Wikipedia

Slow Hand

This article is about the Pointer Sisters song. For the Eric Clapton album, seeSlowhand.For other uses, seeSlow Hand (disambiguation).

"Slow Hand"is a song recorded by Americanvocal groupThe Pointer Sistersfor their eighth studioalbumBlack & White(1981). The song, written by Michael Clark andJohn Bettis,was released by thePlanetlabel in May 1981 as thelead singlefromBlack & White.

"Slow Hand"
SinglebyThe Pointer Sisters
from the albumBlack & White
B-side"Holdin' Out for Love"
ReleasedMay 1981
Genre
Length3:53
LabelPlanet
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Richard Perry
The Pointer Sisterssingles chronology
"Where Did the Time Go"
(1980) 		"Slow Hand"
(1981) 		"What a Surprise"
(1981)

Background and impact

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Although 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 factJohn Bettisstated that "the Pointer Sisters were the furthest [act] from [the composers'] minds."[2]However producerRichard Perrysaid 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 featuredAnita Pointeron lead— "Slow Hand" peaked at number two on theBillboardHot 100,for 3 weeks, behind "Endless Love"byDiana RossandLionel Richie."Slow Hand" reached that position in August 1981 when it also reached number seven on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songschart. In September 1981, the single was certifiedGoldby theRIAA.[4]"Slow Hand" also afforded the Pointer Sisters international success, including the first appearance by the group in the top-ten on theUK Singles Chart.

Personnel

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The Pointer Sisters

Musicians

Charts

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Del Reeves version

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The song was covered in 1981 by country singerDel Reeves,whose version peaked at #53 on theHot Country Singleschart.

Conway Twitty version

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"Slow Hand"
SinglebyConway Twitty
from the albumSouthern Comfort
B-side"When Love Was Something Else"
ReleasedApril 24, 1982
GenreCountry
Length2:56
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)Michael Clark,John Bettis
Producer(s)Jimmy Bowen,Conway Twitty
Conway Twittysingles chronology
"The Clown"
(1981) 		"Slow Hand"
(1982) 		"Over Thirty (Not Over the Hill)"
(1982)

The song was covered in April 1982 by country singerConway Twittywith minor lyric changes to accommodate a male singer. His version, onElektra Records,topped theBillboardHot Country Singleschart for two weeks that June, and was his last multi-week number-one song, and his last gold record.[16]

Weekly charts

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Chart (1982) Peak
position
USHot Country Songs(Billboard)[17] 1
CanadianRPMCountry Tracks 6

Year-end charts

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Chart (1982) Position
US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[18] 20

References

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  1. ^Molanphy, Chris (June 16, 2023)."Yes We Can Edition".Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia(Podcast).Slate.RetrievedJuly 1,2023.
  2. ^Billboardvol. 93 #33 (August 22, 1981) p.
  3. ^Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction Colorado)13 November 1981 "The Pointer Sisters' Sound: a musical evolution" by Abe Peck p. 16 (The Entertainer)
  4. ^"RIAA searchable certification database: Pointer Sisters".Recording Industry Association of America.RetrievedDecember 26,2020.
  5. ^Kent, David(1993).Australian Chart Book 1970–1992(illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 235.ISBN0-646-11917-6.
  6. ^"SA Charts 1965–March 1989".RetrievedSeptember 10,2018.
  7. ^"officialcharts".officialcharts.RetrievedJanuary 2,2023.
  8. ^Whitburn, Joel(2002).Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001.Record Research. p. 194.
  9. ^Whitburn, Joel(2004).Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004.Record Research. p. 465.
  10. ^"Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 5, 1981".Archived fromthe originalon June 3, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 15,2017.
  11. ^"National Top 100 Singles for 1981".Kent Music Report.January 4, 1982. p. 7.RetrievedJanuary 11,2022– viaImgur.
  12. ^"Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada".collectionscanada.gc.ca.Archived fromthe originalon October 20, 2012.
  13. ^"The Official New Zealand Music Chart".
  14. ^Musicoutfitters
  15. ^"Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1981".Archived fromthe originalon October 22, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 15,2017.
  16. ^Whitburn, Joel(2004).The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition.Record Research. p. 362.
  17. ^"Conway Twitty Chart History (Hot Country Songs)".Billboard.
  18. ^"Hot Country Songs – Year-End 1982".Billboard.RetrievedJune 23,2021.
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