Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart



"Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart" is a 1966 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label.

Written and produced by Motown's main production team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song was recorded in June 1965 and not released until April 1966. It was one of the few songs written by the team for the Supremes that didn't reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart in the United States, peaking at number nine for one week in May 1966.

Overview
The uptempo and brassy dance single was somewhat of a departure from the group's much lighter, pop-oriented sound, with a production set for an uptempo soul sound similar to that of material by fellow Motown groups Martha and the Vandellas and the Four Tops. The lyrics tell of how the narrator has been "bitten by the love bug" and no matter what she does, she can't "scratch it" (the itch created by the bite of the love bug). Lead singer Diana Ross' band mates Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson accompany Ross, as she sings about her lover's grasp on her heart. The girl group performed the hit live on CBS variety program The Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday, May 1, 1966.

Personnel

 * Lead vocals by Diana Ross
 * Background vocals by Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson
 * Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

Cover versions

 * In 1975, Ralph Carter released his version of the song on his first album "When You're Young and In Love".
 * In 1989, The Good Girls from their "All For You Love" album
 * In 2011, Indie Rock band the Inevitable Backlash released a punk-inspired cover version with an accompanying music video.
 * In their Summer 2009 US tour, Steely Dan covered this song during their band introductions section.