Writers: Keith Forsey and Harold Faltermeyer
Producers: Keith Forsey and Harold Faltermeyer
Recorded: Early 1984 at Giorgio Moroder Studios in Los Angeles
Released: Summer 1984
| Players: | Glenn Frey — vocals Rick Vito — guitar< Harold Faltermeyer — bass, keyboards Keith Forsey — drums, backing vocals |
| Album: | Music From the Motion Picture Beverly Hills Cop (MCA) |
Though he'd had some modest success as a solo artist, “The Heat Is On” — recorded for the soundtrack to the film Beverly Hills Cop — was the first major solo hit for Glenn Frey of the Eagles.
The song reached Number Two on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as Number One on the sales chart and Number Four on the airplay chart.
Keith Forsey, who worked on the soundtrack with Harold Faltermeyer, approached Frey to perform on the track. Frey, who was used to writing most of his own material, was initially reluctant but ultimately decided to do it.
“The Heat Is On” was the biggest hit from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, which hit Number One on the Billboard 200 and has sold more than two million copies.
Frey subsequently passed on an invitation to do the song “Shakedown” for Beverly Hills Cop II. Instead, he sent it to his good friend Bob Seger, who had a Number One hit with it.
