(Sittin’ on the) Dock of the Bay

Otis Redding and guitarist Steve Cropper wrote the soul ballad (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay. This song's become one of the best summer songs of all time. Redding recorded it twice in 1967, the last time just three days before he perished in an airplane accident on December 10, 1967. The song, which was released in 1968 on the Volt label of Stax Records, became the first-ever posthumous record to top the US charts. It reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart.

While perched on a leased houseboat in Sausalito, California, in August 1967, Redding began writing the song's lyrics. With the assistance of Booker T. & the M.G.'s guitarist and Stax producer Cropper, he finished the song in Memphis. Waves smashing on the shore and whistling are heard throughout the tune.

The song has charted on a number of other American Billboard Hot 100 charts. The King Curtis rendition peaked at number 84 during its five-week chart run that began in March 1968. (during the same month, the original was number one). A year later, the version by Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 charted for five weeks beginning in June 1969 and reached its highest position at number 66.

Artist: Otis Redding

Released: January 8, 1968

Genre: Soul