Pain In My Heart

Forty years ago today, on Dec. 10, 1967, the small plane carrying 26-year-old Otis Redding and four of six members of his road band, the Bar-Kays, crashed into Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin, ending the life of one of the best rhythm and blues artists ever.

A fitting song to commemorate The Big O...

PLAY: Pain In My Heart - Otis Redding (1963)
PLAY: Pain In My Heart - The Rolling Stones (1964)
PLAY: Pain In MY Heart - The Grateful Dead (1966)
PLAY: Pain In My Heart - Helene Smith (1967)
PLAY: Pain In My Heart - Toots And The Maytals

Note: Original writing credit was "Redding" (the Stones version says Redding/Walden, Walden was Redding's manager). Otis and Stax were sued by Allen Toussaint who, as "Naomi Neville", had written Ruler Of My Heart (of which Pain was adapted) for Irma Thomas. As an out of court settlement, the credit was changed to "Naomi Neville".

Expressway (To Your Heart)

A brilliant song from 1967 by The Soul Survivors, a one- or two-hit wonder band that didn't make it very far. They were a pretty crappy band, but this song really stands out, not just amongst their other songs, but alongside other great late 60's songs.

[I found a great history/confession/rant from a former band member who played the year after this song made it big.]

The original Expressway is the best, but Margo Thunder is a very close second.


PLAY: Expressway (To Your Heart) - The Soul Survivors
PLAY: Expressway (To Your Heart) - Margo Thunder
PLAY: Expressway (To Your Heart) - Amen Corner