March 3, 2025
Pain in My Heart
by Otis Redding
Known as the “King of Soul,” Otis Redding’s discography is made up of his gritty vocals, bluesy tunes, and sincere lyrics. Born in 1941 in Dawson, Georgia, he was essential in creating the sound of the South. His life was tragically cut short due to a plane crash in Madison, Wisconsin, at the age of 26, but even in his limited time, he made a huge impact on music as we know it today. Best known for his songs “The Dock of the Bay” and “Love Man,” Redding is immortalized by his music and the effect he had on the industry.
While all of his albums are classics and worth a listen, my personal favorite would have to be his 1964 album Pain in My Heart. It is a swift 31 minutes of blues, soul, love, and loss. Because of its short play time, the album is great for a quick jam sesh, and the chill vibe makes it perfect to put on if you need a little background music. If you don’t have the time to listen to the whole album but want to get a sense of its feel, I would recommend starting with “Pain in My Heart,” “Stand by Me,” and “These Arms of Mine.” These songs are a great example of the range this album has and are some of the standout tracks in my opinion. I give this album a 10/10 and would classify it as the very definition of “oldies but goodies.” Happy listening!