"Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul"—often simply referred to as Dictionary of Soul—is the fifth studio album by Otis Redding, released in October 1966. This was Redding's final solo studio album before his tragic death in 1967. The album showcases a blend of cover versions on the first side and original Redding compositions on the second side.
The album achieved notable success, reaching number 73 on the Billboard 200 and number 5 on the R&B LP charts. It produced two significant singles: "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)" and "Try a Little Tenderness."
In critical retrospectives, Dictionary of Soul has been highly regarded. In 2000, it was ranked number 488 in Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums. The album was also listed as number 254 on Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2012.
An expanded edition of the album was released in 2016, featuring both stereo and mono mixes of the original tracks along with additional material.
The success of Otis Redding's third album, Otis Blue, significantly impacted the Stax Records label and led to a series of developments in his career and the broader soul music scene. After the success of Otis Blue, Stax co-founder Phil Walden signed several prominent musicians including Percy Sledge, Johnnie Taylor, Clarence Carter, and Eddie Floyd. Together with Redding, they established production companies like Jotis Records and Redwal Music. Jotis Records, a collaboration between Joe Galkin and Otis Redding, was relatively short-lived, with only a few releases from artists such as Arthur Conley, Billy Young, and Loretta Williams. Redwal Music, named after Redding and Walden, was part of the broader expansion and influence of Redding's career.
Redding's performance at the Whisky a Go Go on the Sunset Strip was a landmark event, as it marked one of the first instances of a soul artist playing in the predominantly white western United States. The performance received widespread acclaim and helped to further integrate soul music into mainstream consciousness. This exposure was crucial in breaking down racial barriers in the music industry.
After his acclaimed performance, Redding continued to record at Stax Studios, working on what would become his final solo studio album, Complete & Unbelievable: The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul. This album, released in October 1966, was a critical and commercial success and cemented his legacy in the soul genre.
Redding’s decline of Bob Dylan's offer to record an alternative track of “Just Like a Woman” is a notable anecdote that highlights the respect and high regard Redding commanded from his peers, although he chose to focus on his own music.
