WHAT WE’VE LEARNT

The first time Otis Redding let loose in a recording studio was in 1960 at Hollywood’s fabled Gold Star, where he imitated his hero Little Richard, backed by Earl Palmer and its legendary session squad. In late 1964, Redding was arrested and faced an attempted murder charge after a caper with Macon homeboys turned into a shoot-out. Connections and well-placed bribes made it vanish. (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay was specifically influenced by The Beatles’ A Day In The Life.