In 1963, a girl group called Martha and the Vandellas recorded a song called Heatwave. It is one of the first songs to come out in what would become known as the Motown sound, a combination of R&B, gospel, and jazz. Motown, or Motor-town, was Detroit, known for its car factories.
Songwriter Lamont Dozier was sitting at his piano, playing a riff to warm-up his fingers when the TV meteorologist announced that there was no break in sight for the heatwave engulfing Detroit. As he played Dozier started making additions to the riff, with the thought of a girl singing. Heatwave was born.
With this hit, Martha and the Vandellas became the first Motown group to get a Grammy nomination for best R&B recording. They lost to Ray Charles singing Busted.
In 1975, this song became a hit for Linda Ronstadt. She had just finished a performance, and the audience was still demanding more. Out of desperation, she and the band tried Heatwave. Though that initial performance was rough, it was good enough that they decided to work on the song. It became one of Ronstadt’s biggest hits.
Coming forward to 2010, Phil Collins also had a hit with the song. Which has also been featured in movies and TV. A good song remains a good song.
Whenever I'm with him
Something inside
Starts to burning
And I'm filled with desire
Could it be a devil in me
Or is this the way love's supposed to be?
It's like a heat wave
Burning in my heart (It's like a heat wave)
I can't keep from crying (It's like a heat wave)
It's tearing me apart
Whenever he calls my name
Soft, low, sweet, and plain
Right then, right there, I feel that burning flame
Has high blood pressure got a hold on me
Or is this the way love's supposed to be?
It's like a heat wave
Burning in my heart (It's like a heat wave)
I can't keep from crying (It's like a heat wave)
It's tearing me apart
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh, heat wave
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh, heat wave
Sometimes I stare in space
Tears all over my face
I can't explain it, don't understand it
I ain't never felt like this before
Now that funny feeling has me amazed
Don't know what to do, my head's in a haze
It's like a heat wave
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(But it's all right, girl)
Oh
(Go ahead, girl)
Yeah, yeah
(Well, it's all right, girl)
Oh
(Can't miss it, that's love, girl)
I feel it burning
(Don't pass up this chance)
Right here in my heart
(It sounds like a true romance)
Don't you know it's like a heat wave?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (Burning, burning)
Oh (Burning, burning, burning)
Yeah, don't you know it's like a heat wave?
Burning right here (Burning, burning, burning)
In my heart (Burning, burning, burning)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (Burning, burning)
Oh (Burning, burning, burning)
What is your favorite version of Heatwave? I’ll be playing Martha and the Vandellas as well as a few others this week on my Minnich Music Facebook page, so be sure to check them out.
Until next time!
Songwriter Lamont Dozier was sitting at his piano, playing a riff to warm-up his fingers when the TV meteorologist announced that there was no break in sight for the heatwave engulfing Detroit. As he played Dozier started making additions to the riff, with the thought of a girl singing. Heatwave was born.
With this hit, Martha and the Vandellas became the first Motown group to get a Grammy nomination for best R&B recording. They lost to Ray Charles singing Busted.
In 1975, this song became a hit for Linda Ronstadt. She had just finished a performance, and the audience was still demanding more. Out of desperation, she and the band tried Heatwave. Though that initial performance was rough, it was good enough that they decided to work on the song. It became one of Ronstadt’s biggest hits.
Coming forward to 2010, Phil Collins also had a hit with the song. Which has also been featured in movies and TV. A good song remains a good song.
Whenever I'm with him
Something inside
Starts to burning
And I'm filled with desire
Could it be a devil in me
Or is this the way love's supposed to be?
It's like a heat wave
Burning in my heart (It's like a heat wave)
I can't keep from crying (It's like a heat wave)
It's tearing me apart
Whenever he calls my name
Soft, low, sweet, and plain
Right then, right there, I feel that burning flame
Has high blood pressure got a hold on me
Or is this the way love's supposed to be?
It's like a heat wave
Burning in my heart (It's like a heat wave)
I can't keep from crying (It's like a heat wave)
It's tearing me apart
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh, heat wave
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh, heat wave
Sometimes I stare in space
Tears all over my face
I can't explain it, don't understand it
I ain't never felt like this before
Now that funny feeling has me amazed
Don't know what to do, my head's in a haze
It's like a heat wave
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(But it's all right, girl)
Oh
(Go ahead, girl)
Yeah, yeah
(Well, it's all right, girl)
Oh
(Can't miss it, that's love, girl)
I feel it burning
(Don't pass up this chance)
Right here in my heart
(It sounds like a true romance)
Don't you know it's like a heat wave?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (Burning, burning)
Oh (Burning, burning, burning)
Yeah, don't you know it's like a heat wave?
Burning right here (Burning, burning, burning)
In my heart (Burning, burning, burning)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (Burning, burning)
Oh (Burning, burning, burning)
What is your favorite version of Heatwave? I’ll be playing Martha and the Vandellas as well as a few others this week on my Minnich Music Facebook page, so be sure to check them out.
Until next time!
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