Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Today is Labor Day 2026. It is the day America honors the hardworking people who keep our country running.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor website, Congress officially made Labor day a federal holiday in 1894, designating “the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday”. However, many states began celebrating it on their own years earlier. Eventually the momentum spread to nearly half the country which made the holiday finally become an official part of the calendar.

Whatever work you do to contribute to this great nation of ours, thank you.

A Labor Day float from 110 years ago in 1916. (Image found on the United States Department of Labor website. Original source unknown.)

This week will mark soul and r&b giant Otis Redding’s 85th birth anniversary. He was born on September 9, 1941 in Dawson, Georgia and grew up nearby in Macon. He started singing in church and by the time he was a teenager, he was competing in a local talent show. After winning the $5 prize 15 consecutive times, he was barred from competing again.

In 1958 he joined a local group, Johnny Jenkins & The Pinetoppers. It was on a trip to Stax Records with Johnny in 1962 that led to Redding’s big break. The label’s co-founder, Jim Stewart, let Redding record a few tracks with Johnny’s remaining studio time. One of those songs-“These Arms Of Mine”-became Redding’s first hit. His debut album followed in 1964. His seminal recording, Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul, was released in 1965. He became a success in Europe first but after his earth shattering performance at the Monterey International Pop Festival in June 1967, Redding’s popularity in America was sealed. Six months later, he died in a plane crash in Madison, Wisonsin. In his impossibly short 26 years on this earth, the man changed music forever and became The King Of Soul.

Otis Redding’s debut album was released in March 1964. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Five years ago during the Lockdown Countdown we celebrated Redding’s 80th birthday anniversary on Day 542. As of this writing, the official video of his biggest selling song-“(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay”-has amassed 160 million views on YouTube.

Over the last 40 years, Stax has released a lot of Redding’s material the public had not heard before, including two alternate takes on that incredible song. I have included both below for you today. At the end of Take 1, there are a few seconds of banter between Redding and some others in the studio, even mentioning one by name-Steve-as in Cropper, famed guitarist for Booker T & The MG’s and co-writer of the song. He was the person tasked with finishing the record from those takes after Redding’s death. By March 1968, it was the #1 song in the country for four consecutive weeks.

His voice is still one of the ones I love most in the universe. Thank you, Otis, for every single second of every single note.

Otis Ray Redding Jr.: September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967.

Otis Redding (center) on stage at The Monterey International Pop Festival in June 1967 with Booker T & The MG’s as his backing band (L-R): Donald “Duck” Dunn on bass, Al Jackson Jr. on drums and Steve Cropper on guitar (off camera: Booker T. Jones on organ/keyboards). (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bruce Springsteen: “Factory” (1978, written by Bruce Springsteen).

Otis Redding: “These Arms Of Mine” (1962, written by Otis Redding).

Otis Redding: “You Send Me” (1964, written by Sam Cooke).

Otis Redding: “Mr. Pitiful” (1965, written by Steve Cropper and Otis Redding).

Otis Redding: “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” (1965, written by Jerry Butler and Otis Redding).

Otis Redding and Carla Thomas: “Tramp” (1967, written by Lowell Fulson and Jimmy McCracklin).

Otis Redding: “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” (1968, written by Steve Cropper and Otis Redding).

Otis Redding: “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay (Take 1)” (1968, written by Steve Cropper and Otis Redding).

Otis Redding: “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay (Take 2)” (1968, written by Steve Cropper and Otis Redding).

Stay safe & well.