♫ This Old Heart Of Mine ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, History, music

I was planning to do a different song tonight, one that I had not played here before, but time got away from me and it’s now well after 2:00 a.m. and I’d like to go to bed sometime, so I decided to redux this one from back in 2019, but have added a second version for your listening pleasure!

Earlier this evening, I was reading a transcript of a podcast, part of a fascinating series put together by Jonathan Capehart for The Washington Post called Voices of the Movement about how music propelled the Civil Rights movement.  It’s a fascinating series in case you’re interested, and you can either listen to the podcast or read the transcript.  Anyway, as I was reading, this song by the Isley Brothers literally popped into my head.Isley-BrothersThe Isley Brothers became one of the most successful acts of the ’70s, and also one of the most independent – they wrote, produced and released their own music throughout the decade. But in 1966, they were signed to Motown Records, who teamed them with the songwriting/production team of Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Holland-Dozier-Holland), who originally wrote this song for The Supremes.

Released as their first Motown single, it was a hit, but their last Top 40 with the label, who reassigned Holland-Dozier-Holland to other artists. In 1968, The Isley Brothers left Motown to record on their own label, T-Neck Records. Their first T-Neck release was the group’s biggest hit: It’s Your Thing.

Lamont Dozier said this song was inspired by girl he just couldn’t give up …

“The more I tried the deeper I fell. I made excuses for her and all the wrong she had done to me. She was a necessary evil that I just couldn’t overcome.”

Rod Stewart, a huge fan of both Motown and The Isley Brothers, recorded his own version in 1975 and released it as a single. His rendition was a big hit in the UK, climbing to #4, but it only went to #83 in the U.S. He did a lot better stateside when he recorded the song as a duet with Ronald Isley in 1989. This version made #10 in the US.  Last time I played this, I only included The Isley Brothers’ version, but this time I decided to add the Rod Stewart one with Ronald Isley. 

This Old Heart of Mine
The Isley Brothers

This old heart of mine been broke a thousand times
Each time you break away, I fear you’ve gone to stay
Lonely nights that come, memories that flow, bringing you back again
Hurting me more and more

Maybe it’s my mistake to show this love I feel inside
‘Cause each day that passes by you got me
Never knowing if I’m coming or going, but I, I love you
This old heart darling, is weak for you
I love you, yes, I do
These old arms of mine miss having you around
Makes these tears inside start a-falling down

Always with half a kiss
You remind me of what I miss
Though I try to control myself
Like a fool I start grinnin’ ’cause my head starts spinnin’ ’cause I

I love you
This is old heart, darling is weak for you
I love you, yes I do, yes I do

Ooh, I try hard to hide, my hurt inside
This old heart of mine always keeps me cryin’
The way you’re treating me, leaves me incomplete
You’re here for the day, gone for the week now

But if you leave me a hundred times
A hundred times I’ll take you back
I’m yours whenever you want me
I’m not too proud to shout it, tell the world about it ’cause I

I love you
This is old heart, darling is weak for you
I love you
This is old heart, darling is weak for you

I love you
This is old heart, darling is weak for you
I love you, yes I do, yes I do
I love you, yes I do, darling is weak for you

Songwriters: Edward Jr. Holland / Lamont Dozier / Sylvia Moy / Brian Holland
This Old Heart of Mine lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

26 thoughts on “♫ This Old Heart Of Mine ♫ (Redux)”

    • I’m glad, Michael!!! Well … yes, it would be fun to time-travel back to that time, but then … we’d have to work our way back to 2022. I don’t think I want to do that! 🤣 xx

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  6. The Isleys win this one for me, by miles. I’ve always found Rod’s version too slow. This one is better, both for the addition of Ronald and those gorgeous backing singers, but I still prefer the original.

    Liked by 2 people

      • You can explore whatever you fancy, I prefer quality. For my ears this sounds just flat, American, overground, happy, bla … motown, commercial, no attitude, no rock, no punk, just ugly and obtrusive.

        For realzies. =^.^=

        Liked by 1 person

        • The roots of Rock n’ Roll come from American Blues, Soul music, MOTOWN! Have u seen the movie “Elvis” that just came out? I’d highly recommend u watch, for education and entertainment.
          By all means listen to whatever u want, but try keeping an open mind, expand ur horizons. 🙂

          Liked by 2 people

          • Tell me more. But seriously wtf cares about where anything came from? I happen to hate rock n roll, blues and most of all motown. That’s primitive music for old, easy to impress, folk with no musical education. And Elvis? You serious? Who the phuque wants to watch a biopic about one of the blandest pop singers ever? When he died he was but a joke and we young punks couldn’t care less.

            My generation’s music was 99.99% British. American music was a sideshow.

            Liked by 2 people

            • Dear Orca, i’m 26 btw, far from an old relic reminiscing about the past. Sorry to say, but ur ignorance precedes u.
              Music does not come from a void, it evolves and transform from existing music, any real musician can tell u that.
              All musicians pay homage to their predecessors and wouldn’t be where they are or create something new without them.
              Oh and btw, the Brits borrowed heavily from American bluesmen and jazz singers, most of them amazing & highly renowned coloured folk whom u’v probably never heard of. Sigh
              “Primitive music” as you so dismissively opine is the foundation of all music. Chanting, drumming circles, liturgical hymnals gave meaning to human civilization and culture, we wouldn’t be who we are without the “primitives”.
              When ur more mature, u’ll appreciate all music much more, just shut up and listen! 🙂

              Liked by 1 person

              • “Dear Orca, i’m 26 btw, far from an old relic reminiscing about the past. Sorry to say, but ur ignorance precedes u.
                Music does not come from a void, it evolves and transform from existing music, any real musician can tell u that.”
                But they evolve from the old shit if they are any good.

                “All musicians pay homage to their predecessors and wouldn’t be where they are or create something new without them.”
                I hope they don’t pay homage but listen and decide to ignore what they heard.

                “Oh and btw, the Brits borrowed heavily from American bluesmen and jazz singers, most of them amazing & highly renowned coloured folk whom u’v probably never heard of. Sigh”
                I’ve heard enough and didn’t like most of it. And the Brits, they built onto it and evolved from those roots.

                ““Primitive music” as you so dismissively opine is the foundation of all music. Chanting, drumming circles, liturgical hymnals gave meaning to human civilization and culture, we wouldn’t be who we are without the “primitives”.”
                I never listen to foundations, I tend to destroy and re-arrange them.

                “When ur more mature, u’ll appreciate all music much more, just shut up and listen! 🙂”
                I wonder what music appreciaton has to do with maturity. :/ Fact is when I listen to the good old 12-bar blues I either fall asleep very fast or become aggro. I.e. when Clapton left the Yardbirds, the band became better instantly.

                And when you’re more mature you will maybe learn to type correctly and not like a gurly teenager with a smartphone.

                Liked by 1 person

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