Tuesday Tunes 117: Hot Heat

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One for the maths nerds!

I’m hoping that the weather forecast will be correct and that today will see the beginning of a spell of less extreme weather. But the temperatures we have endured for the past week did give me an idea for today’s theme: songs with hot or heat in the title seemed to be a good idea! As I’m not a fan of hot weather this is a good way for me to cope with it and get some enjoyment from it. Back in Tuesday Tunes 81 I posted a set of songs which offered a protest against the way we are treating our world. The ever hotter weather conditions we are enduring are part of the climate change which is one of the effects of that mismanagement. None of these songs is actually anything to do with that: they just have hot or heat in their titles, but it does no harm to remind ourselves of what we are doing, and what our politicians – many of whom are in the pay of vested interests that work against climate change efforts – are doing nothing about.

Sermon over, let’s get on with some music. This seems as good a place as any to begin:

I’m sure most will know Glenn Frey’s song The Heat Is On from it being featured in the Beverley Hills Cop movie, and I found this nice video of images from the movie to play for you. As Glenn’s record company is notoriously unforgiving in its approach to official videos being shared I’m hoping that this will avoid any copyright issues: fingers crossed! This song was released as a single in December 1984, to coincide with the movie opening in the US. It reached #2 in the US and #12 in the UK, his equal highest solo US chart placing and by a distance his most successful in the UK. I’ve always rather liked this, even if the movie does have rather too much of Eddie Murphy doing his usual OTT act for my liking – I’ve always preferred him in Trading Places, but then that movie did have the twin attractions of Jamie Lee Curtis to commend it. The song has appeared on the movie soundtrack and on compilation albums but was never on one of Glenn’s studio records.

Another heat song for you next:

This is also from the Eighties – not a decade I often visit! Asia were a UK prog rock supergroup, formed by former members of King Crimson, Yes, and Emerson, Lake And Palmer. Heat Of The Moment was the opening track on their debut album, Asia, released in March 1982, which gave the band instant success. I bought the album and played it a lot at the time, less so since then. The album topped the charts in the US, but had to make do with a peak of #11 in the UK. This track was released the following month as the lead single from the album, and got to #4 in the US. It only reached #46 here in the UK, though: I guess we saw them as an albums band, given its members’ track records. Their 1983 follow up Alpha went to #5 in the UK and #6 in the US, but after that sales fell sharply: I guess the title of this was somewhat prescient for them!

This next one is the final heat song, before I turn my attention to hot. I couldn’t leave out this pop classic, could I:

Martha Reeves wasn’t an original member of the Vandellas, but took over lead vocal duties in 1962, resulting in the group being renamed Martha And The Vandellas. Heatwave was released in July 1963 and was their first big hit, reaching #4 in the US, and #1 on their R&B chart. I was a little surprised to see that it didn’t make the UK charts, as the song is very familiar to me: their big breakthrough here came the following year with Dancing In The Street. This one was written by the famed Holland-Dozier-Holland team, and bears all of their hallmarks. It was the opening – and title – track of the group’s second album, which was released in September 1963 but wasn’t a huge seller, only getting to #125 in the US.

Those of you who know how much I like my rock music might have been expecting me to play this one. I didn’t want to disappoint you:

A great live performance and, as someone has remarked in the YouTube comments, especially impressive that Lou Gramm sang that while chewing gum. Hot Blooded was the lead single for Foreigner’s second album Double Vision. Both were released in June 1978: the album reached #3 in the US and #32 in the UK, the single also went to #3 in the US but only made #42 here. At that time my now ex-wife had a work colleague whose friend worked for the conglomerate that included Atlantic Records, Foreigner’s label, and we used to get albums at her staff discount rates. We acquired several that way, and this, and its predecessor, were at her recommendation: she told my ex “try this, I think Clive will like it.” She was right! And as half of the band were Brits it would have been unpatriotic not to try it, wouldn’t it? It also felt good to have been in the know at the beginning, before the band’s mega chart hits Waiting For A Girl Like You and I Want to Know What Love Is came along and gave them a whole new audience.

Turning now to a band that was hugely successful in the UK and many other countries, but less so in the US. I’ve said it before, but I think you guys missed out:

T. Rex began as Tyrannosaurus Rex, and were known here for an early series of albums with mythical themes, which performed respectably in our charts and gave them a few lower ranked hit singles, but their big breakthrough came in 1970 with the abbreviation of their name and their hit single, Ride A White Swan, which got to #2 here (#76 in the US) and began an incredible spell of four UK #2 hits and 4 #1s in less than three years. Hot Love was their next single, released in February 1971, and gave them the first of those #1s, though it only reached #72 in the US. The track was only released as a single, though it has since been on many compilation albums and was included on a re-release of their September 1971 album Electric Warrior. Marc Bolan, who led the band and wrote their songs, was much adored by fans, particularly the female ones, and T.Rex were part of the soundtrack to my uni days. Marc came to a tragic end, when he died after his girlfriend crashed their car into a tree. I remember it well: he was just two weeks away from his 30th birthday, and his death occurred on my 24th. We had been out for a meal, and turned on the tv news when we got home: that rather dampened my celebration.

I’ve remarked before how much of a huge Led Zeppelin fan I am, so I couldn’t pass up the chance to play one of their songs. How many of you know this one, though:

Hot Dog was a track on In Through the Out Door, the eighth and final studio album by the band. It was recorded in three weeks in November and December 1978 at ABBA’s studio in Stockholm, and was released in August 1979. It was the last album released before drummer John Bonham died in 1980, leading the group to disband. And before you tell me that there was another album after this one – Coda – I don’t really count that, as it was a compilation of songs recorded while Bonzo was still alive but hadn’t previously been released. So there! Needless to say, the album was the usual big success, reaching #1 in the US, the UK, Canada and New Zealand, #2 in Japan and #3 in Australia, and has to date sold somewhere around 8m copies worldwide.

Another of my longstanding favourite bands next. Although this is a long way from being their biggest hit it is another of those songs I couldn’t leave out:

She Was Hot was a track on the Rolling Stones’ seventeenth album, Undercover, which was released in November 1983, and peaked at #3 in the UK and #4 in the US. It isn’t remembered as one of their best albums – a view held by Mick Jagger, and he should know! – but I’ve always liked this song, and the video is great! This was released as a single in January 1984, but its performance reflected the view of the album as a whole, only making #42 in the UK and #44 in the US. Wikipedia describes the video as ‘memorable,’ which I think is fair! The actress giving the stunning performance is Anita Morris, known at the time for her theatre roles, and it was directed by Julien Temple, father of the delectable Juno, who has made some stunning screen appearances of her own – probably best known recently for her role in Ted Lasso.

I’m closing today with a song by the irrepressible John Fogerty:

This was originally on his fifth solo album, Blue Moon Swamp, which was released in May 1997 and got to #37 in the US and #182 in the UK. Hot Rod Heart was released as a single but didn’t chart. The video comes from 2020, when John and his kids (and dog) came together for a series of videos of some of his wonderful back catalogue, under the banner of Fogerty’s Factory. They released roughly one a week for several months, and they were all as good as this one. Do look them up if you haven’t seen them before. They were released in November 2020 in an album of that name, which made #63 in the US. Highly recommended, though I think they work best with the videos, which are charming and a lot of fun.

That’s all for this week. Today has dawned dull and overcast, and we actually had some rain yesterday – for about three minutes! Hopefully the current spell of endurance will shortly be over, then it will just be a case of counting the days till the next one. And there are still people out there who don’t believe the evidence and the science. Morons! See you again soon 😊

49 thoughts on “Tuesday Tunes 117: Hot Heat”

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  4. Chewing gum and singing? I am impressed. 🙂
    That is really sad about the way Marc Bolan died. Life is just a vapor.
    I will have to choose Martha and the Vandelles this week, more my style. Though I do like several hits from Foreigner. Especially, “I want to know waht love is.”
    Hope it cools down for you! We are gettting a break from the heat this week, its been nice!

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    • Was it Gerald Ford of whom it was said he couldn’t walk and chew gum at the same time? Just as well he wasn’t a rock singer. The video for I Want To Know What Love Is still brings out the goose pimples for me even after all this time.

      It was very sad about Marc Bolan. Their popularity had waned a bit from the early Seventies peak but there were still thousands of distraught women here when it happened.

      Temperatures are a little lower but it still feels very close and sticky. Keeping my 🤞

      Glad to know it’s been better for you 😊

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  5. I haven’t seen Beverly Hills Cop, but I really enjoyed the video accompanying the song, and I have heard the song, although not often.

    You know I had to listen to Heatwave by Martha & the Vandellas TWICE, right? LOVED it!!! I don’t believe that Holland-Dozier-Holland ever wrote a bad song! Thanks for sating my Motown craving!

    I hadn’t heard the one by Foreigner before (I know, I know … my musical education is sorely lacking and you wonder where I spent the 60s, 70s and 80s, right?) and it’s not bad. Sort of grows on you by the end.

    I can’t believe you left out … oh, wait a minute … lemme just check … never mind. I thought the word ‘hot’ was in the title, since it’s the first word in the lyrics, but I was mistaken. Fun post, my friend, though I think I’ll stick with Fogerty’s earlier work, though!

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    • I have seen the movie and it is all about Eddie Murphy being…Eddie Murphy.

      You’re welcome with Martha – just proving that I liked Motown music too. Well, some of it…

      I’m not really surprised you didn’t know Foreigner, and I’d bet that the rest were new to you as well!

      The one you thought I’d missed out: Summer In The City, by any chance? Already been mentioned, and I played it last year anyway.

      I think Fogerty’s post-CCR career is underrated by many.

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      • Ah yes … Eddie Murphy has only one setting! Ha ha … I knew you liked some Motown … how could you not??? Yes, it was Summer in the City. I didn’t see Keith’s reference to it until I had already posted my comment. I wasn’t really aware that Fogerty HAD a post-CCR career, so you’ve opened another door for me! Thanks!

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  6. If you want rain Clive come here we have it by the barrel load a bucket fills up in seconds..lol…anyways great musical choices…always have been a TRex fan me and my sister always great to have a replay…plus Martha always gets the feet tapping…listening to Foreigner is a given…Thank you for the tunes 🙂 xx

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  7. All decent tunes, but I pretty much embargoed Asia years ago. Funny to see a touch of humour in ‘She Was Hot,’ the Stones usually take themselves a tad too seriously, though I’m a fan. Fogarty did some nice solo stuff, I particularly like ‘It Ain’t Right’ and’Joy Of My Life,’ he goes from old style full-on rock to his quieter side.

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    • Glad you enjoyed them. That Stones one does stand out from their norm, doesn’t it, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves – and Anita.

      Fogerty’s solo stuff is underrated, I think. It’s in the shadow of all the great songs CCR put out.

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  8. great song to start with – I’ll always associate that song with that movie.

    Heat Wave – a classic for sure…

    great performance from Foreigner – even more impressive with gum in his mouth!

    did not know the T- Rex, Led, or Stones songs, but I really liked both of them. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a music video from the Stones!

    great song to close with – he brought the heat!

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  9. I think people are really starting to worry about global warming and extreme weather but I worry more about the lack of urgent action by Governments and businesses. Anyway….. Yes, ‘Hot Heat’ is a very appropriate theme. Will ‘Rain’ be the next? Some thoughts…. First, I had forgotten how pop(y) Asia were in the early 80s. The Martha and the Vandellas song is a cracker. It would still fill a dance floor, late evening. Like Pete Springer, I’m not over-keen on the Zeppelin and Stones tracks – although I am a big fan of theirs. I enjoyed Fogerty’s Factory and like Leon, it put me in mind of Robert Plants current style. I didn’t realise Plant and Page actually wrote it. Finally, I quite liked the Glass Animals song referred to in the comments though I’ve only heard it a few times.

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    • Spot on. Governments and businesses are doing nowhere near enough.

      Funnily enough, I did wonder while writing this if I might be doing ‘rain’ next week. We’ll see.

      Considering their various backgrounds Asia were a bit of a surprise – nothing prog about them! Interesting that you’ve read through the various comments and I like your take on them. As for Glass Animals you’ll need to read the reply I gave Yvette 😉

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    • They really did. Great music, loads of fun, some fantastic views across the valley from his home, and a real menagerie occasionally wandering in front of the camera. I watched them all and enjoyed them a great deal.

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  12. Hi Clive – the Hot Rod song from Fogerty Factory reminded me how many bands these days have odd releases for music – and the one a week release for his 2020 album sounds like it was a great idea – and the song was good – 🎵☀️
    —
    Another song reminded me of something else I have noticed
    – there are modern songs that might have been influenced by older songs
    Like the Heatwave classic instantly brought me back to a song that was horribly overplayed in 2021 (called heat wave ) and I had to grin and beat it during a few yoga classes.
    –

    I think I heard the Hot Dog song before but it had been a while….
    And the first two openers – heat of the moment and the heat is on – sweet for the theme and classic gems 💛 almost time stamping when they were popular

    –

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    • Hi Yvette. That was in the early days of pandemic lockdowns and I think he was doing it for fun and to keep playing for his fans. I’m guessing, but I think the idea of an album came later.

      Those first two just had to be there, didn’t they. And you’ve done well to know the Led Zep one – not their most durable of albums.

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      • Well we used to have had some Led Zeppelin playlists that stream all the songs and not just the hits – but don’t really listen to them a lot (I listen to a lot of Christian music because it keeps me so fresh and feeling alive – but still manage some other kinds of music – it depends…)
        And again – fun theme for the dog days of summer!
        Which by the way – we had a mild last five days with temps in 80s and it was quite nice
        ☀️😊

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      • Not my kind of music, sorry. Probably because I’m not religious!

        It seemed a good choice, given what we’ve been going through. Milder today, with a hint of rain, but it still feels close and sticky. Roll on lower temperatures!

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  13. I thought you might get around to a themed post about heat.The Eagles are right at the top of my favorite bands, and to no surprise, I like the Frey song. In my mind, Henley is the better of the two, but perhaps the jealousy of both made it hard for them to work together.

    I was surprised to learn that supergroup Asia made 13 studio albums. I only own two of them but love nearly every song, including this one.

    Heatwave is one of the first songs I remember from my youth. I was only 4 when their song came out.

    Foreigner is another of my all-time favorite bands, though I like many other of their songs over Hot Blooded. (Of course, they wouldn’t fit your theme.)

    I had heard the T-Rex song before but honestly didn’t know who wrote it.

    I don’t think I’m as big a fan of Zeppelin as you, but I love a lot of their music. This was a new one for me.

    I have to admit I was neither a Stones or CCR guy, so forgive me for saying the last two are my least two favorites. I remembered that you were a big fan of Fogarty’s. It’s interesting because those two bands are much more liked by critics than someone like Foreigner. Who knows why some sounds appeal to us more than others? I’m a bit long-winded today.

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    • Thanks, Pete. It was a fairly obvious theme to choose just now, wasn’t it! I agree on Don Henley being the better of the two, but this one was a good fit for the theme.

      I was surprised that Asia had made that many, though nothing since 2014. It could take them a while to run out of words beginning with ‘A’ for their titles.

      I was 9 when Heatwave came out. In those days we didn’t get much pop music on national radio or tv but I’m pretty sure I remember this one being voted as a ‘Hit’ on Juke Box Jury: sadly, they were wrong!

      I’m with you on Foreigner. I’ll have to wait for winter to play Cold As Ice!

      I’m a bit surprised you’d heard the T.Rex one as they didn’t make much of an impact over there. They were huge here.

      I thought that might be an obscure Led Zep track, and I probably am a much bigger fan than you.

      A thought on your last point: both the Stones and CCR started in the Sixties, when rock music was really taking off, so maybe they built up their critical store then? To be honest, though I like Foreigner I’d rank the other two well above them. All a matter of taste, I guess.

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  16. Clive, I love how you tie your posts to themes. Pairing two different genres, I love Martha and the Vandellas “Heatwave” and Foreigner’s “Hot Blooded” the most. Does the Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Summer in the City” qualify? The first line is “Hot time, summer in the city…” Keith

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