| Revision as of 10:50, 2 September 2023 edit2600:8801:131c:6f00:22bc:237c:f2c4:feda (talk) →Conway Twitty versionTags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit← Previous edit |
Latest revision as of 12:34, 28 December 2024 edit undo150.143.188.96 (talk) The Pointer Sisters are recognised as a Yacht rock infused group and this song has prominent use of the fender rhodesTags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
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| type = single |
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| type = single |
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| artist = ] |
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| artist = ] |
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| album = ] |
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| album = ] |
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| B-side = ] |
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| B-side = ] |
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| released = May 1981 |
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| released = May 1981 |
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| recorded = 1980 |
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| genre = {{flat list| |
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* ]<ref>{{Cite podcast|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2023/06/how-the-pointer-sisters-made-harmonies-exciting|title= Yes We Can Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=]|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date=June 16, 2023|access-date=July 1, 2023}}</ref> |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ]<ref>{{Cite podcast|url=https://slate.com/podcasts/hit-parade/2023/06/how-the-pointer-sisters-made-harmonies-exciting|title= Yes We Can Edition|website=Hit Parade {{!}} Music History and Music Trivia|publisher=]|last=Molanphy|first=Chris|date=June 16, 2023|access-date=July 1, 2023}}</ref> |
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* ] |
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| length = {{duration|m=3|s=52}} |
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| length = 3:53 |
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| label = ] |
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| label = ] |
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| writer = {{flat list| |
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| writer = {{flat list| |
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* Michael Clark |
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* Michael Clark |
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| next_year = 1981 |
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| next_year = 1981 |
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"'''Slow Hand'''" is a song by the American ] ] from their eighth ], '']'' (1981). Written by Michael Clark and ], the song was released as the ] from ''Black & White'' in May 1981 by ]. |
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"'''Slow Hand'''" is a song recorded by American ] ] for their eighth studio ] '']'' (1981). The song, written by Michael Clark and ], was released by the ] label in May 1981 as the ] from ''Black & White''. |
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==Background and impact== |
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==Background and impact== |
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Although its sultry style recalls the Pointer Sisters' first US Top 10 hit, the 1978 number-two hit "]", "Slow Hand" was not written for the group; in fact ] stated that "the Pointer Sisters were the furthest from minds."<ref>''Billboard'' vol. 93 #33 (August 22, 1981) p.</ref> However, producer ] said he "knew 'Slow Hand' an instant smash ]<span style="font-size:50%">...</span>that<span style="font-size:50%">...</span>would recapitulate and expand on the intimacy 'Fire'."<ref>''Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction Colorado)'' 13 November 1981 "The Pointer Sisters' Sound: a musical evolution" by Abe Peck p. 16 (The Entertainer)</ref> Like "Fire"—which also featured ] on ]—"Slow Hand" peaked at number two on the US ] for three weeks, behind "]" by ] and ]. It reached that position in August 1981 when it also reached number seven on the ] chart. In September 1981, the single was certified ] by the ] (RIAA).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=pointer+sisters#search_section|title=RIAA searchable certification database: Pointer Sisters|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America|access-date=December 26, 2020}}</ref> "Slow Hand" also afforded the Pointer Sisters international success, including the first appearance by the group in the top-ten on the ]. |
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Although its sultry style recalls the Pointer Sisters' first American top-ten hit, the 1978 number two hit "]", "Slow Hand" was not written for the group; in fact ] stated that "the Pointer Sisters were the furthest from minds."<ref>''Billboard'' vol. 93 #33 (August 22, 1981) p.</ref> However producer ] said he "knew 'Slow Hand' an instant smash <span style="font-size:50%">...</span>that<span style="font-size:50%">...</span>would recapitulate and expand on the intimacy 'Fire'."<ref>''Daily Sentinel (Grand Junction Colorado)'' 13 November 1981 "The Pointer Sisters' Sound: a musical evolution" by Abe Peck p. 16 (The Entertainer)</ref> Like "Fire"—which also featured ] on lead—"Slow Hand" peaked at number two on the ], for 3 weeks, behind "]" by ] and ]. "Slow Hand" reached that position in August 1981 when it also reached number seven on the ] chart. In September 1981, the single was certified ] by the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=pointer+sisters#search_section|title=RIAA searchable certification database: Pointer Sisters|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America|access-date=December 26, 2020}}</ref> "Slow Hand" also afforded the Pointer Sisters international success, including the first appearance by the group in the top-ten on the ]. |
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==Personnel== |
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== Personnel == |
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'''Pointer Sisters''' |
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'''The Pointer Sisters''' |
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* ] – lead and backing vocals |
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* ] – lead vocals |
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* ] – backing vocals |
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* ] – backing vocals |
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* ] – backing vocals |
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* ] – backing vocals |
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'''Musicians''' |
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'''Musicians''' |
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* John Barnes – electric piano |
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* John Barnes – electric piano |
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* ] – organ |
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* ] – ] |
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* ] – guitar |
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* ] – guitar |
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* Tim May – guitar |
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* Tim May – guitar |
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* ] – bass |
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* ] – bass |
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* ] – ] |
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* ] – drums |
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* ] – percussion |
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* ] – percussion |
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{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
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{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
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!Chart (1981) |
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!Chart (1981) |
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!Peak<br />position |
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!Peak<br>position |
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! scope="row"| Australia (])<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=235}}</ref> |
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! scope="row"| Australia (])<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=235}}</ref> |
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|align="center"|10 |
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! scope="row"| ] (])<ref>{{cite web|title=officialcharts.com|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17427/pointer-sisters/|website=officialcharts.com|accessdate=January 2, 2023}}</ref> |
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! scope="row"| UK Singles (])<ref>{{cite web|title=Slow Hand : The Pointer Sisters|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17427/pointer-sisters/|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=January 2, 2023}}</ref> |
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! scope="row"| US ] ('']'')<ref>{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=194}}</ref> |
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! scope="row"| US ] (])<ref>{{cite book |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2002 |publisher=Record Research |page=194}}</ref> |
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! scope="row"| US ] ('']'')<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=465}}</ref> |
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! scope="row"| US ] (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=465}}</ref> |
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! scope="row"| US '']'' ]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/19810905.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 5, 1981 |access-date=January 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603141823/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/19810905.html |archive-date=June 3, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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! scope="row"| US ] Top 100<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/19810905.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 5, 1981 |access-date=January 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603141823/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/80s_files/19810905.html |archive-date=June 3, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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!align="left"|Chart (1981) |
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!align="left"|Chart (1981) |
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! style="text-align:center;"|Rank<br />position |
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! style="text-align:center;"|Rank |
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|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="aus81">{{cite web|title= National Top 100 Singles for 1981 |publisher= ] |issue= 393 |page= 7 |via= ] |date= 4 January 1982 |access-date=January 11, 2022 |url= https://i.imgur.com/RgsDOOc.jpg}}</ref> |
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|Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref name="aus81">{{cite web|title= National Top 100 Singles for 1981 |publisher= ] |issue= 393 |page= 7 |via= ] |date= 4 January 1982 |access-date=January 11, 2022 |url= https://i.imgur.com/RgsDOOc.jpg}}</ref> |
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| style="text-align:center;"|68 |
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|New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/?chart=3870|title = The Official New Zealand Music Chart}}</ref> |
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|New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-singles/1981-12-31|title = The Official New Zealand Music Chart|website=Aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz}}</ref> |
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|US ]<ref> |
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|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1981.htm|title=Top 100 Hits of 1981/Top 100 Songs of 1981.|website=Musicoutfitters.com|access-date=December 25, 2024}}</ref> |
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| genre = ] |
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| genre = ] |
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| length = 2:56 |
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| length = 2:56 |
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| label = ] |
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| label = ] |
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| writer = Michael Clark, ] |
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| writer = Michael Clark, ] |
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| producer = ], Conway Twitty |
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| producer = ], Conway Twitty |
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| next_year = 1982 |
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| next_year = 1982 |
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The song was covered in April 1982 by country singer ] with minor lyric changes to accommodate a male singer. His version, on ], topped the '']'' ] chart for two weeks that June, and was his last gold record.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=362}}</ref> |
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The song was covered in April 1982 by country singer ] with minor lyric changes to accommodate a male singer. His version, on ], topped the '']'' ] chart for two weeks that June, and was his last multi-week number-one song, and his last gold record.<ref>{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=362}}</ref> |
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===Weekly charts=== |
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===Weekly charts=== |
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 fact John Bettis stated that "the Pointer Sisters were the furthest from minds." However producer Richard Perry said he "knew 'Slow Hand' an instant smash ...that...would recapitulate and expand on the intimacy 'Fire'." 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. "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.
