“This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)” is a soul classic birthed from the brilliant minds of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland, and Sylvia Moy for Motown’s iconic Tamla label. The legendary Isley Brothers recorded this unforgettable track, releasing it as a single on January 12, 1966. The song rapidly climbed the charts, peaking at an impressive No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 by April 9, 1966, reaching No. 6 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart, and making its mark at No. 47 in the UK. It captivated audiences enough to linger for 10 weeks on the Hot 100. Included in their 1966 album also titled This Old Heart of Mine, the album snagged No. 42 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart, while its B-side, “There’s No Love Left,” failed to chart.
Crafted in the hallowed halls of Motown’s Hitsville U.S.A. Studio A in Detroit during late 1965, the song was expertly produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier. Ronald Isley’s passionate lead vocals pulse through the track, supported by the heavenly harmonies of The Andantes—Marlene Barrow, Jackie Hicks, and Louvain Demps—and the legendary Funk Brothers. Bass lines by James Jamerson, drums by Benny Benjamin, and the unforgettable guitar riff by Robert White create a vibrant tapestry of sound. The song’s lively tempo and pleading lyrics tell the tale of a man who is helplessly drawn to a lover despite heartbreak, perfectly embodying Motown’s signature pop-soul style. In a 2016 interview with Songfacts, Sylvia Moy, Motown’s first female songwriter, revealed her pivotal contribution: stepping in after Eddie Holland struggled, she ingeniously crafted the hook, “weak for you,” giving the song its unforgettable emotional core.
The Isley Brothers—Ronald, Rudolph, and O’Kelly—signed with Motown in 1965, aiming to polish their raw R&B roots after past hits like “Shout” (1959) and “Twist and Shout” (1962). Motown intended to harness their power with a polished pop edge, and “This Old Heart” emerged as their first Tamla release, following a less successful 1965 single, “Move Over and Let Me Dance.” The song springs from the prolific Holland-Dozier-Holland team, who were still glowing from The Supremes’ recent smash, “You Can’t Hurry Love.” In a 1994 Billboard interview, Ronald Isley expressed how the song was expertly tailored to his voice, with Moy tempering the roughness to enhance its pop appeal. Remarkably, the group nailed the recording in a single session with minimal takes, a fact preserved by the Rhino Motown archives.
Its roaring success propelled the Isleys to the UK stage in 1967, sharing the spotlight with The Supremes in London. The song’s legacy was extended by covers from stars like Rod Stewart (whose 1975 version featuring The Isley Brothers reached No. 83 on the Billboard Hot 100 and soared to No. 4 in the UK), Tammi Terrell (1968), and even an unreleased 1966 rendition by The Supremes themselves. The Isleys revisited the song in 1987 with Tasha Thomas for their album Smooth Sailin’. Its electrifying presence also graced a 1987 episode of Moonlighting and the 2010 film The Kids Are All Right. The track’s captivating chord progression, explored in American Songwriter, echoes Motown’s “I Can’t Help Myself.” After parting ways with Motown in 1968 to found T-Neck Records, the Isleys experienced a resurgence in attention when Rod Stewart’s cover charted, prompting a reissue in 1989 that climbed to No. 51 in the UK charts.
“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, yes I do”
In the raw vulnerability of its lyrics, “This Old Heart of Mine” resonates with anyone who’s ever felt the agony and beauty of unconditional love, wrapped in a sound that Motown perfected to perfection. This timeless gem not only defines an era but also the undying power of love and heartbreak in music history.
