This article reviews the concept and extensive experimentation done over two decades ago to convert and apply skeletal muscle for cardiac assistance—so called “cardiomyoplasty”. Skeletal muscle was either wrapped around a failing heart or fashioned into accessory cardiac pumping chambers. Although the era of cardiomyoplasty came to an end when the cardiac wraps were found ineffective, the concept of independent accessory skeletal muscle ventricles may be worth another look.