Talk:Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul/GA2

GA Review
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Reviewer: SilkTork (talk · contribs) 14:46, 4 October 2012 (UTC)

I'm not actually doing GA Reviews at the moment, but an article on a classic album done by a decent contributor, and it's been hanging around for three months! Well, gotta do that!

I'll start reading over the next few days and then begin to make comments. I am normally a slow reviewer - if that is likely to be a problem, please let me know now. I tend to directly do copy-editing and minor improvements, though if there is a lot of work needed I may suggest getting a copy-editor. Anything more significant than minor improvements I will raise here. I see the reviewer's role as collaborative and collegiate, so I welcome discussion regarding interpretation of the criteria.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  14:46, 4 October 2012 (UTC)

Tick box
GA review – see WP:WIAGA for criteria


 * 1) Is it reasonably well written?
 * A. Prose quality:
 * B. MoS compliance for lead, layout, words to watch, fiction, and lists:
 * 1) Is it factually accurate and verifiable?
 * A. References to sources:
 * B. Citation of reliable sources where necessary:
 * C. No original research:
 * 1) Is it broad in its coverage?
 * A. Major aspects:
 * B. Focused:
 * 1) Is it neutral?
 * Fair representation without bias:
 * 1) Is it stable?
 * No edit wars, etc:
 * 1) Does it contain images to illustrate the topic?
 * A. Images are tagged with their copyright status, and valid fair use rationales are provided for non-free content:
 * B. Images are provided where possible and appropriate, with suitable captions:
 * 1) Overall:
 * Pass or Fail:
 * 1) Is it stable?
 * No edit wars, etc:
 * 1) Does it contain images to illustrate the topic?
 * A. Images are tagged with their copyright status, and valid fair use rationales are provided for non-free content:
 * B. Images are provided where possible and appropriate, with suitable captions:
 * 1) Overall:
 * Pass or Fail:
 * B. Images are provided where possible and appropriate, with suitable captions:
 * 1) Overall:
 * Pass or Fail:
 * Pass or Fail:

Comments on GA criteria

 * Pass
 * Images are tagged.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  14:55, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * There's an appropriate reference section.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  14:55, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Stable.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  14:57, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Prose is clear enough to convey meaning and meets GA criteria.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  21:27, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Facts and quotes are all cited, and check out, and a range of sources have been used.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  21:30, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * There is no evidence of original research - material in the article comes from the sources.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  21:30, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * The major aspects are covered.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  21:33, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Does not go into excessive detail at any point.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  21:33, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Neutral.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  21:34, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Awesome new image of the recording session. Brilliant! Very encyclopaedic - just the thing to have.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  14:23, 6 October 2012 (UTC)


 * Query
 * Is the image of Steve Cropper appropriate? It appears to be for the sake of putting in an image. And it's not even a contemporary image. It's not really adding anything, and may be thought of as distracting.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  14:55, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * I've removed the image. This resolves the question. I feel it is inappropriate as it gives undue weight to Cropper in an article about Redding (much as I admire Cropper!).  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  21:40, 4 October 2012 (UTC)

 SilkTork   ✔Tea time  22:18, 4 October 2012 (UTC)


 * Fail
 * Lead. To meet GA criteria 1(b), which relates to specific manual of style guidelines, the article needs to comply with the advice in WP:LEAD. That is, in addition to being an introduction, the lead needs to be an adequate overview of the whole of the article. As a rough guide, each major section in the article should be represented with an appropriate summary in the lead. Also, the article should provide further details on all the things mentioned in the lead. And, the first few sentences should mention the most notable features of the article's subject - the essential facts that every reader should know.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  15:05, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * I will work on this soon. --Kürbis (✔) 09:33, 6 October 2012 (UTC)

General comments

 * "most successful studio album to date" - Does that mean his most successful studio album to now, or does it mean his most successful studio album released up to that point?  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  15:03, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * --Kürbis (✔) 09:33, 6 October 2012 (UTC)
 * OK, the problem is that I always thought that The Dock of the Bay is a compilation album, but as it turned out it is also a studio album. So removed the phrase and simply stated that it was one of his most successful albums.--Kürbis (✔) 16:39, 6 October 2012 (UTC)


 * "Generally speaking is Otis Blue more individual than Redding's prior albums, leading to be named "one of the most complete LPs ever recorded" by Glasgow Herald's David Belcher." This is a problematic statement for several reasons, and I was about to parse it in order to tidy it up (should it say "Generally speaking Otis Blue is more individual...." and "leading it to be named"), when I thought to check on who David Belcher is, and the Glasgow Herald. When neither David Belcher nor the newspaper turned up as being notable for their reputation for commenting on classic soul albums, I wondered if it might simply be easier to remove the statement. Reading the quote in context: "words fail me, as you may have noticed. In short this is one of the ....", and it appears that he is a fan enthusing over the album, but not actually articulating very well. He appears to be saying that he likes the album because it contains so many songs he enjoys - and that's why he considers it "the most complete".  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  15:36, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * I've removed the sentence.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  21:35, 4 October 2012 (UTC)

On hold
A very useful introduction to a very important album. I've passed everything apart from the lead, which needs building up from information contained in the article (like the backing band, etc). And the statement about best album to date needs clarifying. On hold for an initial seven days to allow the work to be done.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  21:42, 4 October 2012 (UTC)
 * Note left for Tomcat7.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  16:31, 23 October 2012 (UTC)
 * I will shortly begin with the expansion of the lead. Regards.--Tomcat (7) 16:46, 23 October 2012 (UTC)
 * I expanded it a bit. What do you think? Regards.--Tomcat (7) 17:44, 23 October 2012 (UTC)

""Ole Man Trouble" and "Respect", were written during the sessions..." - Later we have the information that "Respect" was "written by Redding for R&B singer Speedo Sims...." So it appears that "Respect" at least wasn't written during the session. Is it supposed to say "...were recorded during the sessions"? Also, when checking Guralnick's book, it seems that the claim by Speedo is that he wrote the song himself, and that Redding rewrote it, but that most of the lyrics were Speedo's. Not sure how true that claim is given that Speedo says he's not interested in suing, but we'll need to adjust the wording slightly.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  10:33, 24 October 2012 (UTC)


 * "only song not recorded during the 24 hour session". It appears that "I've Been Loving You Too Long" was re-recorded in stereo during July 1965. The mono recording with Booker T on piano, and the July recording with Hayes on piano. Seems likely that the re-recording was done during this session. A bit more research and another rewording perhaps?  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  14:43, 24 October 2012 (UTC)


 * Page 57 of Bowman's book has the details, but I can't read it off Google Books. Can you transcribe it here?  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  14:48, 24 October 2012 (UTC)

Pass
Article meets GA criteria and is a useful and readable guide to an important album. I have removed the ratings template as I feel it is not in compliance with GA criteria nor with other guidance on Wikipedia. What happens to the article after this review is not up to me, and if someone wishes to replace the template, so be it - but I cannot in good conscience pass this article as a GA when I feel it is in contravention of the GA criteria and other guidelines.

Well done to all involved in improving the article.  SilkTork   ✔Tea time  09:36, 5 November 2012 (UTC)