Heat Wave – Martha & The Vandellas | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop(#4) and R&B (#1 for 4 weeks); 1963
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Before their unparalleled success with the Supremes and Four Tops, Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Brian Holland struck gold with Martha & The Vandellas. The three tunesmiths were all aspiring singers, however, after several years behind the microphone, only Eddie had scored (with Jamie – #6 R&B, #30 Pop; 1962).
So they shifted their attention to songwriting. Their timing couldn’t have been better. 1963 marked the emergence of Motown as a potent player in the Top 40, and H-D-H were ready.
They first struck with Come And Get These Memories, the debut of Martha & The Vandellas, which cracked the Top 30 in May. In September, Heat Wave – with its pounding beat and fiery vocals – rolled to the top of the R&B list and #4 on the Hot 100.
Even as their work with the Supremes began to take precedence, H-D-H continued to work their magic for Martha with Quicksand, Live Wire, In My Lonely Room, and Nowhere To Run.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Brian Holland
Lamont Dozier
Lyrics Written by:
- Holland–Dozier–Holland
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).