"I picked all the tunes before I went to Memphis, and the band was all set. Willie Mitchell is an arranger like I am, and he let me do what I had to do"

This quote by Otis Rush is describing his experience recording in Memphis. He had already chosen the songs he wanted to record before he showed up in Memphis, and the band was already prepared to play them. Willie Mitchell was an arranger, like Otis Rush, and he enabled Rush to do what he needed to do to make the recordings successful. This quote reveals Rush's self-confidence in his own capabilities and his regard for Mitchell's determination to let him take the lead. It likewise talks to the collective nature of the recording process, with Rush and Mitchell working together to create something unique. The quote also shows Rush's gratitude for the city of Memphis and its musical heritage, as it was the ideal place to record his songs.