Search - Otis Redding :: Pain in My Heart

Pain in My Heart
Otis Redding
Pain in My Heart
Genres: Pop, R&B, Rock, Classic Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (12) - Disc #1

Like most R&B albums of the early 1960s, Otis Redding's 1964 debut was a haphazard mixture of the artist's contemporary hits ("These Arms of Mine," "Pain in My Heart"), B-sides ("Something Is Worrying Me," "Hey Hey Bab...  more »

     

CD Details

All Artists: Otis Redding
Title: Pain in My Heart
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Wea Japan
Release Date: 1/13/2008
Album Type: Import
Genres: Pop, R&B, Rock, Classic Rock
Styles: Oldies, Soul, Southern Rock
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Like most R&B albums of the early 1960s, Otis Redding's 1964 debut was a haphazard mixture of the artist's contemporary hits ("These Arms of Mine," "Pain in My Heart"), B-sides ("Something Is Worrying Me," "Hey Hey Baby"), and covers of popular hits of the day ("You Send Me," "Stand by Me"). Stylistically, Redding was still trying to find his feet; though he obviously had the voice and ability to pull off tender ballads like the title track, he hadn't yet given up on trying to scream like Little Richard ("Lucille"). Uneven as they may be, the tracks on Pain in My Heart get over on the sheer soulfulness of Redding's singing. Worth the price of admission alone is the underrated "Security," which was the first in a string of great uptempo Redding originals. --Dan Epstein

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CD Reviews

First rays of a new rising sun
Michael Sean | Seattle, WA - US | 05/04/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)

"As with many early Stax full-lengths, this album was built around the success of a couple hits. In this case, it was a pair of soulful ballads. What had originally been a recording session for Johnny Jenkins & The Pinetoppers (for whom Otis was the vocalist) in 1962 resulted in Otis introducing "These Arms of Mine." It was released at the end of the year and went on to become a Top 20 R&B hit, followed by "Pain In My Heart" in 1963. Another session in January 1964 produced the rest of the tracks, most of them covers. There are songs by two of Otis' heroes, Sam Cooke's "You Send Me" and Little Richard's "Lucille," as well as renditions of "Stand By Me," "I Need Your Lovin'," "Louie Louie," and Rufus Thomas' "The Dog." While some of it is unremarkable filler material, Redding's "Something Is Worrying Me" and the excellent "Security" make this disc worth a listen. The backing band is Stax's legendary rhythm section, Booker T. & the MG's, with horns provided by the Mar-Keys. Jenkins plays guitar on "These Arms of Mine" and its B-side "Hey Hey Baby." At the time, Otis hadn't completely found his groove yet, so the album is fairly inconsistent. However, it's interesting to hear the seeds of what he would become, and his wonderful singing on the slow numbers was already in fine form. It stands as a promising debut record that's enjoyable but not essential. The strongest tracks off this CD can also be found on Rhino's 2-Disc Otis Redding anthology, "Dreams To Remember" (which also features "Shout Bamalama," the Pinetoppers song that brought them to Memphis in the first place)."
A fine debut
Docendo Discimus | Vita scholae | 01/06/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)

""Pain in my Heart" was Otis Redding's first LP, recorded at various sessions between 1962 and 1964, an issued by Stax Records in January, 1964.

And it's a great one, a must-have, really, for fans of classic deep soul music.



Otis Redding, at about 22 years of age, sounds a bit more restrained than on subsequent albums, and he relies rather heavily on covers, but this is far from a sugary pop record. Stax was a soul label, and nobody tried to make Redding into a mainstream pop singer.

He may not let loose quite as much as he would a couple of years later, but there is no mistaking the hoarse, gritty, powerful voice, and the arrangements are pure tough soul.



The Rolling Stones were heavily inspired by deep Southern soul like this, and by this album in particular, actually, and while it doesn't quite measure up to "Otis Blue", "Pain in my Heart" is nevertheless a terrific debut. Get it!"
Excellent
Michael K. Hensley | 12/22/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is pure r&b that doesnt get any better. I can remember my parents enjoying this album. For such a very early work of Mr.Redding I think it deserves nothing less than 5 stars. The version of "the dog" is nothing less than happy and uplifting (at least to me)."