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{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{about|the Otis Redding album|the 2013 single|Herrick (band)}}
{{Good article}} {{Good article}}
{{Infobox album {{Infobox album
| name = Pain in My Heart | name = Pain in My Heart
| type = ] | type = Album
| artist = ] | artist = ]
| cover = Otisredding-paininmyheart-original.jpg | cover = Otisredding-paininmyheart-original.jpg
| alt = | alt =
| released = March 17, 1964 <ref>{{cite news |title=Billboard |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=BCIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT1&dq="Atco+161"&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjR_MC6rpjiAhWnyIUKHZtlDb0Q6AEIOjAE#v=onepage&q="Atco%20161"&f=false |publisher=Billboard Advertising |date=21 Mar 1964}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Gould |first1=Jonathan |title=Otis Redding: An Unfinished Life |date=2017 |publisher=Crown Archetype |location=New York |isbn=0307453960 |page=250 |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Zs7hDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA250&dq="pain+in+my+heart"+otis+redding+"March"&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjktIT0rJjiAhXR7eAKHbKWDTIQ6AEILzAB#v=onepage&q="pain%20in%20my%20heart"%20otis%20redding%20"March"&f=false}}</ref> | released = {{start date|1964|3}}<ref>{{cite news |title=New Album Releases |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DSIEAAAAMBAJ&q=imperial+album+releases+february+1964&pg=PA7 |publisher=Billboard Advertising |date=February 29, 1964}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Gould |first1=Jonathan |title=Otis Redding: An Unfinished Life |date=2017 |publisher=Crown Archetype |location=New York |isbn=978-0307453969 |page=250 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zs7hDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA250}}</ref>
| recorded = 1962&ndash;1963 | recorded = 1962–1963
| venue = | venue =
| studio = | studio =
| genre = ]<ref name="Allmusic"/> | genre = ]<ref name="Allmusic"/>
| length = 30:17 | length = 30:17
| label = ] <br /><small>33-161</small> | label = ] <br /><small>33–161</small>
| producer = ] | producer = ]
| prev_title = | prev_title =
Line 21: Line 21:
}} }}


'''''Pain in My Heart''''' is the debut album of ] ] ]. Redding recorded for ], a subsidiary of ], based in ]. Volt LPs were initially issued on the Atco label, which released this album (the singles were issued on the Volt label). '''''Pain in My Heart''''' is the debut album of ] singer-songwriter ]. Redding recorded for ], a subsidiary of ], based in ]. Volt LPs were initially issued on the Atco label, which released this album (the singles were issued on the Volt label). The title song was written and arranged by ], under the pseudonym Naomi Neville.


The album includes four successful singles, released in 1962 and 1963: "These Arms of Mine", "That's What My Heart Needs", "Security", and the title track. Since '']'' did not publish an ] singles chart from late 1963 to early 1965, the R&B chart peaks of the latter two singles are unknown.{{sfn|Bowman|1997|p=56}} The album includes four successful singles, released in 1962 and 1963: "These Arms of Mine", "That's What My Heart Needs", "Security", and the title track. Since '']'' did not publish an ] singles chart from late 1963 to early 1965, the R&B chart peaks of the latter two singles are unknown.{{sfn|Bowman|1997|p=56}}


==Biography== ==Biography==
As a member of the Pat T. Cake and the Mighty Panthers, Redding toured in the ], mostly on the ], a string of nightclubs and dance halls hospitable to African-American musicians when ] of performance venues was prevalent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news-journalonline.com/special/chitlin/|publisher=News-Journal Corporation|accessdate=November 21, 2011|author=John Bozzo|date=October 17, 2007|title=Beat went on despite segregation|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212063220/http://www.news-journalonline.com/special/chitlin/|archivedate=December 12, 2010|df=}}</ref> Guitarist Johnny Jenkins, who helped Redding win a talent contest at the Hillview Springs Social Club 15 times in row and also at the talent show "The Teenage Party", left the band to become a featured artist with the Pinetoppers.{{sfn|Gulla|2007|pp=400–401}} Around this time, Redding met ], the future founder of the recording company Phil Walden and Associates (even though without an associate),{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=173}} and later Bobby Smith, who ran Confederate Records, a small label. He signed with Confederate and recorded his second single, "Shout Bamalama" (a rewrite of his "Gamma Lamma"), with his band Otis and the Shooters.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=159}}{{sfn|Bowman|1997|p=40}} ], the only solo artist signed to Confederate, became the Pinetoppers' bass guitarist.{{sfn|Gulla|2007|pp=400–401}} As a member of the Pat T. Cake and the Mighty Panthers, Redding toured in the Southern United States, mostly on the ], a string of nightclubs and dance halls hospitable to African-American musicians when ] of performance venues was prevalent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news-journalonline.com/special/chitlin/|publisher=News-Journal Corporation|access-date=November 21, 2011|author=John Bozzo|date=October 17, 2007|title=Beat went on despite segregation|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212063220/http://www.news-journalonline.com/special/chitlin/|archive-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref> Guitarist Johnny Jenkins, who helped Redding win a talent contest at the Hillview Springs Social Club 15 times in row and also at the talent show "The Teenage Party", left the band to become a featured artist with the Pinetoppers.{{sfn|Gulla|2007|pp=400–401}} Around this time, Redding met ], the future founder of the recording company Phil Walden and Associates (even though without an associate),{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=173}} and later Bobby Smith, who ran Confederate Records, a small label. He signed with Confederate and recorded his second single, "Shout Bamalama" (a rewrite of his "Gamma Lamma"), with his band Otis and the Shooters.{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=159}}{{sfn|Bowman|1997|p=40}} ], the only solo artist signed to Confederate, became the Pinetoppers' bass guitarist.{{sfn|Gulla|2007|pp=400–401}}


At the same time, Walden started to look for a record label. ] representative ] was interested in working with Jenkins and around 1962 proposed to send him to the ] studio in ]. On the way to a Pinetoppers studio session, Redding drove for Jenkins, as the latter did not have a driver's license.<ref name="Staxabout">{{cite web|url=http://www.staxmuseum.com/about/artists/view/otis-redding|publisher=Stax Museum of American Soul Music|accessdate=September 26, 2011|title=Otis Redding|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111014184737/http://www.staxmuseum.com/about/artists/view/otis-redding|archivedate=October 14, 2011|df=}}</ref> Jenkins performed with ], and when the session ended early, Redding received the opportunity to perform two songs. The first was "Hey Hey Baby", but studio chief ] thought it sounded too much like ]. Next, he sang "These Arms of Mine", which became his first single for Stax. After that performance, Redding was signed by Stax.{{sfn|Gulla|2007|pp=401–408}} At the same time, Walden started to look for a record label. ] representative ] was interested in working with Jenkins and around 1962 proposed to send him to the ] studio in ]. On the way to a Pinetoppers studio session, Redding drove for Jenkins, as the latter did not have a driver's license.<ref name="Staxabout">{{cite web|url=http://www.staxmuseum.com/about/artists/view/otis-redding|publisher=Stax Museum of American Soul Music|access-date=September 26, 2011|title=Otis Redding|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111014184737/http://www.staxmuseum.com/about/artists/view/otis-redding|archive-date=October 14, 2011}}</ref> Jenkins performed with ], and when the session ended early, Redding received the opportunity to perform two songs. The first was "Hey Hey Baby", but studio chief ] thought it sounded too much like ]. Next, he sang "These Arms of Mine", which became his first single for Stax. After that performance, Redding was signed by Stax.{{sfn|Gulla|2007|pp=401–408}}


==Recording and release== ==Recording and release==
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The title track, recorded on September, the next year, sparked some copyright issues, as it sounded like ]'s "Ruler of My Heart".{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=175}} After a few months, "Pain in My Heart", with the B-side "Something Is Worrying Me", peaked at number 60 on ]. Rob Bowman observed that "with 'Pain in My Heart,' Otis's dynamic control is front and center as he uses his voice as a horn, swelling and decreasing in volume, swallowing syllables and worrying the word 'heart.'...It was Otis's most successful effort to date, commercially and aesthetically."{{sfn|Bowman|1997|p=46}} The title track, recorded on September, the next year, sparked some copyright issues, as it sounded like ]'s "Ruler of My Heart".{{sfn|Guralnick|1999|p=175}} After a few months, "Pain in My Heart", with the B-side "Something Is Worrying Me", peaked at number 60 on ]. Rob Bowman observed that "with 'Pain in My Heart,' Otis's dynamic control is front and center as he uses his voice as a horn, swelling and decreasing in volume, swallowing syllables and worrying the word 'heart.'...It was Otis's most successful effort to date, commercially and aesthetically."{{sfn|Bowman|1997|p=46}}


The last single, "Security", was released in April 1964 and reached number 97 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s Hot 100 chart. According to Matthew Greenwald of ], the song is "a stinging, up-tempo groover" and "showed Otis Redding stretching his funky rock & roll roots. Aided by the usual gang of Stax musicians, it's one of his tightest early records.... he song could have easily succeeded as an instrumental."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/song/security-t998324|publisher=Rovi Corporation|work=Allmusic|accessdate=February 17, 2012|title=Security|author=Matthew Greenwald}}</ref> The last single, "Security", was released in April 1964 and reached number 97 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s Hot 100 chart. According to Matthew Greenwald of ], the song is "a stinging, up-tempo groover" and "showed Otis Redding stretching his funky rock & roll roots. Aided by the usual gang of Stax musicians, it's one of his tightest early records.... he song could have easily succeeded as an instrumental."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/song/security-t998324|publisher=Rovi Corporation|work=Allmusic|access-date=February 17, 2012|title=Security|author=Matthew Greenwald}}</ref>


The other tracks on the album are covers of popular songs, including "The Dog", by ]; "]", by ]; "]", by ]; and "]", by ]. The other tracks on the album are covers of popular songs, including "The Dog", by ]; "]", by ]; "]", by ]; and "]", by ].


Despite the alleged copyright infringement, ''Pain in My Heart'' was released on ]' ] ] on January 1, 1964, and peaked at number 20 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s R&B chart and at number 85 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s Hot 100.<ref name="Allmusic"/>{{sfn|Bowman|1997|p=47}} Despite the alleged copyright infringement, ''Pain in My Heart'' was released on ]' subsidiary ] on March 17, 1964, and peaked at number 20 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s R&B chart and at number 85 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s Hot 100.<ref name="Allmusic"/>{{sfn|Bowman|1997|p=47}}


==Reception== ==Reception==
{{Album ratings {{Album ratings
|rev1 = ] |rev1 = ]
|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/album/pain-in-my-heart-r16343|publisher=Rovi Corporation|work=Allmusic|title=Pain in My Heart|accessdate=February 17, 2012|author=Bruce Eder}}</ref> |rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://allmusic.com/album/pain-in-my-heart-r16343|publisher=Rovi Corporation|work=Allmusic|title=Pain in My Heart|access-date=February 17, 2012|author=Bruce Eder}}</ref>
|rev2 = '']'' |rev2 = '']''
|rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/otis-redding/albumguide|title=Otis Redding – Album Guide|accessdate=April 18, 2012|publisher=Rolling Stone}}</ref> |rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/otis-redding/albumguide|title=Otis Redding – Album Guide|access-date=April 18, 2012|publisher=Rolling Stone}}</ref>
|rev3 = '']''
|rev3Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin|title=Encyclopedia of Popular Music|year=2007|publisher=]|edition=4th|isbn=978-0195313734|title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music}}</ref>
}}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot--> }}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->


''Pain in My Heart'' received positive critical reception. Bruce Eder of Allmusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, reckoning that the album "was practically a road map to ] and any number of other would-be white soul shouters in the UK", and finding elements of ] in "Hey Hey Baby". He praised Redding's version of "You Send Me", considering it "the least stylized of any of his renditions of Cooke's songs", but criticized Redding's restraint, compared to future recordings, and the "somewhat less than memorable" writing, except on "Security", "These Arms of Mine" and "That's What My Heart Needs". The reviewer concluded by saying "Redding exudes astonishing power, energy and boldness".<ref name="Allmusic"/> ''Pain in My Heart'' received positive critical reception. In a retrospective review Bruce Eder of Allmusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, reckoning that the album "was practically a road map to ] and any number of other would-be white soul shouters in the UK", and finding elements of ] in "Hey Hey Baby". He praised Redding's version of "You Send Me", considering it "the least stylized of any of his renditions of Cooke's songs", but criticized Redding's restraint, compared to future recordings, and the "somewhat less than memorable" writing, except on "Security", "These Arms of Mine" and "That's What My Heart Needs". The reviewer concluded by saying "Redding exudes astonishing power, energy and boldness".<ref name="Allmusic"/>


A review of several albums by Redding in ] magazine observed that "he title track on set the pattern for all his ballads to come—Otis triumphed at rendering agony. Signs of the singer's virtuosity are already apparent in the almost teasing way he lingers over some lyrics and spits out others; virtually never would he sing a line the same way twice". The review gave the album 4 out of 5 stars.<ref name="Rolling Stone"/> A review of several albums by Redding in ] magazine observed that "he title track on set the pattern for all his ballads to come—Otis triumphed at rendering agony. Signs of the singer's virtuosity are already apparent in the almost teasing way he lingers over some lyrics and spits out others; virtually never would he sing a line the same way twice". The review gave the album 4 out of 5 stars.<ref name="Rolling Stone"/>


When Redding performed "These Arms of Mine" during his first session at Stax, with Jenkins on guitar and ] on piano, producer Jim Stewart praised his performance and noted, "Everybody was fixin' to go home, but Joe Galkin insisted we give Otis a listen. There was something different about . He really poured his soul into it."{{sfn|Freeman|2002|p=77}}{{sfn|Gulla|2007|pp=401–408}} When Redding performed "These Arms of Mine" during his first session at Stax, with Jenkins on guitar and ] on piano, producer Jim Stewart praised his performance and noted, "Everybody was fixin' to go home, but Joe Galkin insisted we give Otis a listen. There was something different about . He really poured his soul into it."{{sfn|Freeman|2002|p=77}}{{sfn|Gulla|2007|pp=401–408}}

'']'' described the title track as "a blueser with that funky Memphis sound and it’s treated to a heartfelt reading."<ref name=cb>{{cite magazine |title=CashBox Record Reviews |date=November 2, 1963 |page=8 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1963/CB-1963-11-02.pdf |magazine=Cash Box}}</ref>


==Track listing== ==Track listing==
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| writer5 = ] | writer5 = ]
| length5 = 3:10 | length5 = 3:10
| title6 = ] | title6 = ]
| writer6 = Don Gardner, Clarence Lewis, James McDougal, ] | writer6 = ], Clarence Lewis, James McDougal, ]
| length6 = 2:45 | length6 = 2:45
}} }}
Line 102: Line 106:
}} }}


== Musicians == == Personnel ==
* Otis Redding - vocals * Otis Redding vocals
* ] - keyboards, organ, piano * ] organ, piano
* ] - keyboards, piano * ] guitar, piano
* ] - guitar, keyboards, piano * ] guitar
* ], ] - bass guitar * ], ] bass guitar
* ] - drums * ] drums
* ] trumpet
* ] - guitar
* ] tenor saxophone
* ] - trumpet
* ] - tenor saxophone * ] baritone saxophone
* ] - baritone saxophone


==Charts== ==Weekly charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Album===
{|class="wikitable" {|class="wikitable"
!Chart !Chart
!Peak <br /> position !Peak <br /> position
|- |-
|''Billboard'' ]<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Otis Redding Chart History - Billboard 200 |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/otis-redding/chart-history/tlp/ |magazine=] |access-date=September 30, 2022}}</ref>
|''Billboard'' ]
|align="center"|103 |align="center"|103
|- |-
|} |}
Source:

{{col-2}}

===Singles===
{|class="wikitable"
!Song
!Chart
!Peak <br /> position
|-
|"That's What My Heart Needs"
|''Billboard'' ]
|align="center"|27
|-
|rowspan=2|"These Arms of Mine"
|''Billboard'' R&B chart
|align="center"|20
|-
|''Billboard'' ]
|align="center"|85
|-
|"Pain in My Heart"
|''Billboard'' Pop chart
|align="center"|61
|-
|"Security"
|''Billboard'' Pop chart
|align="center"|97
|-
|}
Source:

{{col-end}}


==References== ==References==
Line 165: Line 131:


==Bibliography== ==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|first1=Rob|last1=Bowman|year=1997|title=Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records|location=New York, NY|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XLdsRwpZ9oYC&lpg=PA62&dq=Soulsville%20USA%20Rob%20Bowman%20steve%20cropper&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false|publisher=Schirmer Trade|isbn=978-0-8256-7284-2|oclc=36824884|ref=harv}} * {{cite book|first1=Rob|last1=Bowman|year=1997|title=Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records|location=New York, NY|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XLdsRwpZ9oYC&q=Soulsville%20USA%20Rob%20Bowman%20steve%20cropper&pg=PP1|publisher=Schirmer Trade|isbn=978-0-8256-7284-2|oclc=36824884}}
* {{cite book|first=Scott|last=Freeman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4uuzPAAACAAJ&dq=freeman+Otis+redding&hl=de&ei=N7llTqSFNIWXOtfMzfwJ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&sqi=2&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA|title=Otis!: The Otis Redding Story|publisher=St. Martin's Press|year=2002|isbn=978-0-312-30297-9|oclc=47443887|ref=harv}} * {{cite book|first=Scott|last=Freeman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4uuzPAAACAAJ&q=freeman+Otis+redding|title=Otis!: The Otis Redding Story|publisher=St. Martin's Press|year=2002|isbn=978-0-312-30297-9|oclc=47443887}}
* {{cite book|first=Bob|last=Gulla|year=2007|title=Icons of R&B and Soul: An Encyclopedia of the Artists Who Revolutionized Rhythm, Volume 1|location=Westport, Conn|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pLgqFaYmgw8C&pg=PR3&dq=Icons+of+R%26B+and+Soul:+An+Encyclopedia+of+the+Artists+Who+Revolutionized+Rhythm,+Volume+1&hl=de&ei=aEOMToGdI4bc4QSzyoStCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Otis%20Redding&f=false|publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=978-0-313-34044-4|oclc=220310006|ref=harv}} * {{cite book|first=Bob|last=Gulla|year=2007|title=Icons of R&B and Soul: An Encyclopedia of the Artists Who Revolutionized Rhythm, Volume 1|location=Westport, Conn|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pLgqFaYmgw8C&q=Otis+Redding&pg=PR3|publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=978-0-313-34044-4|oclc=220310006}}
* {{cite book|first=Peter|last=Guralnick|authorlink=Peter Guralnick|url=http://www.isbnlib.com/preview/0316332739/Sweet-Soul-Music-Rhythm-and-Blues-and-the-Southern-Dream-of-Freedom|publisher=Back Bay Books|title=Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom|year=1999|isbn=978-0-316-33273-6|oclc=41950519|ref=harv|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405044928/http://www.isbnlib.com/preview/0316332739/Sweet-Soul-Music-Rhythm-and-Blues-and-the-Southern-Dream-of-Freedom|archivedate=2012-04-05|df=}} * {{cite book|first=Peter|last=Guralnick|author-link=Peter Guralnick|url=https://archive.org/details/sweetsoulmusicrh0000gura_g0m5|publisher=Back Bay Books|title=Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom|year=1999|isbn=978-0-316-33273-6|oclc=41950519|url-access=registration}}


{{Otis Redding (navbox)}} {{Otis Redding (navbox)}}

{{Authority control}}


] ]

Latest revision as of 02:16, 5 October 2024

1964 studio album by Otis Redding
Pain in My Heart
Studio album by Otis Redding
ReleasedMarch 1964 (1964-03)
Recorded1962–1963
GenreSoul
Length30:17
LabelAtco
33–161
ProducerJim Stewart
Otis Redding chronology
Pain in My Heart
(1964)
The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads
(1965)

Pain in My Heart is the debut album of soul singer-songwriter Otis Redding. Redding recorded for Volt Records, a subsidiary of Stax Records, based in Memphis, Tennessee. Volt LPs were initially issued on the Atco label, which released this album (the singles were issued on the Volt label). The title song was written and arranged by Allen Toussaint, under the pseudonym Naomi Neville.

The album includes four successful singles, released in 1962 and 1963: "These Arms of Mine", "That's What My Heart Needs", "Security", and the title track. Since Billboard did not publish an R&B singles chart from late 1963 to early 1965, the R&B chart peaks of the latter two singles are unknown.

Biography

As a member of the Pat T. Cake and the Mighty Panthers, Redding toured in the Southern United States, mostly on the Chitlin' Circuit, a string of nightclubs and dance halls hospitable to African-American musicians when racial segregation of performance venues was prevalent. Guitarist Johnny Jenkins, who helped Redding win a talent contest at the Hillview Springs Social Club 15 times in row and also at the talent show "The Teenage Party", left the band to become a featured artist with the Pinetoppers. Around this time, Redding met Phil Walden, the future founder of the recording company Phil Walden and Associates (even though without an associate), and later Bobby Smith, who ran Confederate Records, a small label. He signed with Confederate and recorded his second single, "Shout Bamalama" (a rewrite of his "Gamma Lamma"), with his band Otis and the Shooters. Wayne Cochran, the only solo artist signed to Confederate, became the Pinetoppers' bass guitarist.

At the same time, Walden started to look for a record label. Atlantic Records representative Joe Galkin was interested in working with Jenkins and around 1962 proposed to send him to the Stax studio in Memphis. On the way to a Pinetoppers studio session, Redding drove for Jenkins, as the latter did not have a driver's license. Jenkins performed with Booker T. & the M.G.'s, and when the session ended early, Redding received the opportunity to perform two songs. The first was "Hey Hey Baby", but studio chief Jim Stewart thought it sounded too much like Little Richard. Next, he sang "These Arms of Mine", which became his first single for Stax. After that performance, Redding was signed by Stax.

Recording and release

Pain in My Heart includes songs from Redding's 1962–1963 sessions. Stewart signed Redding for Stax and released Redding's debut single, "These Arms of Mine", with "Hey Hey Baby" on the B-side. "These Arms of Mine" was released by Volt, a subsidiary of Stax, in October 1962, and charted in March the following year. It was one of his most successful songs, selling more than 800,000 copies.

In the 1963 session, "That's What My Heart Needs" and "Mary's Little Lamb" were recorded and cut in June 1963; the latter became one of the worst-selling singles by Redding. Rob Bowman, in his book Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records, wrote that in these two songs "Otis sings with a harsh, impassioned gospel voice reminiscent of Archie Brownlee of the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi" and further reckoned the ending of the first would have made Redding "a superb gospel singer had he chosen to record in that idiom." "That's What My Heart Needs" became Redding's second single on Stax.

The title track, recorded on September, the next year, sparked some copyright issues, as it sounded like Irma Thomas's "Ruler of My Heart". After a few months, "Pain in My Heart", with the B-side "Something Is Worrying Me", peaked at number 60 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. Rob Bowman observed that "with 'Pain in My Heart,' Otis's dynamic control is front and center as he uses his voice as a horn, swelling and decreasing in volume, swallowing syllables and worrying the word 'heart.'...It was Otis's most successful effort to date, commercially and aesthetically."

The last single, "Security", was released in April 1964 and reached number 97 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. According to Matthew Greenwald of Allmusic, the song is "a stinging, up-tempo groover" and "showed Otis Redding stretching his funky rock & roll roots. Aided by the usual gang of Stax musicians, it's one of his tightest early records.... he song could have easily succeeded as an instrumental."

The other tracks on the album are covers of popular songs, including "The Dog", by Rufus Thomas; "Louie Louie", by Richard Berry; "Lucille", by Little Richard; and "Stand by Me", by Ben E. King.

Despite the alleged copyright infringement, Pain in My Heart was released on Atlantic Records' subsidiary Atco Records on March 17, 1964, and peaked at number 20 on Billboard's R&B chart and at number 85 on Billboard's Hot 100.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic
Rolling Stone
Encyclopedia of Popular Music

Pain in My Heart received positive critical reception. In a retrospective review Bruce Eder of Allmusic gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, reckoning that the album "was practically a road map to Mick Jagger and any number of other would-be white soul shouters in the UK", and finding elements of hard rock in "Hey Hey Baby". He praised Redding's version of "You Send Me", considering it "the least stylized of any of his renditions of Cooke's songs", but criticized Redding's restraint, compared to future recordings, and the "somewhat less than memorable" writing, except on "Security", "These Arms of Mine" and "That's What My Heart Needs". The reviewer concluded by saying "Redding exudes astonishing power, energy and boldness".

A review of several albums by Redding in Rolling Stone magazine observed that "he title track on set the pattern for all his ballads to come—Otis triumphed at rendering agony. Signs of the singer's virtuosity are already apparent in the almost teasing way he lingers over some lyrics and spits out others; virtually never would he sing a line the same way twice". The review gave the album 4 out of 5 stars.

When Redding performed "These Arms of Mine" during his first session at Stax, with Jenkins on guitar and Steve Cropper on piano, producer Jim Stewart praised his performance and noted, "Everybody was fixin' to go home, but Joe Galkin insisted we give Otis a listen. There was something different about . He really poured his soul into it."

Cash Box described the title track as "a blueser with that funky Memphis sound and it’s treated to a heartfelt reading."

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Pain in My Heart"Naomi Neville2:22
2."The Dog"Rufus Thomas2:30
3."Stand by Me"Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller2:45
4."Hey Hey Baby"Otis Redding2:15
5."You Send Me"Sam Cooke3:10
6."I Need Your Lovin'"Don Gardner, Clarence Lewis, James McDougal, Bobby Robinson2:45
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
7."These Arms of Mine"Redding2:30
8."Louie Louie"Richard Berry2:05
9."Something is Worrying Me"Redding, Phil Walden2:25
10."Security"Redding2:30
11."That's What My Heart Needs"Redding2:35
12."Lucille"Al Collins, Richard Penniman2:25

Personnel

Weekly charts

Chart Peak
position
Billboard Pop chart 103

References

  1. "New Album Releases". Billboard Advertising. February 29, 1964.
  2. Gould, Jonathan (2017). Otis Redding: An Unfinished Life. New York: Crown Archetype. p. 250. ISBN 978-0307453969.
  3. ^ Bruce Eder. "Pain in My Heart". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  4. Bowman 1997, p. 56.
  5. John Bozzo (October 17, 2007). "Beat went on despite segregation". News-Journal Corporation. Archived from the original on December 12, 2010. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  6. ^ Gulla 2007, pp. 400–401.
  7. Guralnick 1999, p. 173.
  8. Guralnick 1999, p. 159.
  9. Bowman 1997, p. 40.
  10. "Otis Redding". Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Archived from the original on October 14, 2011. Retrieved September 26, 2011.
  11. ^ Gulla 2007, pp. 401–408.
  12. ^ Guralnick 1999, p. 175.
  13. Gulla 2007, pp. 396.
  14. ^ Bowman 1997, p. 46.
  15. Matthew Greenwald. "Security". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  16. Bowman 1997, p. 47.
  17. ^ "Otis Redding – Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  18. Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  19. Freeman 2002, p. 77.
  20. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. November 2, 1963. p. 8. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  21. "Otis Redding Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved September 30, 2022.

Bibliography

Otis Redding
Studio albums
Posthumous albums
Live albums
Compilation albums
Singles
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