Always And Forever

Album: Too Hot to Handle (1977)
Charted: 9 18
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This romantic ballad was not the highest-charting of Heatwave's songs (that would be "Boogie Nights "), but it was the most enduring of them. Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, this song was played at every high school dance in the United States. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mike - Santa Barbara, CA
  • Rod Temperton, who was Heatwave's keyboard player, was also their primary songwriter and he composed this song. Temperton went on to write several hits for Michael Jackson, including "Thriller" and "Rock With You."
  • Heatwave derived their name from the group's early days, when they were made up of members of the American army who were stationed in West Germany. They used to rehearse in an old run-down building with a radiator that that kept oozing heat even in the summer.
  • Clay Aiken sang this for his audition on Season 2 of American Idol, where he finished in second place to winner Ruben Studdard.

Comments: 7

  • Jan from CaribbeanTo Ken from Washington - you probably mean the version by Nicole McCloud. Give it a listen.
  • Randy from Houghton Lake, MiWe danced to this at our wedding reception back in '79. I lost my wife to cancer last year and I don't know if I will ever be able to listen to this song again.
  • Camille from Toronto, OhSuch a beautiful, beautiful song, with, as gary from the UK says, heartfelt lyrics. Perfection. Oh, and wow, what a songwriter, to pen this as well as Thriller and Rock With You.
  • Mike from Santa Barbara, CaThis song has been covered by several artists since, including Luther Vandross, Wyclef Jean, and Diana Ross.
  • Ken from Washington, DcA group did a cover of this song in the late to mid eighties with a female singing the lead, does anyone know who that group was?
  • Gary from Hull, United Kingdomone of the best melodies and heartfelt lyrics ever.
  • Martin from Pattaya, ThailandHeatwave were formed in Germany by Johnnie Wilder an American GI at the end of his overseas service. Keyboard player and songwriter Temperton is English. They started touring the UK Club circuit & European USAF bases in 76.
    This song reached No 9 on the UK charts as a double A Side with Mind Blowing Decisions in 1978.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)

Steve Cropper (Booker T & the MG's, Blues Brothers)Songwriter Interviews

Steve Cropper on the making of "In the Midnight Hour," the chicken-wire scene in The Blues Brothers, and his 2021 album, Fire It Up.

Famous Singers' First Films

Famous Singers' First FilmsSong Writing

A look at the good (Diana Ross, Eminem), the bad (Madonna, Bob Dylan) and the peculiar (David Bowie, Michael Jackson) film debuts of superstar singers.

Donny Osmond

Donny OsmondSongwriter Interviews

Donny Osmond talks about his biggest hits, his Vegas show, and the fan who taught him to take "Puppy Love" seriously.

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")

Terry Jacks ("Seasons in the Sun")Songwriter Interviews

Inspired by his dear friend, "Seasons in the Sun" paid for Terry's boat, which led him away from music and into a battle with Canadian paper mills.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.