Rhino is kicking off February’s Black History Month in a big way – with two new box sets dedicated to undisputed R&B royalty, Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding.  On February 4, the label will release the 4-CD collections The King of Soul and The Queen of Soul, and despite the wealth of sublime soul music on these sets, both titles are priced with an eye to the budget-conscious.  As of this writing, the Otis set is available at Amazon U.S. for $33.62, and the Aretha set for $34.05...or less than $0.40 per track!

Otis Redding’s The King of Soul coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of the late legend’s debut album, 1964’s Pain in My Heart.  Over its 92 tracks, the collection traces Redding’s meteoric rise to superstar status, spanning the fast and furious period between 1962 and his tragic passing in 1967.  King of Soul draws on both studio and live recordings, including key singles and tracks from such landmark albums as 1965’s Otis Blue, 1967’s Carla Thomas duets set King and Queen, and 1968’s posthumously-released The Dock of the Bay.  It appears that tracks are in stereo (where available) with a few selections noted as mono.  (Stax began recording in stereo in 1965.)  King of Soul is a successor to 1993’s now out-of-print Rhino box set Otis! The Definitive Otis Redding, which featured 96 tracks over four CDs.  The new collection showcases Redding’s prodigious gifts as both an influential interpretive vocalist and an impassioned singer-songwriter.

Of course, Otis Redding penned what many consider to be Aretha Franklin’s signature song, “Respect.”  On King of Soul, you’ll find studio and live versions of the defiant anthem by Redding, and on Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin’s recording takes center stage.  Like the Redding set, this box is a latter-day successor to the 1992 box entitled Queen of Soul: The Atlantic Recordings.  That set boasted 86 tracks on four CDs; this box has 87 with the same disc count.  The new iteration of Queen of Soul includes music from each of Franklin’s Atlantic albums between 1967’s I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You and 1976’s Sparkle with the exception of the still-not-on-CD With Everything I Feel in Me (1974) and You (1975).  In addition to prime album cuts and hit singles such as “(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman” and “I Say a Little Prayer,” the collection also features numerous non-LP sides and a smattering of outtakes first issued on Rhino’s 2007 rarities compendium Rare and Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul.

After the jump, we have more on both sets, including full track listings with discographical annotations, pre-order links, and news on a special contest!

If you’re reading this and are a budding filmmaker, Rhino’s looking for you!  The label is working with Genero to sponsor a "Make your own music video" contest for both artists.  Filmmakers can choose from a selection of songs for each artist to create a music video which will then be used to promote the box sets.  You can find details on the Franklin contest here, and the Redding contest here.  The grand prize for each is – get ready! - $4,000.00!

The King of Soul and The Queen of Soul arrive from Rhino and Atlantic on February 4.  You can order both of these upcoming titles at the links below!

Otis Redding, The King of Soul (Rhino/Atlantic, 2014) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

CD 1

1. “These Arms Of Mine”
2. “Hey Hey Baby”
3. “That’s What My Heart Needs”
4. “Mary’s Little Lamb”
5. “Pain In My Heart”
6. “Something Is Worrying Me”
7. “Come To Me”
8. “Don’t Leave Me This Way”
9. “Security”
10. “Chained And Bound”
11. “Your One And Only Man”
12. “That’s How Strong My Love Is”
13. “Mr. Pitiful”
14. “A Woman, A Lover, A Friend”
15. “Nothing Can Change This Love”
16. “It’s Too Late”
17. “For Your Precious Love”
18. “Home In Your Heart”
19. “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” (Mono Version)
20. “I’m Depending On You”
21. “Respect” (Mono Version)
22. “Ole Man Trouble” (Mono Version)
23. “Change Gonna Come”

CD 2

1. “Shake”
2. “Satisfaction”
3. “Down In The Valley”
4. “My Girl”
5. “Rock Me Baby”
6. “You Don’t Miss Your Water”
7. “I Can’t Turn You Loose”
8. “Just One More Day”
9. “Any Ole Way”
10. “It’s Growing”
11. “Cigarettes And Coffee”
12. “Chain Gang”
13. “Nobody Knows You (When You’re Down And Out)”
14. “Good To Me”
15. “Everybody Makes A Mistake”
16. “Just One More Day” (Live, 1966)
17. “Mr. Pitiful” (Live, 1966)
18. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” (Live, 1966)
19. “These Arms Of Mine” (Live, 1966)
20. “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” (Live, 1966)
21. “Don’t Mess With Cupid”
22. “My Lover’s Prayer”

CD 3

1. “Try A Little Tenderness”
2. “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)”
3. “I’m Sick Y’all”
4. “Tennessee Waltz”
5. “Sweet Lorene”
6. “Day Tripper”
7. “You’re Still My Baby”
8. “Hawg For You” (Mono Version)
9. “I Love You More Than Words Can Say”
10. “Let Me Come On Home”
11. “Open The Door”
12. “Tramp”
13. “Knock On Wood”
14. “Let Me Be Good To You”
15. “Lovey Dovey”
16. “New Year’s Resolution”
17. “Ooh Carla, Ooh Otis”
18. “White Christmas”
19. “Merry Christmas Baby”
20. “The Glory Of Love”
21. “The Huckle-Buck”
22. “Tell The Truth”

CD 4

1. “Respect” (Live, 1967)
2. “Can’t Turn You Loose” (Live, 1967)
3. “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” (Live, 1967)
4. “My Girl” (Live, 1967)
5. “Shake” (Live, 1967) (Stereo Mix Of Single Version)
6. “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)” (Live, 1967)
7. “Try A Little Tenderness” (Live, 1967)
8. “I’ve Got Dreams To Remember”
9. “Nobody’s Fault But Mine”
10. “Hard To Handle”
11. “Thousand Miles Away”
12. “The Happy Song (Dum-Dum)”
13. “A Waste Of Time”
14. “Champagne And Wine”
15. “A Fool For You”
16. “I’m A Changed Man”
17. “Direct Me”
18. “Love Man”
19. “Look At The Girl”
20. “Free Me”
21. “The Match Game”
22. “A Little Time”
23. “Johnny’s Heartbreak”
24. “Amen”
25. “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay”

CD 1, Tracks 1-2 from Volt single 103, 1962
CD 1, Tracks 3-4 from Volt single 109, 1963
CD 1, Tracks 5-6 from Volt single 112, 1963
CD 1, Tracks 7-8 from Volt single 116, 1964
CD 1, Track 9 from Volt single 117, 1964
CD 1, Tracks 10-11 from Volt single 121, 1964
CD 1, Tracks 12-13 from Volt single 124, 1964
CD 1, Tracks 14-18 from Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads, Volt LP 411, 1965
CD 1, Tracks 19-20 from Volt single 126, 1965
CD 1, Tracks 21-22 from Volt single 128, 1965
CD 1, Track 23 & CD 2, Tracks 1-6 from Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul, Volt LP 412, 1965
CD 2, Tracks 7-8 from Volt single 130, 1965
CD 2, Tracks 10-15 from The Soul Album, Volt LP 413, 1966
CD 2, Tracks 16-20 likely from In Person at the Whisky A Go Go, Atco LP 33-265, 1968, rec. 1966
CD 2, Tracks 21-22 from Volt single 136, 1966
CD 3, Tracks 1 & 3 from Volt single 141, 1966
CD 3, Track 2 from Volt single 138, 1966
CD 3, Tracks 3-8 from Complete and Unbelievable...The Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul, Volt LP 415, 1966
CD 3, Tracks 9-10 from Volt single 146, 1967
CD 3, Track 11 and CD 4, Track 12 from Volt single 163, 1968
CD 3, Tracks 12-17 from Otis Redding and Carla Thomas, King and Queen, Stax LP 716, 1967
CD 3, Tracks 18-19 from Atco single 6631, 1968
CD 3, Track 20 from Volt single 152, 1967
CD 3, Track 21 from Stay in School: Don’t Be a Drop-Out, Stax LP A-11, 1967
CD 3, Track 22 and CD 4, Tracks 21-22 from Tell the Truth, Atco LP 33-333, 1970
CD 4, Tracks 1-7 possibly from releases including Historic Performances Recorded at the Monterey International Pop Festival, Reprise 2029, 1970 and The Stax/Volt Revue: Hit the Road Stax, Volume 3: Live in Europe, Stax CD 88009, 1992
CD 4, Tracks 8-9 from Atco single 6612, 1968
CD 4, Tracks 10 & 24 from Atco single 6592, 1968
CD 4, Tracks 11-15 from The Immortal Otis Redding, Atco LP 33-252, 1968
CD 4, Tracks 16-17 & 20 from Love Man, Atco LP 33-289, 1969
CD 4, Track 18 from Atco single 6677, 1969
CD 4, Track 19 from Atco single 6723, 1969
CD 4, Track 23 from Atco single 6742, 1970
CD 4, Track 25 from Volt single 157, 1968

All tracks appear in mono except CD 2, Tracks 16-20; CD 3, Tracks 21-22 and CD 4, Tracks 1-21 & 24-25 which appear in stereo.

Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul (Atlantic/Rhino, 2014) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K.)

CD 1

1. “I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)”
2. “Do Right Woman - Do Right Man”
3. “Respect”
4. “Drown In My Own Tears”
5. “Soul Serenade”
6. “Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream”
7. “Baby, Baby, Baby”
8. “Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business)”
9. “Good Times”
10. “Save Me”
11. “Baby, I Love You”
12. “Satisfaction”
13. “You Are My Sunshine”
14. “Never Let Me Go”
15. “Prove It”
16. “I Wonder”
17. “Ain’t Nobody (Gonna Turn Me Around)”
18. “It Was You” (Aretha Arrives Outtake)
19. “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”
20. “Chain Of Fools”
21. “People Get Ready”
22. “Come Back Baby”
23. “Good To Me As I Am To You”
24. “Since You’ve Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)”
25. “Ain’t No Way”

CD 2

1. “Think”
2. “You Send Me”
3. “I Say A Little Prayer”
4. “The House That Jack Built”
5. “You’re A Sweet Sweet Man”
6. “I Take What I Want”
7. “A Change”
8. “See Saw”
9. “My Song”
10. “I Can’t See Myself Leaving You”
11. “Night Life” (Live)
12. “Ramblin’”
13. “Today I Sing The Blues”
14. “River’s Invitation”
15. “Pitiful”
16. “Talk To Me, Talk To Me” (Soul ‘69 Outtake)
17. “Tracks Of My Tears”
18. “The Weight”
19. “Share Your Love With Me”
20. “Pledging My Love/The Clock”
21. “It Ain’t Fair”
22. “Sit Down And Cry”
23. “Let It Be”
24. “Eleanor Rigby”
25. “Call Me”

CD 3

1. “Son Of A Preacher Man”
2. “Try Matty’s”
3. “The Thrill Is Gone (From Yesterday’s Kiss)”
4. “Dark End Of The Street”
5. “You And Me”
6. “You’re Taking Up Another Man’s Place” (Spirit In The Dark Outtake)
7. “Don’t Play That Song”
8. “Why I Sing The Blues”
9. “Spirit In The Dark”
10. “My Way” (Spirit In The Dark Outtake)
11. “One Way Ticket”
12. “Pullin’”
13. “Border Song (Holy Moses)”
14. “A Brand New Me”
15. “You’re All I Need To Get By”
16. “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
17. “Spanish Harlem”
18. “Lean On Me”
19. “Spirit In The Dark” (Reprise with Ray Charles)

CD 4

1. “Rock Steady”
2. “Young, Gifted And Black”
3. “All The King’s Horses”
4. “Oh Me Oh My (I’m A Fool For You Baby)”
5. “Day Dreaming”
6. “Mary, Don’t You Weep” (Live)
7. “Climbing Higher Mountains” (Live)
8. “Precious Memories” (Live)
9. “Master Of Eyes”
10. “Angel”
11. “Somewhere”
12. “So Swell When You’re Well”
13. “I’m In Love”
14. “Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing”
15. “Until You Come Back To Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)”
16. “Look Into Your Heart”
17. “Sparkle”
18. “Something He Can Feel”

CD 1, Tracks 1-10 from I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You, Atlantic LP 8139, 1967
CD 1, Tracks 11-17 from Aretha Arrives, Atlantic LP 8150, 1967
CD 1, Track 18 outtake from Aretha Arrives, first released on Rare and Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul, Atlantic/Rhino CD R2 272188, 2007
CD 1, Tracks 19-25 from Lady Soul, Atlantic LP 8176, 1968
CD 2, Tracks 1-3, 5-8 & 10 from Aretha Now, Atlantic LP 8186, 1968
CD 2, Track 4 from Atlantic single 2546-B, 1968
CD 2, Track 9 from Atlantic single 2574-B, 1968
CD 2, Track 11 from Aretha in Paris, Atlantic LP 8207, 1968
CD 2, Track 16 outtake from Soul ’69, first released on Rare and Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul, Atlantic/Rhino CD R2 272188, 2007
CD 2, Tracks 12-15 & 17 from Soul ’69, Atlantic LP 8212, 1969
CD 2, Tracks 18-19, 21-25 and CD 3, Tracks 1 & 4 from This Girl’s in Love with You, Atlantic LP 8248, 1970
CD 2, Track 20 from Atlantic single 2650-B, 1969
CD 3, Tracks 2-3, 5, 7-9, 11-12 from Spirit in the Dark, Atlantic LP 8265, 1970
CD 3, Track 6 outtake from Spirit in the Dark, first released on Atlantic Blues: Vocalists, Atlantic 81696, 1986
CD 3, Track 10 outtake from Spirit in the Dark, first released on Atlantic Unearthed: Soul Sisters, Atlantic/Rhino CD 77626, 2006
CD 3, Tracks 13-14 & CD 4, Tracks 1-5 from Young, Gifted and Black, Atlantic LP 7213, 1972
CD 3, Track 15 from Atlantic single 2787, 1971
CD 3, Track 16 from Atlantic single 2796, 1971
CD 3, Tracks 17-18 from Atlantic single 2817, 1971
CD 3, Track 19 from Live at Fillmore West, Atlantic LP 7205, 1971
CD 4, Tracks 6-8 from Amazing Grace, Atlantic LP 2-906, 1972
CD 4, Track 9 from Atlantic single 2941, 1973
CD 4, Tracks 10-12 from Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky), Atlantic LP 7265, 1973
CD 4, Tracks 13-15 from Let Me in Your Life, Atlantic LP 7292, 1974
CD 4, Tracks 16-18 from Sparkle, Atlantic LP 18176, 1976

CD 1, Tracks 1-20 & CD 2, Tracks 4, 9 & 16 appear in mono; all other tracks appear in stereo.