Tuesday Tunes 310: Hot Heat 🔥

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As temperatures here have been unpleasantly high, and I know the same is true for many other parts of the world, I thought I’d go again this week with some appropriate tunes. Three are heat songs, two are hot: I’ve played three of them before, another in a different version, and one is new here. But all feel right for today. Just remember though: we have it on ‘good’ authority that these ever increasing temperatures are all a hoax, and the fact that you might be melting is just a figment of your imagination.

I’m starting with the first-timer, a gentle little lead in to the set:

That ‘gentle’ was as accurate as ‘hoax,’ I think! But if there were any cobwebs lurking in your head they are gone now, right? Heatseeker was the opening track on AC/DC’s eleventh album, Blow up Your Video, which was released in February 1988, and reached #2 in the UK and Australia, had several top ten placings in other countries, and got to #12 in the US, where it went Platinum for sales of a million. The track had been released as a single the previous month, peaking at #5 in Australia and #12 in the UK, also getting to #15 on the US Mainstream Rock chart, based on radio airplay. It may not be their best known track, but it has the typical AC/DC feel, which is fine by me.

I’ve played this one before, but I like it so you’re getting it again:

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 it, 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’ previous history. Their 1983 follow up Alpha went to #5 in the UK and #6 in the US, but after that sales fell sharply: maybe the title of this one was somewhat prescient for them!

I’ve previously played Martha and the Vandellas doing this next one, but fancied a change. And when I say ‘fancy,’ you get my drift, I expect:

Linda Ronstadt released her version of Heat Wave on her sixth solo album, Prisoner In Disguise, in September 1975. The record reached #4 in the US, where it went Platinum for a million sales, and peaked at #13 in Canada. As far as I can tell its only other chart success was in Australia, where it reached a modest #76. This track was released as a single at the same time, and got to #5 in the US and #12 in Canada. If pressed I’d probably say that I still prefer the original, but anything involving Linda is always good for me.

Another returning tune next. This one is always on my list, as the video is so very good, and the song isn’t too shabby either:

The Rolling Stones with She Was Hot, which was a track on their November 1983 album Undercover, and then became a single in January 1984. The album got to #1 in Sweden and The Netherlands, #2 in Canada, #3 in the UK and #4 in the US: it sold a million in the US and 100k here. The single wasn’t a huge success, only making #42 in the UK and #44 in the US, but I still love the video. The role of the temptress was played by Anita Morris, an actor who had risen to fame in Broadway musicals. I think she was a very good choice for it.

And if that was too steamy for you, how about a more laid back pop classic to close today:

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. This performance was from the BBC’s Top Of The Pops show – you can see their resident dance troupe, Pan’s People, prominently in it. 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.

That’s it for the music, but before I forget here are my usual links to the two places I’m sharing this post: Esme’s Senior Salon Pit Stop and Cathy’s Monday’s (On Sundays) Music Moves Me. Both are well worth your time for a visit.

Hopefully you are doing OK in the extreme weather – it’s a little cooler here today, thankfully. I’ll see you again in a couple of days, if my eyes haven’t gone square from watching too much football. Until then, take care 😊

63 thoughts on “Tuesday Tunes 310: Hot Heat 🔥”

    • Sorry, couldn’t resist that! Glad you found something in there to enjoy though.

      It’s a bit cooler here so far this week but the weather guys say the really hot stuff will soon be back.

      It’s tough, but someone has to do it. I endured England just surviving earlier, then a second game that finished just before midnight. I can always sleep again when it’s over 🤣

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  3. Such an enjoyable set. I needed something to energize me in the midst of our heat wave. As much as I liked all the songs (although I only know a handful of T-Rex songs and this one would not be my favorite T Rex song), I really got into the Rolling Stones. Just loved the video, which I’ve never seen before, with the female dancer and all the explosions, and the can of TaB that appeared towards the end for a second or two. I loved TaB. I drank a lot of it in my 30’s. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

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    • I’m pleased you enjoyed these. That isn’t my favourite T.Rex song either, but it was a fit for my theme!

      That Stones video is great fun, though I’m not familiar with the drink (I wasn’t watching that anyway 😉).

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    • And so young, too! I liked a lot of their hits, and saw them in a live show: a charity concert with several bands, which was then broadcast on tv the following Christmas. I can’t remember all the acts, but there was John Miles doing ‘Music,’ and a certain paedophile on one knee singing’ I Love You Love’ to Princess Margaret in the Royal Box.

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  7. I remember them all except fpr the last one. I would have expected that my favorite would have been by AC/DC or Asia since i like both bands, but I’ll give the nod to Linda Ronstadt today for Heat Wave.

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  8. “She was hot”, I have not heard this song in ages. I am not a Stone’s fan at all, but I like that song as a teenager. What a lovely way to take me back to that time. Thanks, Clive!

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  10. ‘She ain’t no witch and I love the way she twitch’. Now I can smile at lines like that but at the time it was so easy to sing along to. Wasn’t a big fan, but this was one of my favourites.

    But my favourite of all these is Linda; unfortunately it’s the only video that won’t play for me. However I do know the song very well, and have the album too. (The best bit of this is when they harmonise together, ‘don’t pass off this chance, this time it’s a true romance’).

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    • I was a fan of the original mystic version, and that carried through into their T.Rex days, though I did still play their early stuff.

      Sorry about the Linda video. I have no idea why it won’t play: I put all my videos through a regional restriction check, but as we’re in the same country I haven’t a clue on this!

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  11. Great selection of tunes for the most part – and pulled from today’s headlines! I love everything about Linda Ronstadt, and I forgive you for Asia, but they were every single thing that went bad for music in the 80’s for me…

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    • Glad you liked most of them. Linda was always great, wasn’t she. Asia were neither prog nor pop, which I think was what contributed to their relatively short shelf life. But I liked this one!

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  12. For once, I knew most of your song picks. Asia brings back days from early adult life. Despite the mirrors’ lies, I feel like I’m a 20-something year old girl. 🙂 Thanks for sharing and joining the 4M party, Clive!

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  16. Very hot here in the states, too, but our Republicans (all of whom evidently have advanced degrees in science) assure us climate change is a liberal hoax.

    T. Rex was one of those UK bands that only briefly raised eyebrows here, with “Bang a Gong.” (Something must o’ happened midway ‘cross the Atlantic.) Never liked Asia, their late-period prog too commercial and generic for me. Prefer the Vandella’s version of “Heat Wave,” the Stones song came long after the glory years, and I like the AC-DC song but not the militaristic video. Sorry to be such a downer, Clive!

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    • No worries, Pete, we can’t all like the same things!

      Something definitely happened for T.Rex on the journey over: to us, that song was ‘Get It On,’ but the title was changed for you guys.

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  17. I enjoyed listening to these this morning, all good, and old favorites of Heat of the Moment, and Heat Wave. T-rex song was new, and I liked it, and that Stones video was so fun to watch. 🙂

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  19. The heat is on! Great hearing these five hot numbers this morning …. all familiar tunes for me. It’s hot, hot, hot here in NY, too …. already 79ºF at just 8:40am and we’re getting heat advisory alerts via text messages for the rest of the week. Not much we can do except stay indoors with the AC on. Take good care, Clive, and stay cool. 😎

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  22. Folk was a love of mine too as you know but any rock I liked came when my wife introduced me to her taste after we were married.( in case she put me off the idea). I even quite like some ZZ TOP though she’s been gone 13 years now. Still like to listen to Maddy Prior and Martin McCarthy I between though. Still in hospital and working on the tunnel with my teaspoon. Keep the geat, I can’t cope. Hugs my friend

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    • I’m glad you had a good influence on your musical tastes, but I’m sorry you have lost her.

      Hoping that someone can provide you with a shovel instead of the teaspoon. Take care.

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  23. Not my favourite post Clive, groups I’m not been on. When you were in uni I couldn’t stand hard rock though I’ve mellowed a bit. I was still in my motown phase; and still am in all honestly. Hope the weather suits you as I’m told the heatwave us back from Friday.
    Hugs

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    • I was the opposite – I never had a Motown phase! I like quite a bit of it, but give me folk or rock any day of the week!

      Hope you’re better now and out of hospital. The return of the heatwave will be unwelcome.

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