Always and Forever ( Heatwave song ) - wikipedia Always and Forever ( Heatwave song ) `` Always and Forever '' Picture sleeve of one of UK vinyl releases Single by Heatwave from the album Too Hot to Handle B - side `` Mind Blowing Decisions '' ( UK ) `` Super Soul Sister '' ( US ) Released December 3, 1977 Format 7 '' single, 12 '' single Recorded 1976 Genre R&B soul Length 3 : 32 ( single edit ) 6 : 14 ( album version ) Label GTO ( UK ) Epic 50490 ( US ) Songwriter ( s ) Rod Temperton Producer ( s ) Barry Blue Heatwave singles chronology `` Too Hot to Handle '' ( 1977 ) `` Always and Forever '' ( 1977 ) `` The Groove Line '' ( 1978 ) `` Too Hot to Handle '' ( 1977 ) `` Always and Forever '' ( 1977 ) `` The Groove Line '' ( 1978 ) Alternative release A-side label of U.S. vinyl release `` Always and Forever '' A sample of Heatwave 's `` Always and Forever '' from Too Hot to Handle Problems playing this file ? See media help. `` Always and Forever '' is an R&B song written by Rod Temperton and produced by Barry Blue. It was first recorded by the British - based multinational funk - disco band Heatwave in 1976. Released as a single on December 3, 1977, the song is included on Heatwave 's debut album Too Hot to Handle ( 1976 ) and has been covered by numerous artists, becoming something of a standard. The song reached number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in March of 1978 after peaking at number two on the US Billboard R&B chart, the band 's highest showing on that tally. The single was certified platinum by the RIAA on September 6, 2001. In the UK, the songs `` Too Hot to Handle '' and `` The Groove Line '' were released before a double A-sided `` Always and Forever '' / `` Mind Blowing Decisions '' was issued in November 1978. This became the band 's second top ten on the UK Singles Chart when it spent two weeks at number 9 in December of that year. Contents 1 Heatwave version 2 Chart performance 2.1 Weekly singles charts 2.2 Year - end charts 3 Luther Vandross version 3.1 Track list 3.2 Charts 4 Other cover versions 5 References 6 External links Heatwave version After the international success of Heatwave 's debut single, the disco song `` Boogie Nights '', `` Always and Forever '' was chosen as the U.S. follow - up single in late 1977. A ballad featuring lead vocals by Johnnie Wilder, Jr., `` Always and Forever '' stood out among the band 's predominantly disco repertoire and became a successful U.S. hit song in early 1978. In the late 1970s through the 1980s it was a popular `` slow dance '' song at high school proms, weddings, particularly in inner - city areas with a high minority population. The song was also played during the slow dance scene in the movie House Party. In the liner notes to Heatwave 's 1996 compilation album The Best of Heatwave : Always and Forever, music writer and former Billboard contributor Brian Chin notes that Wilder `` says that it was right around the time of the single release of `` Always and Forever '' that he knew Heatwave 's music would stand the test of time. This pop standard is emblematic of the Heatwave fusion of influences - R&B, teen romance, and both European and American flavors of pop. '' AllMusic reviewer Craig Lytle states that the song `` was and continues to be an ageless piece. Johnnie Wilder 's vocal exhibition throughout the vamp is breathtaking. '' Chart performance Weekly singles charts Chart ( 1977 - 78 ) Peak position Canada RPM Top Singles 10 Ireland ( IRMA ) 17 UK ( Official Charts Company ) 9 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 18 U.S. Cash Box Top 100 12 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary 33 Year - end charts Chart ( 1978 ) Position U.S. Billboard Hot 100 75 U.S. Cash Box 99 Luther Vandross version `` Always and Forever '' Single by Luther Vandross from the album Songs Released September 1994 ( UK ) January 1995 ( U.S. ) Format cassette, CD Single Genre R&B, soul, adult contemporary Length 4 : 53 Label Epic Records Songwriter ( s ) Rod Temperton Producer ( s ) Walter Afanasieff Luther Vandross ( co-producer ) Luther Vandross singles chronology `` Endless Love '' ( 1994 ) `` Always and Forever '' ( 1994 ) `` Love the One You 're With / Going in Circles '' ( 1995 ) `` Endless Love '' ( 1994 ) `` Always and Forever '' ( 1994 ) `` Love the One You 're With / Going in Circles '' ( 1995 ) R&B / soul singer Luther Vandross released his cover of `` Always and Forever '' as the second single from his album, Songs ( 1994 ). His recording earned him a Grammy Award nomination in the category Best Male R&B Vocal performance at the Grammy Awards of 1995 and placed on four Billboard charts, with its best showing on the R&B chart where it reached number 16. Vandross ' single made the Hot 100 at # 58 and also appeared on Billboard adult contemporary and rhythmic top 40 charts. Track list US, UK - CD Single Always And Forever ( Radio Edit ) - 4 : 00 Searching - 8 : 02 The Glow of Love - 6 : 11 Always And Forever ( Live ) - 5 : 03 Charts Chart ( 1994 ) Peak position UK Singles Chart 20 US Billboard Hot 100 58 US Billboard Rhythmic 37 US Billboard Hot R&B Singles 16 US Billboard Adult Contemporary 25 Other cover versions Among many artists who have recorded versions of `` Always and Forever '' is the American R&B vocal group Whistle, who released their single in 1990 from their album of the same name. Their take on the song made the top ten on the Billboard R&B chart, peaking at # 9, while also cracking the top of the Hot 100 at # 35. Mexican - American singer Adán Sánchez also recorded a version in Spanish titled `` Siempre y para siempre ''. Other artists who have recorded the song include : The Four Tops Beverley Knight Navin Kundra Kyla Johnny Mathis Nicole McCloud Alexander O'Neal Cliff Richard in a duet with Candi Staton Kenny Rogers Diana Ross Silk Luther Vandross References Jump up ^ `` RIAA platinum certification - Heatwave - Always and Forever '', RIAA, retrieved November 12, 2017 Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2010 ). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits, 9th Edition ( Billboard Publications ), page 293. Jump up ^ Liner notes from The Best of Heatwave : Always and Forever, 1996, Sony Music Entertainment. Jump up ^ Too Hot to Handle album review AllMusic. Retrieved 12 August 2009. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- Always and Forever ''. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 14, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Heatwave - Always and Forever ''. UK Singles Chart. UK Official Charts Company. November 4, 1978. Retrieved September 25, 2018. ^ Jump up to : Heatwave Billboard chart info AllMusic.com. Retrieved 10 August 2009. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2014 - 12 - 22. Retrieved 2014 - 12 - 22. CS1 maint : Archived copy as title ( link ) Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 1993 ). Top Adult Contemporary : 1961 -- 1993. Record Research. p. 108. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1978 / Top 100 Songs of 1978 ''. Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2016 - 03 - 04. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 03. CS1 maint : Archived copy as title ( link ) Jump up ^ Vandross Billboard chart info AllMusic.com. Retrieved 10 August 2009. Jump up ^ `` Luther Vandross - Always And Forever at Discogs ''. Discogs.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Luther Vandross - Chart history ''. Billboard. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Chart archive : Luther Vandross ''. Archive. today. Archived from the original on 2013 - 01 - 19. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 05. Jump up ^ `` Music : Top 100 - Billboard Hot 100 Chart ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Rhythmic - Billboard ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Hot R&B Singles - Billboard ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Adult Contemporary Music Chart - Billboard ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ Whistle Billboard chart info AllMusic.com. Retrieved 10 August 2009. External links Heatwave US 7 '' single Discogs Heatwave UK 12 '' single Discogs Whistle US 12 '' single Discogs Luther Vandross UK CD single Discogs Heatwave Johnnie Wilder Jr. Eric Johns Rod Temperton Mario Mantese Ernest Berger Keith Wilder Roy Carter Billy Jones Calvin Duke Derek Bramble J.D. Nicholas Keith Harrison Studio albums Too Hot to Handle Central Heating Hot Property Candles Current The Fire Compilation albums Heatwave 's Greatest Hits Notable singles `` Boogie Nights '' `` Always and Forever '' `` The Groove Line '' Book : Heatwave Luther Vandross Discography Tours Studio albums Never Too Much Forever, for Always, for Love Busy Body The Night I Fell in Love Give Me the Reason Any Love Power of Love Never Let Me Go Songs This Is Christmas Your Secret Love I Know Luther Vandross Dance with My Father Compilation albums The Best of Luther Vandross... The Best of Love One Night with You : The Best of Love, Volume 2 Love Is on the Way Always & Forever : The Classics Greatest Hits Super Hits Smooth Love The Ultimate Luther Vandross Stop to Love The Very Best of Love The Essential Luther Vandross Artist Collection : Luther Vandross Love, Luther Lovesongs Live albums Live Radio City Music Hall 2003 Singles `` Never Too Much '' `` Do n't You Know That ? '' `` If This World Were Mine '' `` Bad Boy '' / `` Having a Party '' `` Since I Lost My Baby '' `` How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye '' `` I 'll Let You Slide '' `` Superstar '' / `` Until You Come Back to Me ( That 's What I 'm Gonna Do ) '' ( Medley ) `` Til My Baby Comes Home '' `` It 's Over Now '' `` Wait for Love '' `` Give Me the Reason '' `` Stop to Love '' `` There 's Nothing Better Than Love '' `` I Really Did n't Mean It '' `` Any Love '' `` She Wo n't Talk to Me '' `` For You to Love '' `` Here and Now '' `` Treat You Right '' `` Power of Love / Love Power '' `` Do n't Want to Be a Fool '' `` The Rush '' `` Sometimes It 's Only Love '' `` The Best Things in Life Are Free '' `` Little Miracles ( Happen Every Day ) '' `` Heaven Knows '' `` Never Let Me Go '' `` Endless Love '' `` Always and Forever '' `` Love the One You 're With '' / `` Going in Circles '' `` Every Year, Every Christmas '' `` Your Secret Love '' `` I Can Make It Better '' `` Nights in Harlem '' `` I Know '' `` Take You Out '' `` Can Heaven Wait '' `` I 'd Rather '' `` Dance with My Father '' `` Think About You '' `` Buy Me a Rose '' `` The Closer I Get to You '' `` One Shining Moment '' `` Shine '' Other songs `` A House Is Not a Home '' `` Any Day Now '' Tribute albums Forever, for Always, for Luther So Amazing : An All - Star Tribute to Luther Vandross Forever, for Always, for Luther Volume II Related articles Luther ( album ) This Close to You Change ( band ) Book : Luther Vandross Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Always_and_Forever_(Heatwave_song)&oldid=864862191 '' Categories : 1976 songs 1977 singles 1990 singles 1994 singles Heatwave ( band ) songs Luther Vandross songs Rhythm and blues ballads Pop ballads Songs written by Rod Temperton GTO Records singles Epic Records singles Song recordings produced by Walter Afanasieff Soul ballads 1970s ballads Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Archived copy as title Music infoboxes with deprecated parameters Articles with hAudio microformats Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart called without artist Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 20 October 2018, at 00 : 22 ( UTC ). 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Question: who sang the original song always and forever
Answer: Heatwave