Premier Guitar features affiliate links to help support our content. We may earn a commission on any affiliated purchases.

Cropper Featured in New Redding DVD

16 Vintage Television Performances in Anthology

Los Angeles, CA (July 30, 2007) - Reelin'' in the Years Productions and Stax Records have announced a September 18th release date for a highly anticipated anthology of Otis Redding television performances. Premier Guitar readers know what that means... another chance to see classic footage of guitar legend Steve Cropper back in the day. "Dreams to Remember: The Legacy of Otis Redding" includes remastered sound and video of 16 vintage television performances and 40 minutes of new interviews documenting Redding''s life and work.

The release commemorates the 40th anniversary of Otis'' death while celebrating the 50th anniversary of Stax Records. Issued with the full cooperation of his estate, this is the first official DVD anthology of classic archival Otis Redding television performances. Among the full-length performances featured on the DVD are classic takes of “Pain In My Heart,” “I Can''t Turn You Loose,” “I''ve Been Loving You Too Long,” “(I Can''t Get No) Satisfaction” and "Try A Little Tenderness.” Especially noteworthy is his performance of “Respect,” taped at a Cleveland TV station less than 24 hours before his death.

Cropper co-wrote with Redding and played guitar on basically every record he made at Stax. He is interviewed as well as Wayne Jackson, the trumpet player for the Mar-Keys/Memphis Horns who also played on most of Otis'' recordings, and Jim Stewart, the founder of Stax Records, who gave his first interview in 13 years for this DVD. These tender and insightful interviews paint a portrait of Otis as an amazing singer, artist, songwriter, and family man. The story begins with memories of his first amateur talent contests and concludes with the touching recollections of the final days leading up to the tragic plane crash on December 10, 1967. In between are stories about Otis writing songs, recording at Stax and performing on stage (including the historic Monterey Pop Festival.)

The DVD comes with a 24-page booklet with an extensive essay by Grammy award-winning writer Rob Bowman, who conducted the interviews and co-produced the DVD. The booklet also features rare photographs and memorabilia. The DVD also contains a new video for “(Sittin'' On) The Dock Of The Bay," Redding''s most famous hit that curiously, wasn''t completed until shortly after his death.

"Dreams To Remember: The Legacy of Otis Redding" also marks the 50th anniversary and reactivation of Stax Records. Concord Music Group purchased Stax Records in 2004 and is in the midst of a year-long celebration that also includes several reissue CDs, a documentary (Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story) and the re-signing of veteran Isaac Hayes and Angie Stone, as well as several new artists, who will usher in a new era of soul music.

For more information about Stax Records 50th anniversary:

stax50.com