THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

823-Isley Brothers-This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)

1966-Number 47 single. When it was re-issued in 1968, it peaked at Number 3.

Best Bit-At 1.41. The Isley Brothers are the only artists who can boast top 50 hits in six consecutive decades on the American Billboard Hot 100, from ‘Shout,’ in 1959, all the way through to ‘Contagious’ in 2001.

As the name suggests the Isley’s are Brothers, they originated from Lincoln Heights, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. The three brothers who formed the group in 1954, were O’Kelly Jr. (1937-1986) Rudolph, and Ronald, they were soon joined by a fourth brother, Vernon, (1942-1955) who sang lead vocals, with the group, they performed ‘Gospel Music,’ until Vernon’s death at the age of 13, when he was hit by a car while riding his bicycle. After leaving ‘Motown’ records, the Isley Brothers went from three members to six, with the inclusion of the brothers Ernie Isley, and Marvin Isley, (1953-2010) along with Chris Jasper, who is the brother-in-law of the Isley Brothers, having married their sister Margie. At the time of writing the Isley Brothers are still active, with only Ronald and Ernie performing as current members.

When hearing the name ‘Isley Brothers,’ (see also best songs 681-508-382 and 176) many people immediately think ‘Tamla Motown,’ which is probably due to the popularity of ‘This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You,’) and yet the Isley Brothers were with ‘Motown’ for less than three years, between 1965-1968, they issued four Albums on the label, none of which made any impact commercially at the time of their release. There were also eight singles released by ‘Motown,’ between 1966-1969, and a compilation ‘best of,’ also issued in 1969. With ‘Motown,’ the Isley Brothers only charted on the American Billboard Hot 100 singles chart top 40 with ‘This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You,’) which reached Number 12 in 1966, while in the UK, four of their ‘Motown’ singles have made the top 40, with ‘This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You,’) peaking at Number 3, on it’s re-issue in 1968. Like other acts signed to ‘Motown’ at that time, the Isley Brothers found themselves down the pecking order, behind ‘bigger’ acts such as ‘The Temptations,’ and ‘The Four Tops,’ who were being offered the better songs ahead of them. The Isley Brothers left ‘Motown,’ and would find greater success recording on their own record label ‘T-Neck’ records.

‘This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You,’) was the first of four singles released from the Isley Brothers first ‘Motown’ studio Album, and the brothers fourth Album overall from May 1966. ‘This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You,’) was co-written by the legendary song writing trio of Holland–Dozier–Holland, (see also best songs 969-650-553-414-212 and 148) along with Sylvia Moy, (1938-2017) the song was produced by Brian Holland, and Lamont Dozier (1941-2022.) Sylvia Rose Moy was born on September 15th, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan, United States, she was a songwriter, and music producer, she died from pneumonia on April 15th, 2017, at the age of 78. Sylvia Moy has the distinction of being the first female to write and produce for acts on the ‘Motown’ label, and is best remembered for her songwriting with, and for Stevie Wonder. Berry Gordy, the founder of ‘Motown’ records, has said in his autobiography, that Moy was directly responsible for the label keeping Stevie Wonder. Gordy wrote, that after Stevie’s voice began to change as a result of puberty, he was going to drop him from the label. It was then that Moy went to Gordy, and asked if she could come up with a hit for Stevie, would he reconsider, to which of course he did. Among the songs that Moy co-wrote for Stevie Wonder are,’Uptight (Everything’s Alright,’) ‘I Was Made to Love Her,’ and ‘My Cherie Amour.’

‘This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You,’) had initially been written with the ‘Supremes’ in mind, they would later record their own version for their 1966 Album,’ The Supremes A’ Go-Go.’ Another ‘Motown’ recording of the song was by Tammi Terrell (1945-1970) in 1969, on her only solo Album ‘Irresistable.’ In 1975, Rod Stewart recorded a ballad version of the song, which reached Number 4 in the UK, and then in 1989, as a duet with Ronald Isley, he recorded an uptempo, and more faithful to the original version, which made Number 10 on Billboard in America.

‘This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You,’) is a song about a guy who is devastated that his girlfriend has left him. Lamont Dozier has said the song was inspired by a girl who had done the same thing to him,’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.’

‘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.’