About the song
Linda Ronstadt, a versatile and influential artist, remade the classic song “Heat Wave” for her album *Prisoner in Disguise*. Recorded at The Sound Factory in Hollywood between February and June 1975, the album was released in October of that year. Ronstadt’s rendition of “Heat Wave,” originally a 1963 hit by Martha and the Vandellas, became a standout track, showcasing her ability to breathe new life into beloved songs.
Ronstadt’s sideman, Andrew Gold, shared an anecdote with Rolling Stone about how “Heat Wave” found its way into their live set. The band had been urging Ronstadt to include the song for some time. The breakthrough came during a performance at a Long Island club called My Father’s Place. After an exhausting set that earned six encores, the band found themselves out of material. In a moment of spontaneity, one of the band members shouted, “Heat Wave in D,” and they performed it, albeit sloppily. The crowd’s enthusiastic response ensured that “Heat Wave” became a regular part of their repertoire.
Michael Epstein, the manager of My Father’s Place, claimed some responsibility for the song’s inclusion. When Ronstadt mentioned backstage that they had no more songs to perform, Epstein suggested “Heat Wave,” even jotting down the lyrics and playing some chords to help the band improvise.
Producer Peter Asher’s meticulous approach to recording “Heat Wave” involved many hours of work, a process that might have seemed excessive to the original Motown musicians who produced the original hit. Asher’s perfectionism paid off, as Ronstadt’s version captured the energetic spirit of the original while showcasing her unique vocal style.
Despite Ronstadt’s success with 1960s remakes like “You’re No Good” and “When Will I Be Loved,” the lead single from *Prisoner in Disguise* was Neil Young’s original composition “Love Is a Rose,” with “Heat Wave” relegated to the B-side. However, pop radio disc jockeys favored “Heat Wave,” propelling it to a number 5 peak on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1975. Meanwhile, “Love Is a Rose” found its audience on country radio, also reaching number 5 on the Billboard Country chart.
Ronstadt’s remake of “Heat Wave” is a testament to her talent and ability to connect with audiences across genres. Her performance of the song, both live and on the recording, showcases her dynamic vocal range and interpretive skills. For older, educated listeners, Ronstadt’s version of “Heat Wave” is a reminder of her significant contribution to the music industry and her ability to honor classic songs while making them her own.
Video
Lyrics
Whenever I’m with him
Something inside
Starts to burning
And I’m filled with desire
Could be the devil in me
Or is this the way love’s supposed to be?
It’s like a heat wave
Burning in my heart (heat wave, c’mon)
Can’t keep from crying (heat wave)
It’s tearing me apart (heat wave)
Whenever he calls my name (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Soft, low, sweet and plain
I feel, yeah, yeah (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Well, I feel that burning flame (burning, burning)
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 (heat wave)
Can’t keep from crying (heat wave)
It’s tearing me apart (heat wave)
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Sometimes I stare into space
Tears all over my face (face, face, face)
I can’t explain it (don’t understand it)
I hadn’t ever felt like this before
Now that funny feeling has me amazed
I Don’t know what to do
My head’s in a haze
It’s like a heat wave
Burning in my heart (heat wave)
Can’t keep from crying (heat wave)
It’s tearing me apart (heat wave)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (burning, burning)
Yeah, yeah oh, oh (heat wave)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (burning, burning, oh, oh)
(Heat wave)
Don’t pass up this chance
This time it’s true romance
Heat wave
Heat wave
Heat wave
Heat wave