♫ Heat Wave ♫

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It wasn’t exactly my intention to play another Motown song tonight, since I just played one by the Four Tops a few nights ago.  However, Dancing In The Streets popped into my head, and on learning that I had already played that one, somehow I decided on this one.  The mind works in mysterious ways, folks, especially mine.

Written by the Motown songwriting team of Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland, this was the first Top 10 hit for Martha & the Vandellas, whose lead singer, Martha Reeves, started as a secretary at Motown.  

The origins of the song, according to Lamont Dozier …

“It was summertime and hot and sticky in Detroit. I often sat at the piano and played a warm-up riff to get my day started. This one particular day the heat was over the top and I was watching tv and the weatherman said we had a record-breaking five-day heat wave that was not going to let up. So all this funky riff needed was for me to throw a girl into the mix and this song was born.”

Martha & the Vandellas became the first Motown group ever to receive a Grammy Award nomination when this song was nominated in 1964 for Best Rhythm & Blues Recording; it lost to Ray Charles’ hit Busted.

This song charted at #4 in the U.S., and in 1975, Linda Ronstadt put out a version that hit #5 in the U.S. and #12 in Canada.

Heat wave
Martha and the Vandellas

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)

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Lamont Dozier / Brian Holland / Eddie Holland
(Love is like a) Heat wave lyrics © Stone Agate Music

15 thoughts on “♫ Heat Wave ♫”

  3. Great song. Of course, Linda Ronstadt had a career covering Motown and Buddy Holly songs. Her version of this is also good, but the original tends to have standing. Keith

    Liked by 1 person

      • True, Sometimes, the cover is so different, it seems like another song. I love both versions of “She’s not there,” the original one by The Zombies and the cover by Santana. If I had to choose, I would go with Santana’s as he is incomparable on the guitar. I also love both versions of “The Letter,” the original by The Box Tops and an excellent cover by Joe Cocker. When Cocker sings any cover, it becomes a different song. Keith

        Liked by 1 person

        • OHHHHH … You’ve just given me a great idea for tomorrow night’s music post! Thank you!

          Yes, I would opt for Santana’s version of “She’s Not There” over The Zombies, but then I’m not much of a Zombies fan.

          Like

  4. Love it. Love Motown. I also love those old videos for one additional reason.
    For the first time, blacks were “out”. On stage, on TV. Everywhere. And you can feel their happiness at this – final and new – freedom… 👏🏻
    (Look at those old videos with those eyes)
    Cheers Jill.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I’m so glad! I’ve found a kindred spirit! I could live on Motown. Yes, I always do look at those old videos realizing that until that time, Blacks were … non persona. And today … are we taking a few steps backward in this country? It surely feels like it. Sigh. So glad you liked this one, Brian! Cheers!!!

      Liked by 1 person

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