Single Review: Phil Collins – ‘(Love Is Like A) Heatwave’
2 min read
Back in 1982, Phil Collins was the voice behind an incredible number one cover of You Can’t Hurry Love, originally and also a number one hit by Diana Ross and the Supremes. Almost 30 years on, Collins is at the cover machine again and 2010 sees the veteran of pop tapping back into Motown soul with a cover of Martha and the Vandellas 1963 hit, Heatwave.
We don’t really hear all that much of the musician these days apart from his outings with musical theatre and cinematic scores but Collins is set to return to his inspired beginnings with a record of nostalgic beauties on September 13th.
With all the trumpets and big band instrumentation that was heard from Collins back in his eighties heyday, Heatwave sets the speakers on fire with a swinging single soaked in 60’s soul with a thumping beat and some persuasive backing vocals drenched in Motown chic.
Unfortunately his voice isn’t quite what it used to be and you can certainly hear that the top notes and falsetto peaks are no longer there as the vocals sound a little strained at various points throughout the track. The song also isn’t that much different from the original. Just like You Can’t Hurry Love, Heatwave stays within close quarters to its original. Though this was Collins’ intention when creating his latest record and this single. Despite all of these factors however, the single is a great choice for Collins.
The 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee is due to release the parent record, Going Back, later in the month and has been quoted as saying that he wanted the songs to sound exactly the same as the originals. Though some would argue the reasoning behind such a record, if the rest of the album proves to be as good as Heatwave then an affluent release is on the cards for Phil Collins.
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