"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.
Film appearances 1938: The song was featured in the film Alexander's Ragtime Band, where it was performed by Ethel Merman. 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.
Other versions 1934: Sol K. Bright & His Hollywaiians 1952: Lee Wiley on the album Lee Wiley Sings Irving Berlin. 1955: Margaret Whiting for Capitol Records CL14242. 1956: Bing Crosby recorded the song on his album Bing Sings Whilst Bregman Swings. 1958: Ella Fitzgerald sang the song on her album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook. 1961: Enoch Light gave a symphonic treatment of the song, which can be found on the album Stereo 35-MM. 1975: Bing Crosby on his 1975 album At My Time of Life. 1979: James White and the Blacks on the 1979 album Off White. 1995: Patti LuPone and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra on the album Heatwave: Patti LuPone Sings Irving Berlin.
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