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).

"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!

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).

1964 is the year the big man Otis Redding walked in the Stax studio and recorded,PAIN IN MY HEART, - the first of six studio albums in his very short legendary career. There are five Redding originals here,"THESE ARMS OF MINE", Redding's first ever recording to hit the charts,"HEY HEY BABY",a tribute to Little Richard, and "SECURITY","THAT'S WHAT MY HEART NEEDS", "SOMETHING IS WORRYING ME". Some notable covers include Ben E King's, "STAND BY ME", Sam Cooke's,"YOU SEND ME",The Kingsmen's ,"LOUIE LOUIE", Little Richard's,"LUCILLE", and Redding does a mean Little Richard almost "To A T" ,revealing Otis Redding had not quite found his style on this first go around,(vocals and arrangements) - gradually building stronger with each album until the tragic ending with Dock Of The Bay. PAIN IN MY HEART is a good solid Otis Redding debut effort,backed by Booker T. and the MG's, with guitarist Steve Cropper, - a slightly different approach to these twelve historic songs,nobody wailed a song like "O" Redding. (ATCO, German IMPORT,stereo.)

I just recently decided to get into Otis Redding, so I started from the 1st album and this particular copy of the album is wonderful. Otis has a unique, passionate voice, esp during downtempo love songs...his voice reaches out and grabs your soul out of your chest. Worth the purchase!