Otis Redding and Carla Thomas – New Year’s Resolution

This song is a great way to start the year! This one is a tradition here…I always post it on New Year’s Eve. Anytime you can hear Otis…you are on the right path! Have a Happy New Year! Get ready for 2026. Their voices sound amazing. They complemented each other very well. I just wish they had had time to do more.

Stax’s house band, Booker T & the MGs, provides the backing.  Note Booker T’s subtle but effective organ lending the song a spiritual element, while Donald “Duck” Dunn’s bass and Steve Cropper’s tasteful guitar licks ground the track’s rhythm

Stax was hoping to replicate the success of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Stax paired two of their greatest stars for the 1967 album King & Queen, which produced the hit “Tramp.” The album featured their takes on classics such as “Knock on Wood,” “When Something Is Wrong with My Baby,” “Bring It on Home to Me,” and “It Takes Two”

This song was on the King and Queen album released in 1967. This is the only album they got to make because Otis died in a plane crash on December 10, 1967. Carla Thomas would go on to a successful career with 2 top 20 hits plus many top 20 R&B hits.

I’m adding the song Tramp off of the album. This song peaked at #26 on the Billboard 100, #2 on the R&B Charts, and #1 on the UK R&B Charts in 1967.

New Year’s Resolution

I hope it’s not too late
Just to say that I’m sorry, honey
All I want to do
Is just finish what we started, baby

Let’s turn over a new leave
And baby let’s make promises
That we can keep
And call it a New Year’s resolution, hmmm

Oh, I’m a woman
And woman makes mistakes too
But will you, will you forget the changes
That I put you through

let’s try it again
Just you and me
And, baby, let’s see how happy honey, yeah
That we can be
And call it a New Year’s resolution, yeah, yeah, yeah

Many times we had our ups and downs
And times you needed me I couldn’t be found
I’m sorry
And I’m sorry too
I’ll never, never do it again, no, no, no
So baby before we fall out
Let’s fall on in, yeah, yeah
Oh, and we’re gonna try harder
Not to hurt each other again, oh
Love me baby, huh
Week after week
And baby let’s make promises
That we can keep
And call it a New Year’s resolution, yeah, oh
I know we can do it Carla
I’m gonna keep my promises
I’m gonna hold on that we can do it, baby
Oh, it’s not too late
You’re gonna love me
Nobody else
Oh Otis let’s finish what we started
Talk no mean

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

22 thoughts on “Otis Redding and Carla Thomas – New Year’s Resolution”

  1. Pingback: Otis Redding and Carla Thomas – New Year’s Resolution – MobsterTiger

  3. Otis Redding was widely considered one of the greatest soul and R&B vocalists ever, nicknamed the “King of Soul” for his raw power, passionate delivery, and gospel-infused style that blended grit with heartfelt emotion, influencing generations of artists with his distinctive voice and dynamic stage presence, even in his tragically short career.

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  4. A great choice for the new year! And the “King & Queen” title brought to mind another classic from Stax – “Blues for Elvis: King Does the King’s Things”. Albert King records versions of Elvis Presley Hits. Produced and arranged by Al Jackson, Jr and Donald Duck Dunn (the Stax rhythm section) with Dunn on bass.

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  5. I knew “Tramp”, but this one was new to me when you posted it last year. Great song, thank you for putting “New Year’s Resolution” up. Otis and Carla were great together.

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    1. Yes they were great together. I didn’t know it either until I posted it a few years ago…but it sounded so good plus it fit the subject. I’m a tradition guy so I can’t help myself with posting it again…and I bet you can guess what the first post of 2026 will be!

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  7. Certainly a timely pick, Max. I feel it’s pretty much impossible to wrong with Otis Redding and Stax. I don’t recall having heard “Tramp” before – another great song! It was Motown that initially got me into soul music. Eventually, this led to Stax. I’ve never looked back since – to me, Stax is it when it comes to soul!

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  10. a good tradition to keep! Booker T & the MGs, sure were good. I thought them or the Funk Brothers and would probably plonk for Booker – both sets of session guys had a lot of talent but Booker showed he and his group could also write their own music and do it well.
    HAppy New Year! Hey, I saw in another message, BAiley is due back right? That will make the NY special for you and Jen!

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    1. Yes…he is back tonight…Infact I will pick him up straight from work at 5 or so…we are looking forward to it.
      Yea I love traditions so I stick by them! Everyone knows this and the first song of the New Year will be!

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