The Heat Is On

Alright, Zoo Freaks, the Zoo Crew’s cranking up the heat with The Heat Is On by Glenn Frey, that sizzling track from the Beverly Hills Cop: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, just dripping with ‘80s cool and Eddie Murphy swagger. This song’s a total banger, written by Harold Faltermeyer and Keith Forsey, and Frey knocked it out of the park, hitting #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in ‘85, only blocked by REO Speedwagon’s Can’t Fight This Feeling. Frey spilled in a Tavis Smiley interview that his manager, Irving Azoff, dragged him to an early Beverly Hills Cop screening, and he was shocked to score the gig over a room full of rock heavyweights, recording the vocals in one day and guitar the next for a sweet $15,000. Fans on X still vibe hard—one Freak posted about blasting it during a road trip, feeling like they were chasing bad guys with Axel Foley, while a Reddit thread on r/80smusic had someone sharing how the song’s sax riff and Frey’s gritty voice were their high school gym class pump-up jam.

Dig this wild tidbit: the music video was a total MTV staple, mixing black-and-white shots of Frey and his band jamming next to a film editor cutting Beverly Hills Cop scenes, with Eddie Murphy’s action clips spliced in like a mini-movie trailer. IMDb notes it featured sax player Beverly Dahlke-Smith (though session pro David Woodford laid down the actual riff) and Frey’s drummer Michael Huey, giving it that live-band grit. A fan on Facebook shared a story of catching the video on MTV’s Buzz Bin in ‘84, saying it made them beg their parents for the soundtrack cassette. Oh, and get this—American Songwriter called it a perfect ‘80s soundtrack hit, capturing the film’s thrill and danger, with Frey’s vocals balancing slick soul and raw edge. It even inspired a hilarious SNL skit, “The H is O,” with Will Ferrell as Frey, cooked up by Adam McKay, per the Beverly Hills Cop Wiki.

Now, let’s roll back to how Glenn Frey got his start, ‘cause this guy’s journey is pure rock ‘n’ roll heart. Born in Detroit in 1948, Frey grew up on Motown and rock, cutting his teeth in local bands like The Mushrooms and Subterraneans, as noted on Last.fm. He hightailed it to L.A. in the late ‘60s, diving into the folk-rock scene and singing backup for Linda Ronstadt, where he met Don Henley. That sparked the Eagles in ‘71, with Frey as co-lead singer and guitarist, co-writing hits like Take It Easy and Lyin’ Eyes. After the Eagles split in ‘80, Frey went solo, chasing a pop-rock sound with MCA Records, and The Heat Is On became his biggest solo smash, paving the way for more hits like You Belong to the City. His Detroit roots even tied into Beverly Hills Cop—he and co-star Eddie Murphy both repped the Motor City, and Frey loved that connection, per Songfacts.

Zoo Freaks, if you’re feeling Frey’s fire, link up with his legacy: swing by the official Glenn Frey website for merch and memories, vibe with tributes on Facebook, check out vintage pics on Instagram, and follow fan posts on X. For you super-fans, join the Glenn Frey Fans Facebook group to swap stories and rare live clips, or visit Glenn Frey Online for a deep dive into his discography and Eagles days. The community’s tight, with fans sharing tales of catching Frey’s ‘90s solo gigs or rocking out to his soundtrack hits at ‘80s-themed karaoke nights. Keep spinning those records, and let The Heat Is On keep your soul burning bright!