Soul Music

In the later part of this first era of rock and roll, that is, at the beginning of the sixties, we come to the growth in R&B, soul, and the Motown sound. One of the great golden oldies from one of the girl groups is “Heat Wave” by Martha and The Vandellas. The lyrics tell the story directly, as we all understand “burning with desire” and “going insane.” “Heat Wave” (also later known as “(Love is Like A) Heat Wave” was written by the team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland, who wrote, arranged, and produced many songs that helped to create the Motown sound. In 1963, the song reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard R&B Chart in 1963. This was the second hit for Martha and the Vandellas (aka Martha Reevees and the Vandellas later), who were from Detroit. Their first hit was “Come and Get These Memories.” Martha Reeves sang the lead with Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard on the background vocals. The Funk Brothers, the studio musicians who played on so many of the Motown recordings, provided the instrumentation.

There have been many covers of the song, including those by Cilla Black, Lou Christie, The Supremes, and The Who. Linda Ronstadt had a hit with the song with her cover in 1975.

Here are the lyrics to “Heave Wave” by Martha and The Vandellas:

“Whenever I’m with him
Something inside starts to burnin’
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, burnin’ in my heart
I can’t keep from cryin’, it’s tearin’ me apart

Whenever he calls my name
Soft, low, sweet and plain
I feel right there, I feel that burnin’ flame
Has a high blood pressure got a hold on me
Or is this the way love’s supposed to be?

It’s like a heat wave, burnin’ in my heart
I can’t keep from cryin’, it’s tearin’ me apart

Ooh, ooh, heat wave
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 feelin’ has me amazed
I don’t know what to do, my head’s in a haze

It’s like a heat wave, burnin’ in my heart
I can’t keep from crying, it’s tearin’ me apart

Don’t pass up this chance
This time it’s a true romance
Heatwave”

For another song by Martha and the Vandellas: “Dancing in the Street,” which is on The Daily Doo Wop’s sister site Pass the Paisley.

If you are interested in an album by Martha and the Vandellas, please click on the photo below:

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

Please click here for the Daily Doo Wop YouTube channel, to which you can subscribe. Thank you for stopping by The Daily Doo Wop. Hope you enjoyed “Heat Wave” by Martha and The Vandellas.