Satisfaction

Album: Otis Blue (1965)
Charted: 33 31
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Songfacts®:

  • British Invasion groups like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and The Kinks were grounded in American soul music, and often covered these songs. When Redding recorded his own version of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction," (titled just "Satisfaction") he became the first black artist to have a hit with a song by one of these British Invasion groups, reversing the usual pattern.
  • Redding was scheduled to take a physical exam required for a life insurance policy when his collaborator - Booker T & the MGs guitarist Steve Cropper - suggested the band cut a version of "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." By the time Redding returned to the studio from his physical, Cropper had the backing arranged and was ready to add Redding's vocal.
  • Redding claimed that his version of "Satisfaction" was significantly different than the Stones' original for a good reason: "I use a lot of words different than the Stones' version," Redding said. "That's because I made them up."
  • The Steve Cropper arrangement of Redding's recording features horns playing the main riff. This reflected Keith Richards' original intention for the song; Richards has often said that the fuzzy guitar tone he used on the Stones' recording was intended to mimic horns. Ronnie Wood later noted that Stones' subsequent concert renditions of the number are based on Redding's interpretation.

Comments: 2

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn May 7th 1966, Otis Redding performed "Satisfaction" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time Otis' covered version of the song was at #14 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart; two weeks earlier it peaked at #4 for one week...
    {See next post below}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 27th 1966, "Satisfaction" by Otis Redding entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #79; and six weeks later of April 10th, 1966 it peaked at #31 {for 1 week} and spent 8 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #4 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    Between 1962 and 1969 he had thirty-one* records make the R&B Singles chart; thirteen made the Top 10 with on reaching #1, "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay"...
    He just missed having three #1 records when "I've Been Loving You Too Long" {1965} and "Tramp" {1967} both peaked at #2 on the R&B Singles chart...
    'The King of Soul' passed away on December 10th, 1967 at the young age of 26...
    May he R.I.P.
    * Ten of his thirty-one records charted on the R&B Singles chart after his untimely death.
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