brown a run for his money as “the hardest-working man in show business.”

14 thoughts on ““Try a Little Tenderness””

  1. And of course Otis Redding recorded “Respect” before Aretha did, and the contrast between the two versions is striking. His is of a lamenting (some might say whining) man, while hers is of a defiant woman. Quite frankly, although I loved Otis as a singer, I prefer Aretha’s version.

    1. Otis wasn’t whining, he was demanding. I also prefer the stomping rhythm of his original versus her now overplayed cover. Yes, hers is more progressive, but that doesn’t mean better.

    1. There may be an element of reminiscing here. I was young when the song came out.

    2. And you, sir, are rude, and have been to other readers as well. I don’t really care if you think what I’ve touted is boring, but you don’t seem to have the degree of civility that I would like to see on this website.

      Have you ever read the posting Roolz about how to address your host?

  4. Otis Redding is my absolute #1 favorite vocalist. Even though his career was tragically short, there is none better to me.

  5. Hard to Handle is written and originally recorded by Redding. The Black Crows covered it, boosting its appeal. The lyric groove – when the band lays out – is so insanely catchy :

    “Hey little thing, let me light your candle ‘Cause, mama, I’m sure hard to handle now, gets around”

    It HAS to be heard. GENIUS. All the rest too, but that specific point is sublime.

    youtu.be/w7D-OQHIfqU?si=u-gJLSizoiUpDO1a

    BTW The Black Crows version has a modern classic guitar solo by Brendan O’Brien, who is an engineer or producer – not even in the band.

    I have both on my playlist and will add the tracks noted in the post – thanks 🙂

  6. Agree. NPR on Stax records was excellent. I knew all the songs’ words. I suppose that ages me.

  7. I love this song, and Redding’s version is easily the best, very moving..

  8. I drive south several times a year to visit my daughter in Tallahassee. Avoid the Atlanta area traffic at all costs, taking the “Antebellum Trail” (US 129) past Athens, GA. Recently a bypass around Gray has been constructed, not far out of Macon. And on that bypass, one drives over the “Otis Redding Memorial Bridge”, noted by a pretty small sign. It is architecturally unremarkable, and I always feel it is unworthy as a tribute to the greatness of the man. And, sadly, the bypassed town of Gray contains an interesting monument, with no signage on 129 indicating its presence. Sad.

  11. Here’s the only live version of “Try a Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding that’s even better than the one you posted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQ9n2_5mbig

    It was released on the DVD “Stax/Volt Revue – Live in Norway 1967,” which includes more fantastic performances by Otis and some equally great ones by Sam and Dave, one of the acts that could match Redding in creating excitement.

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