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For the Heart

Rating:
4.2 / 5

Words & Music: Dennis Linde

Had a dream about you baby, had a dream about me and you
Had a dream and woke up crying
Well I can roll but I just can't rock
And the time's going by, tick-tock
For the heart, I just can't love no-one but you

Well I’m high and dry and lonely, I’m as lonely as can be
And I stare out of my window
Well I can play but I just can't win
And the weather's looking dim
For the heart I just can't love no-one but you

For the heart
For the heart
For the heart I just can't love no-one but you

For the heart
For the heart
For the heart I just can't love no-one but you

Had a dream about you baby, had a dream about me and you
Had a dream and woke up crying
Well I can roll but I just can't rock
And the time's going by, tick-tock
For the heart, I just can't love no-one but you

For the heart
For the heart
For the heart I just can't love no-one but you

For the heart
For the heart
For the heart I just can't love no-one but you
Well, for the heart
For the heart
For the heart I just can't love no-one but you
Yes, for the heart
For the heart
For the heart I just can't love no-one but you

Recordingdate: 1976/02/05, first released on: single (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of For the Heart:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(electric piano)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)

Others*

(bass)
(moog)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)

*Orchestra, overdubs

Availability

Find available albums with For the Heart.

old shep wrote on April 12, 2008
This was a cracking song and deserved to be an A side in this country instead of the ill fated Hurt, (which was far to short and suffered the indignation of having an alternative soul version released at the same time by The Manhattans, and beating him up the charts). An all out rocker with a pounding piano and Elvis' magic vocal what a crying shame this side went unnoticed.
JLpResLey wrote on November 07, 2008
A decent rocker which showed that Elvis still could do great rock songs when he was in the mood for it. I wonder how good this one had been if it would have been recorded properly. That goes for all numbers on the graceland albums.
Pedro Nuno wrote on November 07, 2008
A missed opportunity for Elvis and it's production team. This song had the potential of being a hit, but somehow, Elvis never got to capture it's soul. An up the average rock in 1976, but a less than average rock in Elvis career. A could have been hit, if it had a something else.
sitdown68 wrote on November 07, 2008
well, if I am not wrongly informed, in those days Elvis wasn't too ambitious for recording sessions any more...so how can one get to a better result if inspiration lacks?
Steve Morse wrote on November 07, 2008
Sorry, but I cannot abide this !
Steve V wrote on November 07, 2008
Elvis last true rock & roll song. Should have been the A side and maybe had some hit potetntial, but he does sound tired in parts. Was a big country hit for The Judds in the US later on.
My boy, my boy wrote on November 07, 2008
I absolutely love this song....It's in my top 5 of Elvis's catalogue !
KH wrote on November 07, 2008
I notice many like this song, but I never did. It runs way too slow in my opinion. If Elvis had turned it into a rock ´n roll number à la "Burning Love" (by the same songwriter), it could have been a different matter altogether.
JerryNodak wrote on November 07, 2008
I love "Hurt." Wouldn't give a plug nickel for this song.
NONE000000 wrote on November 08, 2008
I have always hated this song. This one and "Shake a Hand" are probably my two least favorite Elvis songs. Certainly of the 1970s
Deano1 wrote on February 27, 2010
Another five star song from the "The Jungle Room Sessions". Elvis at 41 proving he could still rock when he wanted to and providing one of the most hard to duplicate vocals of his career. Try holding the words "dream" and "power" with the power he did, it is nearly impossible. It is not as frantic as "T-R-O-U-B-L-E", but anything but slow.
shoesuedeblues wrote on July 29, 2010
With a little more effort and more takes this could have been a massive hit for Elvis, instead the awful Hurt took the A side. Having said this I still rate the recording as one of Elvis' best 1970s rockers.
dgirl wrote on July 29, 2010
This and Hurt are the only 2 songs I can listen to from the Blvd LP. Since they were already out as a single, the album did nothing for me but bring me down. I think this is much better than Hurt and certainly had more hit potential since it was a brand new song and a contemporary country/rocker. So they picked a song that has been done by 2 major artists since the 50's as the A side. Go figure.
GEORGE (GK) wrote on July 29, 2010
Love this song ! I wish Radio would have played this, instead of the flipside (of the single)which was "Hurt". Both songs are great, but I give the "edge" to "For the Heart". Of note the "outakes" of this song are great too !
DekeR wrote on July 29, 2010
'For the Heart' is a good song. I always enjoyed singin it.
jb4elvis wrote on July 30, 2010
A really good song, well done by Elvis. I always wished he had sung this one in concert a few times. The band sounds really good on this one as well. With the various takes which have been released thus far, it really seems as if Elvis is having fun with this one. One of the better "rock" songs from the mid-70's.
Monster wrote on October 23, 2010
Reasonable song for me. Elvis sounds a little swamped by the production at times. It also feels a little slow to my ears. To paraphrase the lyrics, it rolls but it just don't rock.
TCB1974 wrote on August 20, 2011
This is a good rocker that Elvis would have turned into a major hit single like Burning Love if recorded a few years earlier. Unsurprisingly in 1976 Elvis brings a (too) slow rhythm and the beat is not strong enough. A missed opportunity but still an enjoyable recording. Three stars from me.
Great Dane wrote on August 20, 2011
Most songs of Elvis in the late 70's don't get good reviews here,because of all the 50's lovers. But the fact is that his voice was magical in '76 and even his performances till 1977,whether you like it or not. So maybe the songs aren't nr.1 hits,but i don't care neither did Elvis,but his voice was incredible. 5 stars for both the album and song.
Rob Wanders wrote on September 16, 2011
a great song, its a pity our man wasnot in the mood anymore to perform it live.
Lpool kid wrote on September 16, 2011
i thought this was one of elvis's last great rockers,a tweak here and there and it could have been a huge hit.if it had of been then that may have given him more of a choice in what direction his music should be going.four stars from me,should have been the A side backed with something other than hurt.
MickeyN wrote on September 16, 2011
This is a good song and, as always, well sung.
NONE000000 wrote on September 16, 2011
Regarding the song--never been a favorite. Along with "Shake A Hand" and "I Can Help", "For The Heart" is one my least favs of the 70s.
GEORGE (GK) wrote on September 17, 2011
Great song, Great performance. Without a doubt one ofthe "highlights" of the "Elvis Presley boulevard album".
dgirl wrote on February 04, 2012
Great song, but tired performance. Would have been great 5 years prior.
Marty_TCE wrote on February 04, 2012
One of my favourite albums...I have to say that although I have rated this song with 4 stars, Elvis' voice sounds a little strained throughout. Great song and one I never skip.
RobIreland wrote on February 04, 2012
I do like this song. The strained quality in Elvis" voice to me add's to the over all subject of this song. For some reason I have always thought this a great tune for "Shakin Stevens" to have sang. I think its the drwn out sylables but I think it sure would have suited his style .
freedom101 wrote on February 05, 2012
One of the biggest myths about Elvis' career was that he never did rock again after he came back from the army. All lies!
alanfalk wrote on November 09, 2012
Great song, which I often listen to on repeat, I especially like the Had a Dreeeeam-part, but the whole song always make me stop and listen. 4 stars.
sugartummy wrote on March 05, 2013
Personally I consider Way down Elvis' last rock song from October 1976. You can clearly hear Denis Linde's sliding bass on For the heart. A great track. Swampy.
Gorse wrote on May 29, 2013
I am another convert to this track, and have it on all my playlists from this era. There were some really great songs from the much maligned 1976-1977 period and this is certainly one of the best from that time.
cookingfat wrote on May 29, 2013
Excellent rocker, should have been the A side
GEORGE (GK) wrote on May 29, 2013
Still, to this day, I don't understand why the song "HURT" got all the attention, when the single "HURT/FOR THE HEART" was released in 1976. I like both sides of this single, but, in my opinion, "For the Heart" was the stronger choice for radio airplay. It was a "fresh new song" in 1976. The song rocks and the vocals are strong.
sitdown revamped wrote on May 29, 2013
I dare to say: Has Elvis lived and recovered from his painful health situation and whatever was intertwined with it at the time of his passing, this song would have been a real show stopper. I'd have loved see him live in his 50's or 60's doing this. Born in 1964 I was too young to come to the U.S. and see him live in person. But a school mate of mine did, if I am right, while visiting his aunt in the U.S. sometime between 74 and 77.
ElvisSacramento wrote on May 30, 2013
This is such a splendid and underrated song and Elvis' rendition of it was magnificent. I love the entire "From Elvis Presley Boulevard" album.
TheMemphisFan wrote on June 08, 2014
For those that don't know any better because you don't do any research . . . "For The Heart" was the A-side to Elvis' 1976 RCA 45-rpm single. "Hurt" was the B-side. Also, Teresa Brewer released the song in 1975... a year before Elvis' version. I like Elvis' version, but too bad he showed no interest in performing it live in concert.
bajo wrote on July 12, 2014
To me, this is the A side of that single, no matter what. Since I first heard it on radio before picking up the single, I thought that this was the kind of stuff I wanted to hear from Elvis. I'm fine with it included on the Gold Records Vol. 5 instead of Hurt. The mix on the original Vol.5 is also stand-out!
Bestoftherest8301 wrote on July 12, 2014
Only in the UK (I think) was Hurt released as the A side. in the US, Germany and Belgium, For The Heart was the A side. That's what my research told me. I like the song, better than the over blown 70's ballads.
GEORGE (GK) wrote on July 13, 2014
Great song. Should have been the "A" side.. everywhere. Elvis had the ability to Rock when given the proper material.
atomic powered poste wrote on August 15, 2018
The only up-tempo song from the jrs that is performed well by elvis. A nice, lightwighted pop song. It doesn't fit in on the otherwise depressing blvd lp, it's disturbing the mood. 3 stars.
Cruiser621 wrote on August 15, 2018
One of the many meaningless songs from this era from one of the more maudlin albums put out in the day by Mr. Presley. Real shock to have come this far from the 1950's when he was in fact, "The King of Rock 'N Roll" to this point in his career. He should have packed it in professionally to be blunt. I can see why he no longer had the inspiration to record and it's obvious. So sad.
marty wrote on December 06, 2020
A nice song but not a great song. I can understand why "Hurt" became the (modest) hit and also why neither side of the single became a big hit. Elvis sounded a bit tired, the energy of "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" was not there. 3 1/2 stars
Jefffirmin wrote on May 11, 2021
One of his best 70s recordings. Great feel about it. Only downside is that he sounds a little tired. If this had been recorded during in the Dec 73 or 75 sessions this could have been another Burning Love. Would have also been a great live track for him during 76/77 as upbeat but not to demanding. Would have slotted in nicely straight after See See Rider.
DerekH wrote on August 14, 2022
Not one I would choose as a single, there are better, but a hood album track.
Milky White Way wrote on August 14, 2022
The reason Elvis never sang this live is because he chose not to, but he did choose hurt and it was a highlight in each concert. Elvis liked to sing it and show how powerful his voice was when repeated. I did hear Elvis was going to add a few new songs to his Aug 77 set list and wonder what they would have been. Maybe Bitter they are or maybe For the heart, we’ll never know. For me I really like the Blvd album and this is a good tune, not my favourite from the LP but still a good song I never skip. 3.5 stars
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