(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay

1968 single by Otis Redding The Dock of the Bay other uses The Dock of the Bay (disambiguation) April 2018 (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding US vinyl.png An early U.S. vinyl pressing single Otis Redding The Dock of the Bay "Sweet Lorene" (Volt issue) "Keep Your Arms Around Me" (Atco reissue) January 8, 1968 November 22 and December7, 1967 Stax, Memphis, Tennessee Soul folkhttps://www.thisisdig.com/feature/sittin-on-the-dock-of-the-bay-otis-redding-song/ (Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay: How Otis Redding Sang His Own Elegy March 18, 2023 March 18, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230318110214/https://www.thisisdig.com/feature/sittin-on-the-dock-of-the-bay-otis-redding-song/ live https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/inside-otis-reddings-final-masterpiece-sittin-on-the-dock-of-the-bay-122170/ Inside Otis Redding's Masterpiece '(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay' Rolling Stone December 10, 2017 May 30, 2021 June 6, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210606093012/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/inside-otis-reddings-final-masterpiece-sittin-on-the-dock-of-the-bay-122170/ live 2:38 Volt Atco Steve Cropper Otis Redding Steve Cropper Knock on Wood 1967 The Happy Song (Dum Dum) 1968 rTVjnBo96Ug "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" is a song co-written by the soul singer Otis Redding and the guitarist Steve Cropper. Redding recorded it twice in 1967, including just three days before his death in a plane crash on December 10, 1967. It was released on Stax Records' Volt label in 1968,https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19832/m1/ Show 51 – The Soul Reformation: Phase three, soul music at the summit. [Part 7] : UNT Digital Library becoming the first posthumous number 1 single in the US.http://www.thedaily.com/page/2011/03/25/032511-opinions-history-otis-redding-lichter-marck-1-3/ The Daily Holdings, Inc. Rose Lichter-Marck March 25, 2011 May 13, 2011 The undying soul of Otis January 5, 2013 https://archive.today/20130105000052/http://www.thedaily.com/page/2011/03/25/032511-opinions-history-otis-redding-lichter-marck-1-3/ live It reached number 3 on the UK Singles Chart. Redding started writing the lyrics in August 1967 while staying on a rented houseboat in Sausalito, California. He completed the song in Memphis with Cropper, a Stax producer and the guitarist for Booker T. & the M.G.'s. It features whistling and sounds of waves crashing on a shore. Origins While on tour with the Bar-Kays in August 1967, Redding had grown in popularity and was inundated with fans at his hotel in San Francisco. Rock concert impresario Bill Graham offered Redding a respite, staying at his houseboat at Waldo Point Harbor in Sausalito, California. On the houseboat, Redding listened obsessively to the Beatles' recently released Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album and found inspiration to develop a new sound for himself.The Song https://otisredding.com/the-music/the-song/ Otis Redding March 21, 2026Einav Dan (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay — why Otis Redding's biggest hit wasn't actually a soul song https://ig.ft.com/life-of-a-song/dock-of-the-bay.html March 21, 2026 Financial Times October 7, 2019 Redding started writing the lines, "Sittin' in the morning sun, I'll be sittin' when the evening comes" and the song's first verse, under the abbreviated title "Dock of the Bay."Bowman, Rob (2007). Liner Notes for Dreams to Remember: The Otis Redding Story [DVD]. Beverly Hills, CA: Reelin' in the Years Productions/Concord Music Group.https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/sausalito-otis-redding-dock-of-the-bay-houseboats-16226061.php I found the Bay Area dock where Otis Redding wrote his final song SFGate June 6, 2021 November 28, 2022Miller Stuart Inside Otis Redding's Final Masterpiece '(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay' https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/inside-otis-reddings-final-masterpiece-sittin-on-the-dock-of-the-bay-122170/ 31 May 2021 Rolling Stone 10 December 2017 September 1, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240901103348/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/inside-otis-reddings-final-masterpiece-sittin-on-the-dock-of-the-bay-122170/ live Redding had completed his famed performance at the Monterey Pop Festival just weeks earlier. While touring in support of the albums King & Queen (a collaboration with vocalist Carla Thomas) and Live in Europe, he continued writing lines for the song on napkins and hotel paper. That November, Redding joined Cropper at the Stax recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee, where they completed and recorded it.Booth Stanley February 8, 1969 The rebirth of the blues: Soul https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/flipbooks/issues/19690208/ The Saturday Evening Post 60 August 29, 2024 September 1, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240901103422/https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/subscribe-to-issue/?issue=19690208 livehttp://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1496 Dock of the Bay origin/meaning songfacts.com June 1, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070611064708/http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1496 June 11, 2007 live In a September 1990 interview on NPR's Fresh Air, Cropper said: Otis was one of those [guys] who had 100 ideas. [...] He had been in San Francisco doing The Fillmore. And the story that I got, he was renting a boathouse, or stayed at a boathouse or something, and that's where he got the idea of the ships coming in the bay there. And that's about all he had: "I watch the ships come in and I watch them roll away again." I just took that... and I finished the lyrics. If you listen to the songs I collaborated on with Otis, most of the lyrics are about him. [...] Otis didn't really write about himself but I did. Songs like "Mr. Pitiful," "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)"; they were about Otis and Otis' life. "Dock of the Bay" was exactly that: "I left my home in Georgia, headed for the Frisco Bay" was all about him going out to San Francisco to perform.Steve Cropper Steve Cropper Terry Gross Guitarist, songwriter and producer Steve Cropper https://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=1273242&m=1273243 Fresh Air WHYY-FM NPR September 18, 1990 June 4, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304213011/http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=1273242&m=1273243 March 4, 2016 dead mdy-all From those sessions emerged Redding's final recorded work, including "Dock of the Bay," which was recorded on November 22, with additional overdubs on December 7. Redding's restrained yet emotive delivery is backed by Cropper's succinct guitar playing.https://allmusic.com/artist/otis-redding-p5246/biography AllMusic Otis Redding – Biography Richie Unterberger Richie Unterberger February 25, 2012 May 3, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120503214702/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/otis-redding-p5246/biography live The song is somewhat different in style from most of Redding's recordings. While discussing it with his wife, Redding said that he wanted it to "be a little different", to "change his style". There were concerns that the song had too much of a pop feel. There were discussions of contracting the Stax gospel act the Staple Singers to record backing vocals, but this was never carried out. Redding considered the song unfinished, and planned to record what he considered a final version, but never got the chance.https://books.google.com/books?id=LPgNRyfXF4gC&q=sittin+on+the+dock+of+bay+unfinished&pg=PA72 Black History: More Than Just a Month Mike Henry January 1, 2013 Rowman & Littlefield 9781475802610 Google Books October 15, 2020 September 1, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240901103348/https://books.google.com/books?id=LPgNRyfXF4gC&q=sittin+on+the+dock+of+bay+unfinished&pg=PA72#v=snippet&q=sittin%20on%20the%20dock%20of%20bay%20unfinished&f=false live The song features a whistled melody heard before it fades out; it is unclear who performed it. Some sources claim Sam Taylor, a guitarist/bandleader for Redding during the 1960s, overdubbed Redding's original, weaker whistle.Specktor Brandon March 12, 2018 17 Great Songs That Were Nearly Ruined By Their Original Lyrics https://www.rd.com/list/changed-lyrics-rock-songs/ 2021-05-30 Reader's Digest en-US June 2, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214549/https://www.rd.com/list/changed-lyrics-rock-songs/ live However, Cropper insists that Redding's original whistle was used. Redding continued touring after the sessions. Cropper mixed "Dock of the Bay" at Stax Studios after Redding's death. He added the sound of seagulls and crashing waves, as Redding had requested, recalling the sounds he had heard staying on the houseboat.Sullivan 2013 116 Personnel Information is taken from the liner notes of The Dock of the Bay.Redding Otis Dock of the Bay 1968-02-23 Volt Records VOLT S-419 Otis Redding – vocals Booker T. Jones, Isaac Hayes – keyboards Steve Cropper – guitar Donald Dunn – bass Al Jackson Jr. – drums Wayne Jackson – trumpet Charts Weekly charts Chart (1968)PeakpositionIreland2 13 Dock of the Bay January 4, 2019New Zealand (Listener)http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=685#n_view_location flavour of new zealand – search listener Flavourofnz.co.nz October 2, 2016 July 9, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184225/http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=685#n_view_location dead 3South Africa (Springbok Radio)SA Charts 1965–March 1989 http://www.rock.co.za/files/springbok_top_20_(R).html Rock.co.za 5 September 20183UK Singles Charthttp://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/otis%20redding/ Artist Chart History – Otis Redding The Official UK Charts Company July 5, 2012 October 23, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121023034655/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/otis%20redding/ live3U.S. Billboard Hot 1001US Cashbox Top 100http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/19680316.html Cashbox Top 100: March 16, 1968 cashboxmagazine.com April 2, 2021 September 30, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120930123759/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/60s_files/19680316.html dead3U.S. Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles1 +2024 weekly chart performance for "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay"Chart (2024)PeakpositionDutch100 66 Otis Redding (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay true 22 November 2024 NLD2024 Year-end charts Chart (1968)RankCanadahttp://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.5867&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada Collectionscanada.gc.ca October 2, 2016 August 17, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160817035807/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.5867&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 live 44UKhttp://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1968.shtml Top 100 1968 - UK Music Charts Uk-charts.top-source.info October 2, 2016 December 27, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151227181042/http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1968.shtml live 38U.S. Billboard Hot 100http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1968.htm Top 100 Hits of 1968/Top 100 Songs of 1968 Musicoutfitters.com October 2, 2016 October 11, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161011144924/http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1968.htm live 4 All-time charts Chart (1958–2018) PositionUS Billboard Hot 100https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart Billboard 10 December 2018 August 3, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180803021324/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100-60th-anniversary live203 Certifications Denmark single Otis Redding (Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay Platinum 12784 2024 March 1, 2024 Germany single Otis Redding (Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay Gold 1968 2024 December 6, 2024 Italy single Otis Redding (Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay Platinum 1968 2024 August 5, 2024 6807 Japan single Otis Redding (Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay true 400,000 Million selling records from the 1900s to the 1980s : an illustrated directory https://openlibrary.org/works/OL120558W/Million_selling_records_from_the_1900s_to_the_1980s Joseph Murrells 1985 Arco Pub. The disc also sold over 400,000 in Japan 0668064595 269 September 11, 2023 October 8, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211008231820/https://openlibrary.org/works/OL120558W/Million_selling_records_from_the_1900s_to_the_1980s live New Zealand Otis Redding (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay Platinum 4 single 1968 2024-07-12 newchart 2024-11-20 2024 Spain single Otis Redding (Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay Platinum 1968 2024 May 9, 2024 otis-redding-sittin-on-the-dock-of-the-bay United Kingdom single Otis Redding (Sittin' on the) Dock of the Bay Platinum 3 2015 2024 August 24, 2024 12753-1496-1 United States single Otis Redding The Dock of the Bay Platinum 3 1968 2017 May 31, 2019 true true true Critical reception Phil Walden and Jim Stewart were among those who had doubts about the song, the sound, and the production. Redding accepted some of the criticisms and fine-tuned the song. He reversed the opening, which was Redding's whistling part, and put it at the end as suggested.March 2015 "The Dock of the Bay" was released early in 1968 and topped the charts in the US and UK. Billboard ranked the record as the number 4 song for 1968. Universal success "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" was released in January 1968, shortly after Redding's death. R&B stations quickly added the song to their playlists, which had been saturated with Redding's previous hits. The song shot to number 1 on the R&B charts in early 1968 and, starting in March, topped the pop charts for four weeks. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004 Whitburn Joel Joel Whitburn 2004 Record Research 486 The album, which shared the song's title, became his largest-selling to date, peaking at number 4 on the pop album chart.http://allmusic.com/artist/otis-redding-p5246/charts-awards Rovi Corporation AllMusic Otis Redding – Charts & Awards February 25, 2012 December 11, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101211040337/http://allmusic.com/artist/otis-redding-p5246/charts-awards live "Dock of the Bay" was popular in countries across the world and became Redding's most successful song, selling more than four million copies worldwide.Otfinoski 2003 194http://otisredding.com/bio/honors/ Otis Redding Official Website October 13, 2011 Honors https://archive.today/20110111070217/http://otisredding.com/bio/honors/ January 11, 2011 dead In 1969, it won two Grammy Awards: Best R&B Song and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=1968&genre=All 1968 Grammy Award Winners Grammy.com May 1, 2011 May 11, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110511195922/http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=&title=&year=1968&genre=All live In 1998 the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#s Grammy Hall of Fame Award 2024-02-11 December 19, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221219195004/https://www.grammy.com/awards/hall-of-fame-award#s live Legacy Redding's body of work at the time of his death was immense, including a backlog of archived recordings as well as those created in November and December 1967, just before his death. In mid-1968, Stax Records severed its distribution contract with Atlantic Records, which retained the label's back catalog and the rights to the unreleased Otis Redding masters.Bowman 1997 138-142 Through its Atco subsidiary (Atco had distributed Otis Redding's releases from Stax's Volt label), Atlantic issued three more albums of new Redding material, one live album, and eight singles between 1968 and 1970.Bowman 1997 138-142 Reprise Records issued a live album featuring Redding and Jimi Hendrix at the Monterey Pop Festival. Both studio albums and anthologies sold well in America and abroad. Redding was especially successful in the United Kingdom, where The Dock of the Bay went to number one, becoming the first posthumous album to reach the top spot there.https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19680616/7502/ 1968 Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive 22nd June 1968 2010 Official Charts Company London October 19, 2011 June 17, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150617010335/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19680616/7502/ live In 1999, BMI named the song as the sixth-most performed song of the twentieth century, with about six million performances."BMI Announces Top 100 Songs of the Century". https://archive.today/20130118073645/http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/232893 January 18, 2013 at BMI.com. December 13, 1999. Retrieved February 25, 2012. Rolling Stone ranked The Dock of the Bay number 161 on its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, the third of five Redding albums on the list. "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" was ranked twenty-sixth on Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, the second-highest of four Redding songs on the list, after "Respect" (in this case the version recorded by Aretha Franklin).https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/11028260/the_rs_500_greatest_songs_of_all_time/1 The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time RollingStone.com June 2, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070516110704/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/11028260/the_rs_500_greatest_songs_of_all_time/1 May 16, 2007 dead Jim Morrison made reference to "Dock of the Bay" in the Doors' song "Runnin' Blue", written by Robby Krieger, from their 1969 album The Soft Parade.Two Discs Extol Warmth of Home Testa Bart 37 The Morning Call October 23, 1969 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38559320/call_23oct69_p37/ November 6, 2019 newspapers.com November 6, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191106214311/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38559320/call_23oct69_p37/ live Morrison sings an a capella intro for the song, singing directly about Otis Redding. "Poor Otis dead and gone, left me here to sing his song, pretty little girl with a red dress on, poor Otis dead and gone." During the verse, the lyrics "Got to find a dock and a bay" are heard more than once, as well as several other references to Redding's song. In 2013, Redding's son Otis Redding III performed the song at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Brannan Street Wharf on the Embarcadero in San Francisco's South Beach neighborhood. The song's lyrics are emblazoned there on a plaque,https://www.baycrossings.com/brannan-street-wharf-now-open-to-the-public/ Brannan Street Wharf Now Open to the Public August 2013 November 28, 2022 November 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20221130171356/https://www.baycrossings.com/brannan-street-wharf-now-open-to-the-public/ live leading some to believe Redding wrote the song there (especially as the lyrics reference the "Frisco Bay"). It was actually written ten miles farther north, in Sausalito, as Redding watched "the ships come in" on Richardson Bay. Brian May’s lyrics to "My Angels Are Calling" (2026) by Steve Cropper and the Midnight Hour with May and Billy Gibbons, written in memory of Cropper who had died after recording the music, include a reference to this song: "My angels are calling, they’re calling to take me away. They’re taking me back to my seat on the dock of the bay."Moore Moe August 27, 2026 Steve Cropper and the Midnight Hour: Watching The Tide Review https://bluesrockreview.com/2026/08/steve-cropper-and-the-midnight-hour-watching-the-tide-review.html 2026-09-08 Blues Rock Review en-US Usage The song was featured in the films Top Gun,Rossignol Derrick May 16, 2026 The Top Gun soundtrack’s hits are still massive 40 years later https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/top-gun/top-gun-soundtrack-40-years-later 2026-08-02 Paste Magazine en-US The Witches,Kyriazis Stefan 2020-10-21 The Witches film REVIEW: Anne Hathaway in Roald Dahl remake https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/1350623/The-Witches-film-REVIEW-stream-watch-Anne-Hathaway-Roald-Dahl-Anjelica-Houston-ending 2026-08-02 Express en and Perfect Days.Pilley Max 2024-02-23 Here's every song on the 'Perfect Days' soundtrack https://www.nme.com/news/film/heres-every-song-on-the-perfect-days-soundtrack-3592061 2026-08-02 NME en-GB Michael Bolton version (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay Michael Bolton - (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay.jpg 7-inch single cover single Michael Bolton The Hunger Call My Name 1987 3:50 Columbia * Steve Cropper Otis Redding * Jonathan Cain Keith Diamond Susan Hamilton That's What Love Is All About 1987 Wait on Love 1988 rpjU_LfXcPA "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" Michael Bolton included the song on his 1987 album The Hunger. His version peaked number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 12 on the Album Rock Tracks chart.Joel Whitburn. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles: 1955–2002. Record Research, 2004. The version also peaked number three in Australia, number five in Norway, and number eight in New Zealand. Zelma Redding, Otis's widow, said she was so moved by Bolton's performance "that it brought tears to my eyes. It reminded me so much of my husband that I know if he heard it, he would feel the same."https://books.google.com/books?id=b7sDAAAAMBAJ&q=The+Dock+of+the+Bay+bolton+zelma+redding&pg=PA64 People Are Talking About . . . January 18, 1988 Jet September 19, 2015 September 1, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240901103412/https://books.google.com/books?id=b7sDAAAAMBAJ&q=The+Dock+of+the+Bay+bolton+zelma+redding&pg=PA64#v=snippet&q=The%20Dock%20of%20the%20Bay%20bolton%20zelma%20redding&f=false live In a framed letter that hangs on the wall of Bolton's office, she referred to the record as "my all-time favorite version of my husband's classic."https://books.google.com/books?id=P5wJFtHCjIIC&q=The+Dock+of+the+Bay+bolton+zelma+redding&pg=PA122 Michael Bolton: 'How Black Music Changed My Life' December 1995 Ebony September 19, 2015 September 1, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240901103400/https://books.google.com/books?id=P5wJFtHCjIIC&q=The+Dock+of+the+Bay+bolton+zelma+redding&pg=PA122#v=snippet&q=The%20Dock%20of%20the%20Bay%20bolton%20zelma%20redding&f=false live Charts Chart (1988) Peakposition Australia (Australian Music Report)Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 Kent David David Kent (historian) Australian Chart Book St Ives, NSW 1993 0-646-11917-6 3 Canada (RPM)http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.8984.pdf RPM Top 100 Singles - April 23, 1988 October 14, 2023 September 1, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240901103325/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.8984.pdf live 9New Zealand 8 Michael Bolton (Sittin' On) The Dock of the BayNorway 5 Michael Bolton (Sittin' On) The Dock of the BayUK 77 19880403Billboardhot100 11 Michael BoltonBillboardrandbhiphop 58 Michael BoltonBillboardmainstreamrock 12 Michael Bolton Other cover versions (Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay 7-inch single cover single Sammy Hagar I've Done Everything for You 1979 August 1978–May 1979August 26, 1978 Studio Track https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1978/Billboard%201978-08-26.pdf Billboard New York Billboard August 18, 2020 July 11, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200711082205/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1978/Billboard%201978-08-26.pdf live Rock 3:03 Capitol Steve Cropper Otis Redding Carter I've Done Everything for You 1978 Plain Jane 1979 Several other versions of the song have charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. King Curtis' version charted for five weeks starting in March 1968 and peaked at number 84 (the same month, the original was number 1). Glen Campbell released a version of the song on his 1968 album Wichita Lineman. Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66's version charted for five weeks starting in June 1969, peaking at number 66. Also in 1969 Nino Tempo and April Stevens recorded 'Sea Of Love/(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay' which played upon the similarity of the chords (And the subject matter) of the two songs.Bell Records – BLL 1087 Canadian singer Michel Pagliaro reached number 70 on the Canadian charts with his version in 1977.http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5274b.pdf RPM Top 100 Singles - April 2, 1977 October 13, 2023 November 20, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231120095411/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.5274b.pdf live Sammy Hagar released a version of the song as a non-album single in 1979. His version features the song's co-writer, Steve Cropper, on guitar and members of the band Boston—Brad Delp, Sib Hashian and Barry Goudreau—on backup vocals.https://books.google.com/books?id=AxwO8nc74hgC&pg=PT120 77 Hagar Sammy Sammy Hagar Selvin Joel Joel Selvin Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock HarperCollins 2011 978-0-06-200928-9 Music critic Thor Christensen in 1994 listed it as one of the "five worst song remakes".Thor Christensen July 18, 1993 registration Christensen's picks https://www.proquest.com/docview/333625900 Milwaukee Journal 1052-4452 E8 333625900 June 20, 2022 September 1, 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240901103358/https://www.proquest.com/docview/333625900 live It charted for five weeks starting in April 1979, peaking at number 65, and number 66 in Canada.http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.4776b.pdf RPM Top 100 Singles - May 12, 1979 October 13, 2023 December 26, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231226160336/https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f2/nlc008388.4776b.pdf live The Reddings, who included two of Otis Redding's sons, released a version which charted for nine weeks starting in June 1982, peaking at number 55. The song is also regularly played by American singer Sara Bareilles.https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/sara-bareilles-2bd6bc52.html?songid=3d19de7 (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay performed by Sara Bareilles setlist.fm March 19, 2025 The song appeared in two of her live albums: Between the Lines: Sara Bareilles Live at the Fillmore (released in 2008) and Brave Enough: Live at the Variety Playhouse (released in 2013). References Bibliography Rob Bowman 1997 Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records New York, NY https://books.google.com/books?id=XLdsRwpZ9oYC&q=Soulsville%20USA%20Rob%20Bowman%20steve%20cropper&pg=PP1 Schirmer Trade 978-0-8256-7284-2 36824884 Peter Guralnick Peter Guralnick https://archive.org/details/sweetsoulmusicrh0000gura_g0m5 Back Bay Books Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom 1999 978-0-316-33273-6 41950519 February 25, 2012 mdy-all registration Steven Otfinoski 2003 African Americans in the Performing Arts (A to Z of African Americans) https://books.google.com/books?id=gnXQSqTx2h0C&q=monterey+pop+festival+otis+redding&pg=PP1 New York, NY Facts on File 978-0-8160-4807-6 49558659 Steve Sullivan 2013 Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings, Volume 2 https://books.google.com/books?id=QWBPAQAAQBAJ&q=otis+redding+steve+cropper+houseboat+the+fillmore&pg=PA115 Lanham, MD Lanham: Scarecrow Press, Inc. 978-0-810-88296-6 External links Inside Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" Zu5chXCp1Ag Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay Category:1967 songs Category:1968 singles Category:Otis Redding songs Category:Songs about San Francisco Category:Songs about Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Little Richard songs Category:David Allan Coe songs Category:Michael Bolton songs Category:Peggy Lee songs Category:Sammy Hagar songs Category:Waylon Jennings songs Category:Willie Nelson songs Category:Jimmy Velvit songs Category:Glen Campbell songs Category:Songs written by Otis Redding Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Category:Songs released posthumously Category:Songs written by Steve Cropper Category:Song recordings produced by Steve Cropper Category:RCA Records singles Category:Atco Records singles Category:Stax Records singles Category:Capitol Records singles Category:Columbia Records singles Category:Songs about oceans and seas Category:Songs about boats