Heat Wave (Irving Berlin song) explained

Heat Wave
Artist:	Ethel Waters
Written:	1933

"Heat Wave" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin for the 1933 musical As Thousands Cheer, and introduced in the show by Ethel Waters.^[1]

Film appearances

• 1938: The song was featured in the film Alexander's Ragtime Band, where it was performed by Ethel Merman.^[1]
• 1946: It was also featured in the film Blue Skies, where it was performed by Olga San Juan.
• 1954: There's No Business Like Show Business, where it was performed by Marilyn Monroe. (Note: based on the lyrics alone, the Marilyn song is different, and within the film's narrative, Monroe's version is a sexier variant of the original that's "stolen" from Ethel Merman's character).
• 1954: A snippet of the song can be heard in a medley in the film White Christmas, sung by Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.
• 1981: Miss Piggy sings it in The Muppets Go to the Movies.
• 1993: A snippet of the song can be heard in the film Grumpy Old Men, sung by Ella Fitzgerald.

Notable recordings

There were three chart hits in 1933 by:

• Ethel Waters
• Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra – vocal by Mildred Bailey
• Meyer Davis – vocal by Charlotte Murray.^[2]

Other versions

• 1934: Sol K. Bright & His Hollywaiians ^[3]
• 1952: Lee Wiley on the album Lee Wiley Sings Irving Berlin.^[4]
• 1955: Margaret Whiting for Capitol Records CL14242.^[5]
• 1956: Bing Crosby recorded the song on his album Bing Sings Whilst Bregman Swings.^[6]
• 1958: Ella Fitzgerald sang the song on her album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook.^[7]
• 1961: Enoch Light gave a symphonic treatment of the song, which can be found on the album Stereo 35-MM.^[8]
• 1975: Bing Crosby on his 1975 album At My Time of Life.
• 1979: James White and the Blacks on the 1979 album Off White.^[9]
• 1995: Patti LuPone and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra on the album Heatwave: Patti LuPone Sings Irving Berlin.

Notes and References

1. Book: Flinn, Caryl . Brass Diva: The Life and Legends of Ethel Merman . 2009 . University of California Press . Berkeley . 978-0520260221 . 98 . June 18, 2012 .
2. Book: Whitburn. Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. 1986. Record Research Inc. Wisconsin, USA. 0-89820-083-0. 508. registration.
3. Web site: Discogs.com. .
4. Web site: allmusic.com. allmusic.com. June 9, 2017.
5. Web site: 45cat.com. 45cat.com. June 9, 2017.
6. Web site: www.allmusic.com. www.allmusic.com. July 9, 2024.
7. Web site: www.allmusic.com. allmusic.com. April 30, 2024.
8. Web site: Discogs.com. Discogs.com. 1961 . June 9, 2017.
9. Web site: www.allmusic.com. allmusic.com. April 30, 2024.