Heatwave‘s Too Hot to Handle was an album that could be played from start to finish without skipping a track, although soul fans had “Boogie Nights” and “Always and Forever” on repeat. Both tunes charted with “Boogie Nights” peaking at two on the pop charts and five on the R&B charts. “Always and Forever” peaked at two on the R&B charts and dented the Top 20 on the pop charts at number 18.
The album was so good that it had the world wondering what would Heatwave do for an encore. In 1978, the world found out. Central Heating, the international group’s second album, announced to the world that there would be no sophomore slump. How could there be a sophomore slump with Rod Temperton reaching the height of his songwriting powers and Johnnie Wilder deploying that angelic tenor voice.
Like Too Hot To Handle, Central Heating had cuts that charted. :”The Groove Line: was a Top 10 hit on the R&B and pop charts. “Mind Blowing Decisions” was a minor hit, cracking the top 50 at number 49.
However, Central Heating had a number of other memorable album cuts, particularly “Put The Word Out,” the song I had on repeat when I got the album in 1978, as well as the massively slept on “Star of a Story,” which is the track featured in this Lost Gem segment.
Written by Temperton with a mesmerizing arrangement by John Cameron, I will die on the hill that this is Heatwave’s best ballad. The song is intimate yet lush with those strings and that double bass that captures the listener’s attention at the opening. The guitar solo brings a sublime touch of jazz to the track, and of course Wilder’s vocals are pure perfection.
“Star of a Story” got some deserved recognition when George Benson included a cover version on his Give Me the Night album. Check out Heatwave’s original here.
By Howard Dukes
