Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 77^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave” by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 77^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave”, performed by 🎙 Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. 

Theme & Lyrics ✍ 

“Whenever I’m with him / Something inside / Starts to burnin’ / And I’m filled with desire.” Ooh, wee! 🎵 “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave” commences 🎙 Martha Reeves & The Vandellas’ 1963 album, 💿 Heat Wave with a surefire BANG! It’s an epic opening statement.  It comes as no surprise that “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave” was a top-five hit on the Billboard Hot 100.  “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave” was written by the legendary team of 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Brian Holland, 🎼 ✍ Eddie Holland, and 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Lamont Dozier (rest in peace, king). Brian Holland and Dozier also produced the record.

“It’s like a heat wave

Burnin’ in my heart (It’s like a heat wave)

I can’t keep from cryin’ (It’s like a heat wave)

It’s tearin’ me apart.”

“(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave” features exuberant production and an alluring sound.  Live horns, including a potent, punchy baritone saxophone marks one of the best instrumental features. 🎙 Martha Reeves serves up assertive, high-energy vocals.  Her performance can be characterized by the personality – the attitude and the confidence – she emits while singing (“Has high blood pressure got a hold of me / Or is this the way love’s supposed to be?”).  The lyrics are fun, lighthearted, and novel – incredibly idiomatic of the 1960s.

Final Thoughts 💭 

🎵 “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave” is a prime example of a vintage soul, pop crossover hit that you can’t help but dance to when it comes on the radio or elsewhere. Sure, it’s about 60 years old but guess what – it still hits hard! Beyond “Heat Wave,” Martha Reeves & The Vandellas had plenty of hits, speaking to just how successful they were.  Still, “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave” ranks among the crème de la crème.

🎙 Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave” • 💿 Heat Wave • 🏷 Motown • 📅 1963

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, “(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 77 (2022) [📷: Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash, Motown, The Musical Hype]