Otis Redding's studio recordings remain some of soul's greatest moments, yet it was primarily his live performances that made Redding's reputation so stunning in the years prior to his death. In fact, at the time of his death, Redding had recently stolen the show at 1967's legendary Monterey Pop Festival. This live document was released only a month after that California performance in July of '67--and it's an even better set than the one that made him famous here in the States. In fact, it's a tossup between this and In Person at the Whisky a Go Go (released posthumously), in regards to capturing the soul great onstage in all his glory. But as much as the California hippies seemed to love Redding at the Whisky and at Monterey Pop, the Europeans simply adored him. That may be what gives this performance the slight edge as Redding runs through a standard set, spotlighting both some of his biggest hits as well as covers of tunes made famous by the Beatles, the Stones, the Temptations, the Isley Brothers, and Sam Cooke. Critic Sid Griffin suggested that this "is simply one of the few albums to give James Brown's breathtaking Live at the Apollo a run for its money"--and, really, you can't do any better than that. --Bill Holdship