Heat Wave (Martha and the Vandellas album)

Heat Wave
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 30, 1963
Recorded1963
StudioHitsville U.S.A. (Studio A)
GenreSoul
Length27:13
LabelGordy (Motown)
ProducerHolland–Dozier–Holland
William "Mickey" Stevenson
Martha and the Vandellas chronology
Come and Get These Memories
(1963)
Heat Wave
(1963)
Dance Party
(1965)
Singles from Heat Wave
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [1]

Heat Wave is the second studio album released by American Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. Released in 1963 on Motown's Gordy imprint, intended to capitalize on the success of the title track, which rose to number four on the pop singles chart and number one on the R&B singles chart. The album was produced by Holland–Dozier–Holland (who composed the group's first five hit singles) and William "Mickey" Stevenson. This was the last album to feature original Vandella Annette Beard.

The material is composed almost entirely of cover versions of songs that were popular at the time. These range from pop tunes like "Then He Kissed Me" and "My Boyfriend's Back" to mainstream standards such as "More" (the theme from the 1962 film Mondo Cane) and "Danke Schoen." The folk song "If I Had a Hammer" is also included as the Peter, Paul, and Mary version was big at the time.[2] On its original release, Heat Wave charted lowly at 125 on the U.S. albums chart.