Slow Hand

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"Slow Hand"
Slowhand.jpg
Single by Pointer Sisters
from the album Black & White
B-side "Holdin' Out for Love"
ReleasedMay 1981
Recorded1980
Genre
Length3:52
Label Planet Records
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Richard Perry
Pointer Sisters singles chronology
"Where Did the Time Go"
(1980)
"Slow Hand"
(1981)
"What a Surprise"
(1981)

"Slow Hand" is a song by the American vocal group Pointer Sisters from their eighth studio album, Black & White (1981). Written by Michael Clark and John Bettis, the song was released as the lead single from Black & White in May 1981 by Planet Records.

Contents

Background and impact

Although its sultry style recalls the Pointer Sisters' first US Top 10 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 US Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, behind "Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie. It reached that position in August 1981 when it also reached number seven on the Hot Soul Singles chart. In September 1981, the single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (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

Pointer Sisters

Musicians

Charts

Del Reeves version

The song was covered in 1981 by country singer Del Reeves, whose version peaked at #53 on the Hot Country Singles chart.

Conway Twitty version

"Slow Hand"
Single by Conway Twitty
from the album Southern Comfort
B-side "When Love Was Something Else"
ReleasedApril 24, 1982
Genre Country
Length2:56
Label Elektra Records
Songwriter(s) Michael Clark, John Bettis
Producer(s) Jimmy Bowen, Conway Twitty
Conway Twitty singles chronology
"The Clown"
(1981)
"Slow Hand"
(1982)
"Over Thirty (Not Over the Hill)"
(1982)

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 gold record. [16]

Weekly charts

Chart (1982)Peak
position
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [17] 1
Canadian RPM Country Tracks6

Year-end charts

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

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