That's How Strong My Love Is

Album: The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads (1965)
Charted: 74
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "That's How Strong My Love Is" was written by a Memphis hospital worker named Roosevelt Jamison and was originally recorded by O.V. Wright on a small local label in 1964. The following year, Redding recorded the song and released it as single immediately before his first Top 40 hit, "I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)."
  • Redding recorded this at Stax Records in Memphis with the studio's celebrated house band, Booker T & the MG's. The band was always happy to record with Redding. "Otis sessions were a lot of fun," their guitarist, Steve Cropper, told Songfacts. "He was the only artist I remember recording at Stax that the band could not wait for him to come back. And they never did that with anybody - it was work, it was a job, and that's what they did. We all had fun making music - we had a good time - but they could not wait for Otis to come back to record because we had so much fun."
  • The Rolling Stones, who were big fans of Redding and recorded many blues and soul covers in their early years, recorded this in 1965 and released it on their Out Of Our Heads album. Redding reciprocated by recording a version of The Stones "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • Former Simply Red lead singer Mick Hucknall covered the tune in 2013 for the lead single from his debut album, American Soul. Hucknall told Billboard magazine that he's known the song all his life, beginning with Redding's version, but he also has an affinity for later covers. "The song never seemed to go away and I was reminded of it over the years by covers of it from the likes of Candi Staton and the Stones," he said "I guess its power and universal appeal lies in the simplicity of its message. What I like about our version is the modern production Andy Wright has given it and the driving rhythm which makes it great to sing and to perform live."

Comments: 7

  • Adam S. from Phila,pennsylvaniaShort and meaningful... This is our wedding song....
  • Charlie from BostonHey Denis, I'm pretty sure "The Wrecking Crew" did all the instruments for Otis. Look them up on YouTube. They did the studio recordings for so many people.
  • Denis from ChicagoWho plays guitar on this ?
  • Melissa from Geneva"You've got my mind messed up" 1966 (written by O.B McClinton) from Soul singer James Carr (Goldwax) has the same melody basis of "that's how strong my love is". You can clearly hear it. And the word "moon" comes up at the same time in both songs.
  • Michael from Annapolis, MdPamela, it was on the soundtrack of "Beautiful Girls".
  • Pamela from Essex, United KingdomPlease advise which film features "that's how stong my love is" by Otis redding
  • Frank from Pittsburgh, Paalso covered by the rolling stones in the 60s..played frequently on the recent 40 licks tour
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Yacht Rock Quiz

Yacht Rock QuizFact or Fiction

Christopher Cross with Deep Purple? Kenny Loggins in Caddyshack? A Fact or Fiction all about yacht rock and those who made it.

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.

Kevin Godley

Kevin GodleySongwriter Interviews

Kevin Godley talks about directing classic videos for The Police, U2 and Duran Duran, and discusses song and videos he made with 10cc and Godley & Creme.

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.