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"Slow Hand" is a song recorded by American vocal group The Pointer Sisters for their eighth studio album Black & White (1981). The song, written by Michael Clark and John Bettis, was released by the Planet label in May 1981 as the lead single from Black & White.
"Slow Hand" | ||||
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Single by The Pointer Sisters | ||||
from the album Black & White | ||||
B-side | "Holdin' Out for Love" | |||
Released | May 1981 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:53 | |||
Label | Planet | |||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | Richard Perry | |||
The Pointer Sisters singles chronology | ||||
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Background and impact
editAlthough its sultry style recalls the Pointer Sisters' first American top-ten hit, the 1978 number two hit "Fire", "Slow Hand" was not written for the group; in fact John Bettis stated that "the Pointer Sisters were the furthest [act] from [the composers'] minds."[2] However producer Richard Perry said he "knew 'Slow Hand' [would be] an instant smash [hit]...that...would recapitulate and expand on the intimacy [of] 'Fire'."[3] Like "Fire"—which also featured Anita Pointer on lead—"Slow Hand" peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, for 3 weeks, behind "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie. "Slow Hand" reached that position in August 1981 when it also reached number seven on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In September 1981, the single was certified Gold by the RIAA.[4] "Slow Hand" also afforded the Pointer Sisters international success, including the first appearance by the group in the top-ten on the UK Singles Chart.
Personnel
editThe Pointer Sisters
- Anita Pointer – lead vocals
- June Pointer – backing vocals
- Ruth Pointer – backing vocals
Musicians
- John Barnes – electric piano
- William "Smitty" Smith – organ
- Paul Jackson Jr. – guitar
- Tim May – guitar
- Nathan Watts – bass
- John Robinson – drums
- Paulinho da Costa – percussion
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
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Year-end chartsedit
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Del Reeves version
editThe song was covered in 1981 by country singer Del Reeves, whose version peaked at #53 on the Hot Country Singles chart.
Conway Twitty version
edit"Slow Hand" | ||||
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Single by Conway Twitty | ||||
from the album Southern Comfort | ||||
B-side | "When Love Was Something Else" | |||
Released | April 24, 1982 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 2:56 | |||
Label | Elektra | |||
Songwriter(s) | Michael Clark, John Bettis | |||
Producer(s) | Jimmy Bowen, Conway Twitty | |||
Conway Twitty singles chronology | ||||
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The song was covered in April 1982 by country singer Conway Twitty with minor lyric changes to accommodate a male singer. His version, on Elektra Records, topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart for two weeks that June, and was his last multi-week number-one song, and his last gold record.[16]
Weekly charts
editChart (1982) | Peak position |
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US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[17] | 1 |
Canadian RPM Country Tracks | 6 |
Year-end charts
editChart (1982) | Position |
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US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[18] | 20 |
References
edit- ^ Molanphy, Chris (June 16, 2023). "Yes We Can Edition". Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia (Podcast). Slate. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- ^ Billboard vol. 93 #33 (August 22, 1981) p.
- ^ Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction Colorado) 13 November 1981 "The Pointer Sisters' Sound: a musical evolution" by Abe Peck p. 16 (The Entertainer)
- ^ "RIAA searchable certification database: Pointer Sisters". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 235. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved September 10, 2018.
- ^ "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 194.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 465.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 5, 1981". Archived from the original on June 3, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1981". Kent Music Report. January 4, 1982. p. 7. Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Imgur.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". www.collectionscanada.gc.ca. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012.
- ^ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart".
- ^ Musicoutfitters.com
- ^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1981". Archived from the original on October 22, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 362.
- ^ "Conway Twitty Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Hot Country Songs – Year-End 1982". Billboard. Retrieved June 23, 2021.