Otis Redding’s third album, Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul, was released on September 15, 1965. It took less than 24 hours to record, with Otis and the Stax house band of Booker T. & the M.G.’s (joined by Isaac Hayes on piano and an ensemble of horn players including the Memphis Horns) entering the studio on July 9 and wrapping up on the 10th.
The album contains an assortment of covers, mostly songs written and recorded previously by Sam Cooke. Cooke was Redding’s idol. His death the previous December brought a palpable level of emotion to those songs. The standout from the album, at least in my opinion, would be a song written by Otis and Jerry Butler. “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” would be the first big hit for the big ‘O’.
LATINO LIKE ME 
I sure do love Otis. I know it’s a cliche, but he accomplished all he did and died at 26. 26!
At some point, I’m going to have to revisit my Otis obsession. I love the live stuff even more than the studio tracks, and I’ve seen that position criticized enough that I’m starting to wonder if I’m missing something.