Teddy Pendergrass, It Don’t Hurt Now | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 115th edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “It Don’t Hurt Now” by the late, great Teddy Pendergrass.   

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 115^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “It Don’t Hurt Now” performed by Teddy Pendergrass.

“I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat / I’d just sit at home, and I’d weep.” Sigh, the late, great Teddy Pendergrass (1950 – 2010) was “down bad” on “It Don’t Hurt Now”. “It Don’t Hurt Now” is the sixth track from Life Is a Song Worth Singing, one of four platinum-certified albums by the late, great soul musician. The good news for Teddy, we learn as the track progresses, is “But now all that has changed / I’ve found someone to ease my pain.” Good news! “It Don’t Hurt Now” was written by Sherman Marshall and Ted Wortham.  Marshall also produced this highlight from the Teddy Pendergrass catalog.

Throughout “It Don’t Hurt Now,” Pendergrass delivers robust, soulful vocals. He gives his all as he recalls the heartbreak and pain he experienced.  “It used to be every night / I would cry my heart out over you,” he sings in the first verse.  In the second, he adds, “It used to be every time / I would hear a sad song, I would die.” Bummer! But, as previously stated, he reveals the pain is gone. As tuneful as the melodies are in the verses and pre-chorus, the chorus is where Pendergrass’ bread is buttered.  Of course, this is also where he shares:

“And it don’t hurt now (No, not now)

Baby it don’t hurt now (No, not now)

Well, there’s no more sleepless nights

No more heartaches, no more fights

And it don’t hurt now, not now.”

Besides dynamic vocals and relatable songwriting, “It Don’t Hurt Now” benefits from exquisite production.  This is a Philly soul record through and through.  It features lush orchestration with the horns and strings, alongside the rhythm section, as well as smooth, celestial background vocals supporting Pendergrass’ marvelous lead.  “It Don’t Hurt Now” is one of Teddy’s best. It wasn’t a pop hit, but that doesn’t diminish its excellence.

Teddy Pendergrass // Life Is a Song Worth Singing // Sony Music Entertainment // 1978

Teddy Pendergrass, It Don’t Hurt Now: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 115 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]