オーティス・レディングのベスト盤といえば、いまだ昔の2枚組LPに優るものはないが、どんなベストにせよ彼の曲を数多く聴けるのはいいものだ。この『The Very Best』はバラードとアップテンポの曲を半分ずつ収録。彼のさまざまな面を鑑賞できる。ドライブ感あふれる「Respect」、熱く語りかける「Try a Little Tenderness」、初期の代表曲「Dock of the Bay」。オーティス抜きのレコードコレクションなんて考えられない。（Rickey Wright, Amazon.com）
Product Description
This collection includes all of Otis Redding's top ten chart hits, from \I've Been Loving You Too Long" to ""Sitting on the Dock of the Bay."" Genre: Soul/R&B Media Format: Compact Disk Rating: Release Date: 10-NOV-1992"""
Amazon.com
No other Otis compilation quite satisfies the way the old double-LP best-of does, but never mind: any way you hear Redding's many great moments is a good one. The Very Best splits ballads and up-tempo stuff half-and-half, letting you hear the great one's humanity in every mood--the pile-driving rock of "Respect," the preaching fervor of "Try a Little Tenderness," the nascent reflection of "Dock of the Bay." A record collection with no Otis is a poor thing: here's yours. --Rickey Wright
