Satisfaction – Otis Redding | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#31) and R&B (#4); 1966
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
When Atlantic engineer Tom Dowd saw Otis Redding in July of 1965, he was knocked out by the singer’s commanding presence; noting that only Ray Charles and Bobby Darin had been so aware of what they wanted to achieve in the studio. The occasion was a landmark 24 hour session to record Otis Blue.
The first half lasted from 10 in the morning eight in the evening, when several members of the house band split for live gigs. Two in the morning found them back in the studio where they spent another six hours laying down tracks. One of the songs recorded after midnight was Satisfaction.
During a break, guitarist Steve Cropper played the Rolling Stones original for the guys in the band. When Otis returned to the mic, he read through the lyrics a few times, then launched into his vocal. Released almost seven months later as a single, Otis’ blistering take on Satisfaction ripped up the R&B chart; topping out at #4 in the spring of 1966.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Lyrics Written by:
- Jagger–Richards
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).