Turn Back the Hands of Time

"Turn Back the Hands of Time" is a song recorded by the American R&B singer Tyrone Davis. It was co-written by Jack Daniels and Johnny Moore a.k.a. John Edward Moore (credited to Moore’s girlfriend at the time, Bonnie Thompson) and produced by Willie Henderson.

"Turn Back the Hands of Time" was released as a single in February 1970 and became Davis's second major hit, spending two weeks at number one on Billboard's R&B Singles chart and reaching number three on its Pop chart. The single was also certified gold by the RIAA for sales of one million copies. "Turn Back the Hands of Time" is from the album of the same name that MTV says "ranks among the best soul LP's of its time". Bruce Springsteen covered the song in his 2022 studio album, Only the Strong Survive.

Background

Daniels and Moore wrote "Turn Back the Hands of Time" based on relationship problems Moore was having at the time. Daniels had co-written Davis's 1968 hit "Can I Change My Mind" and the recording session for "Turn Back the Hands of Time" included some of the same musicians from that session.

Chart history

Chart (1970)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100	3
US Billboard R&B	1
US Cash Box Top 100	4

Year-end charts

Chart (1970)	Rank
US Billboard Hot 100	51
US Cash Box	32

Personnel

Background vocals by Barbara Acklin, Eugene Record & Robert Lester
Bass guitar by Billy Robinson
Drums by Quinton Joseph
Guitar by Carl Woolfolk
Keyboards by Floyd Morris
Lead vocals by Tyrone Davis
Written by Jack Daniels & Johnny Moore(credited to Bonnie Thompson)
Produced by Willie Henderson
Arranged by Tom-Tom Washington

Other versions

Checkmates, Ltd. on their 1971 album, Life.
Otis Clay 7" on Elka Records 1975.
Bruce Springsteen on his 2022 album, Only the Strong Survive.

Use in media

The song appears in the 1995 movie, Nine Months.

References

"Turn Back the Hands of Time" song review on Allmusic website

Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 147.
"About Tyrone Davis". MTV. Archived from the original on November 22, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
"Cash Box Top 100 5/30/70". Tropicalglen.com.
"Top 100 Hits of 1970/Top 100 Songs of 1970". Musicoutfitters.com.
"Cash Box YE Pop Singles – 1970". Tropicalglen.com.
Checkmates, Ltd., Life Retrieved January 29, 2016.
"www.discogs.com". discogs.com. 1975. Retrieved October 4, 2022.

v t e Tyrone Davis
Studio albums	Turning Point! Love and Touch Let's Be Closer Together I Can't Go On This Way In the Mood with Tyrone Davis Can't You Tell It's Me I Just Can't Keep On Going
Singles	"Can I Change My Mind" "Turn Back the Hands of Time" "Turning Point"

Bruce Springsteen songs

1970s

Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.	"Blinded by the Light" "Growin' Up" "Mary Queen of Arkansas" "Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?" "Lost in the Flood" "The Angel" "For You" "Spirit in the Night" "It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City"
The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle	"4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" "Incident on 57th Street" "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)"
Born to Run	"Thunder Road" "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" "Night" "Backstreets" "Born to Run" "She's the One" "Meeting Across the River" "Jungleland"
Darkness on the Edge of Town	"Badlands" "Adam Raised a Cain" "Racing in the Street" "The Promised Land" "Prove It All Night" "Darkness on the Edge of Town"

1980s

The River	"The Ties That Bind" "Sherry Darling" "Independence Day" "Hungry Heart" "Out in the Street" "The River" "Point Blank" "Cadillac Ranch" "Fade Away" "Stolen Car" "Ramrod" "Wreck on the Highway"
Nebraska	"Nebraska" "Atlantic City" "Johnny 99" "Highway Patrolman" "Open All Night" "My Father's House"
Born in the U.S.A.	"Born in the U.S.A." "Cover Me" "Darlington County" "Working on the Highway" "Downbound Train" "I'm on Fire" "No Surrender" "Bobby Jean" "I'm Goin' Down" "Glory Days" "Dancing in the Dark" "My Hometown"
Tunnel of Love	"Tougher Than the Rest" "Spare Parts" "Tunnel of Love" "Brilliant Disguise" "One Step Up"

1990s

Human Touch	"Human Touch " "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)" "Pony Boy"
Lucky Town	"Better Days" "If I Should Fall Behind"
The Ghost of Tom Joad	"The Ghost of Tom Joad" "Youngstown" "The New Timer"

2000s

The Rising	"Lonesome Day" "Waitin' on a Sunny Day" "The Rising" "My City of Ruins"
Magic	"Radio Nowhere" "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" "Long Walk Home"
Working on a Dream	"Outlaw Pete" "My Lucky Day" "Working on a Dream" "The Wrestler"

2010s

Wrecking Ball	"We Take Care of Our Own" "Shackled and Drawn" "Death to My Hometown" "Wrecking Ball" "Rocky Ground" "Land of Hope and Dreams"
High Hopes	"High Hopes" "American Skin (41 Shots)" "Just Like Fire Would" "Hunter of Invisible Game" "Dream Baby Dream"
Western Stars	"Tucson Train" "Western Stars" "There Goes My Miracle" "Hello Sunshine"

2020s

Letter to You	"Letter to You" "Last Man Standing" "The Power of Prayer" "Ghosts" "I'll See You in My Dreams"
Only the Strong Survive	"Only the Strong Survive" "Nightshift" "Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)" "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" "Turn Back the Hands of Time" "When She Was My Girl" "Hey, Western Union Man" "I Wish It Would Rain" "Don't Play That Song" "I Forgot to Be Your Lover" "7 Rooms of Gloom" "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" "Someday We'll Be Together"

Other singles

Other songs

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