King And Queen

Description

Otis Redding never recorded a lighter, more purely entertaining record than King and Queen, a collection of duets with Stax labelmate Carla Thomas. In all likelihood inspired by a series of popular duets recorded by Marvin Gaye indeed, It Takes Two, and Gayes sublime collaboration with Kim Weston, is covered here the record serves no greater purpose than to allow Redding the chance to run through some of the eras biggest soul hits, including Knock on Wood, Tell It Like It Is and When Something Is Wring with My Baby, and while clearly not a personal triumph on a par with either Otis Blue or The Dictionary of Soul, the set is still hugely successful on its own terms. Redding and Thomas enjoy an undeniable chemistry, and they play off each other wonderfully: while sparks fly furiously throughout King and Queen, the albums highlight is the classic Tramp, where their battle of the sexes reaches its fever pitch in supremely witty fashion.